UWSA budget passes without debate By Michal Tellos
News Editor August 5, 2009 In sharp contrast to previous years, the upcoming UWSA budget was quickly ratified by the six-member Board of Directors (BOD) in a unanimous decision.
 Out of approximately $3.7 million in total revenue, most of which comes from student fees, $26,600 remained untouched.
This leftover amount, coupled with $11,200 left from the previous year, gave the UWSA $37,800 that the executives could use for new initiatives. These initiatives would be placed on the wish list. Any affiliate group of the UWSA, such as the Womyn's Centre or The Basement pub, can also place a request on the wish list.
The process in creating a budget is layered and lengthy, as it is first constructed by the outgoing vice-president of finance and voted on by the outgoing BOD, then is looked at and altered to fit the desires of the new executive, after which it faces a final vote by the incoming BOD. >> | Law students fight for Afghan refugee By Michal Tellos
News Editor August 5, 2009 A group of UWindsor law students are hoping their actions can finally put the human rights case of Benamar Benatta to rest.
 Benatta applied for refugee status in Canada on Sept. 5, 2001, but was handed back to U.S. authorities shortly after 9/11. There, he was kept in a high-security prison, partially in solitary confinement, and experienced conditions that the U.N. identified as torture.
He did not receive legal assistance until late April of the following year, although it was determined by the FBI in November of 2001 that he had no connection to terrorism.
Benatta was offered a plea bargain several times, but he refused to deny his innocence.
The Benamar Benatta Working Group, formed earlier this year, seeks foremost for Benatta to be compensated by the Canadian government, but more broadly to prevent such abuses from occurring in the future. >> | Japan, Canada swap cultures on campus By Michal Tellos
News Editor August 5, 2009 The Freed Orman Conference Centre recently played host to over 40 students from Fujisawa Japan, a sister city of Windsor.
The event, organized by the Global Partners Institute, began with speeches from Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, as well as several delegates from Misono High School in Fujisawa.
This was followed by a series of exchanges between the two nations.
Cultural, athletic, artistic, linguistic, educational and culinary customs were observed and shared by the two nations.
Francis opened the afternoon by treating the visitors like one of Windsor’s own.
“We are very pleased that by being here you are certainly extending to us the strong relationships that we have with Fujisawa, our sister city and friend. It’s good to have family come to visit us. Welcome,” he said.
Francis spoke casually and candidly to the guests, joking that he had heard that the students had already become enamoured with certain Canadian customs, such as macaroni and cheese and potato chips. >> |
