2008 Woodie Awards
SSMU vice-president finance and operations will stay on until January 2
Tobias Silverstein, the Students' Society vice-president finance and operations, has explained that he resigned last week due to professional concerns with his portfolio. In statements to SSMU Council and the Tribune, Silverstein explained that he was unable to remedy discrepancies between the constitutional and day-to-day interpretations of the VP finance and operations portfolio.
Referenda period opening with one less question than planned
The Students' Society's fall referenda period begins today, after four days of advance polling, but it will do so with one fewer question than originally planned. At a SSMU Council meeting last Thursday, councillors voted to remove a question on a proposed increase to the university's Administrative Charges fee.
McGill contemplates options
The Quebec Public Interest Research Group has requested arbitration for their ongoing autonomous opt-out dispute with McGill University. According to QPIRG, the university's administration directly violated the Memorandum of Agreement between McGill and the organization.
California disallows gay marriage in vote
Despite heavy rain on Saturday, at 1:00 p.m. 30 to 40 McGill students and members of the Montreal community gathered outside the Roddick Gates to protest the passage of Proposition 8 in California, eventually making their way to the American consulate. Proposition 8 amended California's constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman, effectively overriding a recent state Supreme Court decision that had recognized same-sex marriage as a fundamental right.
Charest and McGuinty reaffirm plans for high-speed passenger train Premiers Jean Charest of Quebec and Dalton McGuinty of Ontario reaffirmed their plan to create a high-speed passenger train connecting their provinces at last Monday's first ministers' meeting, and called on the federal government to support the construction financially.
Alouettes hosting the Calgary Stampeders in Sunday's big game
With the 96th annual Grey Cup championship game rapidly approaching, Canadian Football League and Montreal Alouettes fans are looking to the Grey Cup village to satisfy their football fever. Located downtown at Place du Canada, the tent village will feature a flag football field, multiple performance stages, and large screens for fans who couldn't obtain tickets to the big game.
Many Canadian schools, including McGill, forced to cut spending due to impact of ongoing financial crisis
For McGill and other Canadian universities, this year's ongoing financial crisis has generated uncertainty as to how programs and initiatives will be affected by losses in the value of endowments. With weaker endowment portfolios, many universities have been forced to make cuts to student awards, financial aid, research chairs, salaries, and other programs.
Remembrance Day event commemorates Holocaust, Rwanda victims
Students, professors, and community members convened in Chancellor Day Hall on Remembrance Day last week to commemorate the victims of genocide. "Generations of Genocide" was presented by Students Helping Others Understand Tolerance, Hillel Montreal, Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, and the Jewish Law Students' Association in collaboration with the McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.
I hereby give notice of my resignation from the position of Vice-President (Finance & Operations) to take effect on January 2, 2009. I assumed the position of the Vice-President (Finance & Operations) in May as there was no other eligible candidate after the resignation of Peter Newhook.
