On Nov. 26, the student councils for the McLaughlin, New, Vanier and Founders colleges concluded their petition-signing phase as part of their push to hold a referendum on student levy changes for the first time in over 20 years. Should the votes be validated, their planned referendum will be held next semester. No date has been set as of yet.
In an Instagram video posted on the official student council pages, the presidents of each college spoke about the specifics of the referendum, which was touted as “direct democracy in action.” For students wondering about topics like scholarships and food insecurity, the post highlights that the referendum is “literally the solution.” Students were encouraged to get involved by signing a petition that was circulated through a QR code distributed both online and on campus.
These levies are to “help ensure student life resources can keep up with inflation and growing student needs,” according to New College Council President Giorgi Sharabidze. He also added that due to rising costs, the current funding “no longer allows us to provide the same level of services, programming, and support to students as in previous years.” The referendum also represents an important opportunity to reinvest in student life, ensuring future students can benefit from stronger services, programming and community support.
April Cole, President of the Founders College Student Council, has said the councils are “asking to adjust the LA&PS and EUC Colleges levy from $0.95 to $1.45 per credit, with future increases tied to the Toronto Consumer Price Index, so it can finally keep pace with the real cost of running student services.” Currently, the levy is the only source of funding for college student governments. For the college councils, everything from orientation week to academic support sessions, and even cultural celebrations come from the current $0.95 levy — but since this hasn’t been changed since the 1990s, rising costs have meant current funding cannot keep up. Costs for food, space rentals, AV tech, security, transportation and supplies have, according to Cole, “gone up dramatically, but our budget hasn’t. The colleges have done what they can, but they have been struggling recently to maintain even the basics without having to cut student programs.”
Through this referendum, the colleges also hope to gain sustainable funding, stronger and more inclusive student support, the ability to keep events and support affordable, and the strengthening and expansion of financial support for students. For Cole, students “shouldn’t lose opportunities because the budget hasn’t kept up with reality.” More student support would go towards services like academic help, peer mentorship, and equity-focused work. Strengthening financial support would also give students more meaningful help through bursaries. With the current cost-of-living crisis, keeping events and support affordable would ensure students do not bear the brunt of these costs.
Aside from strengthening existing bursaries, the colleges would also be introducing new awards recognizing equity, leadership, community involvement and financial need, and creating more scholarships for student leaders, volunteers, and “higher achievers.” Cole also added that the colleges hope to offer small academic or professional development grants to help with a variety of issues, including emergency situations. “These supports may seem small on paper, but for students working multiple jobs, supporting families, or navigating school with limited resources, they can make an enormous difference in their ability to succeed and stay engaged at York.”
With the possibility of this referendum, Cole says the councils are ultimately hoping for a university experience where every LA&PS and EUC student feels supported, welcomed, connected, and valued not just academically, but as “whole human beings navigating a challenging world.”
