UWindsor board of governors approves tuition refunds
By Billy Graham
Lance Writer
January 21, 2009
 On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the board of governors approved a motion to refund a portion of tuition due to last semester’s strike.
Effective immediately, the motion allows for students to pick up cheques made out to 25 per cent of their tuition payment in the UWSA’s office. While some claim that this decision is not fiscally responsible, others claim that this is revolutionary.
The move has been considered groundbreaking by the student union at York University, who has been on strike for over a semester.
When asked whether they would follow suit and provide refunds to their students, president of York University, Mamdouh Shoukri, said “I’m not listening, la la la,” and cupped his hands over his ears.
“This is a great example of our university finally doing something that is just and fair,” stated board of governors’ member Omar Raza.
Raza, a second year law student, developed a strong case supporting a tuition refund and motivated the university’s board of governors to consider it.
“This sets an incredible precedent to what students can accomplish within their university,” Raza continued.
Members of WUFA claimed that refunding students was absurd and that staff and faculty should receive some of this money.
Their position was that the university expected a strike and planned a reading week that could be conveniently cancelled because of the strike.
Furthermore, they felt the university saw this as a method to offset a portion of their $10 million deficit as they would not have to pay striking workers. This argument fell on deaf ears as the board remained open to reimbursing students only.
Some members of the board continued to point out that the university is currently suffering from a $10 million dollar deficit and the money saved during the strike ought to go against that deficit.
Furthermore, when they questioned the feasibility of how to distribute the refunds to the students, Tiffany Gooch, president of the UWSA was very quick to offer the UWSA’s office and its staff.
“We can do it, even if I have to work in order to manage the volume, you can count on us,” Gooch said passionately. With that statement, the board narrowly approved the motion.
All students are encouraged to pick up their cheques next week in the UWSA’s office.
“This is huge. I am so happy that the UWSA is finally able to do something tangible for students. These are the days that make me happy I decided to run for president of this fine organization,” Gooch stated on her way to celebrate this victory.
University of Windsor president Dr. Alan Wildeman commented, “We were fully anticipating that each and every student would receive value for the credit that they received at the end of the year.”
He continued, “We had no idea that instructors didn’t share that commitment to value – despite the f-ing raise we just gave’em,” he quipped between coughs.
The funds to cover the reimbursements from the strike have been automatically deducted from the 2012 negotiation proposal after the current three-year collective agreement expires.
“We’re already not signing grant applications for the year 2012/13, just in case there’s another strike,” added Provost Neil Gold.
To check on the availability of your cheque, or for directions to their offices, please contact the UWSA at (519) 253-3000 extension 3906.
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