Thread by @ptaggart

There can be no doubt that the Ontario Government Student Choice Initiative will have a profound impact on campus life & the student experience. The effect will also be felt by surrounding communities of each university and college campus. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

The impact of a system asking students to opt out of fees they don’t use or wish to pay, will dramatically impede a student unions ability to function. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Much like it would destroy any municipal, provincial or federal government tax base if tax payers were given the ability to choose which taxes they want to pay. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

‘Why should my student fees pay for a university club or service that I don’t use’ is really no different than ‘why should my taxes pay for improved public transit when I don’t use transit?’
#fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

The ability to cherry pick what fees/taxes we want to pay for is a very slippery slope. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Students vote for their governing representatives each year and they have the opportunity to vote on every new proposed fee, either through referendum or General Assembly. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Their elected representatives are responsible for how student fees are spent within the structure of the governing bylaws, policies & constitution of the student union. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Students are responsible for ensuring their elected representatives are acting in their best interest & within the framework of the governing structure. Just as citizens are responsible for holding their elected representatives accountable. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

At McMaster, elections to student government positions are overseen by the Elections Department msumcmaster.ca/sra-generals #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Student fees @ Mac fund 350 clubs each year. Some large & well established & some quite small. Collectively student clubs raise well over $100,000 each year for charitable causes. $100,000! Funds raised directly benefit the #HamOnt community. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

The MSU Pride Community Centre (@msu_pride) is an integral part of the MSU and campus community. It started out as GLBAM, a campus club back in the day, and became an MSU service in the mid-1990’s. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

The MSU Childcare Centre is a service of the MSU providing educational care for the Mac student community & community at large. The loss of 50+ licensed child care spaces would be deeply felt in the community particularly for student parents. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

An independent media is vital to campus life. @theSilhouette has published a weekly paper covering campus and community news, every single year since McMaster moved to #HamOnt in 1930! The Sil employs an Editor-in-Chief and 18 undergrads in various editor positions. #onpse

So many budding journalists and media people have been involved @theSilhouette over the years. Gary Lautens, Adrian Humphreys, Dave Thomas…to name just a few. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

.@933CFMU has been broadcasting on campus since the early 60’s, and to the wider Hamilton community since the 70’s. The station has incredibly diverse programming. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

.@933CFMU has been promoting & supporting local arts and the Indie music scene in #HamOnt since way before it was cool. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

For over 20 years, @msucampusevents has hosted @MSUCharityBall, an annual student formal that’s raised over $250,000 for local #HamOnt charities. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

Some of the beneficiaries of Charity Ball have included the Eva Rothwell Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Good Shepherd Centres, @YWCA_Hamilton Transitional Living, Micha House, The Wever Community Hub and many, many more. #fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

.@msucampusevents hosts a Battle of The Bands competition each year showcasing bands from McMaster. Back in 2006, the winner of Showoff 2006 was a relatively new little band called Charlemagne.

Charlemagne later became known as @arkellsmusic. We like to take a tiny bit of credit for their phenomenal success :) #HamiltonsFavouriteSons
#fundedbystudentfees #ONpoli #onpse

So many more MSU departments, services and initiatives exist because they’re #fundedbystudentfees at McMaster. Their continued existence depends on the results of the Student Choice Initiative as it plays out in September. #Onpoli #onpse