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Volume 35, Issue 20
www.mediumonline.ca
Residence costs increase FIONA BUCHANAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
The cost of living at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus is going up again for the 20092010 school year, the result of recently approved budgets by the Erindale College Council. Held on January 29, the Resource Planning & Priorities Committee meeting presented budgets for Food Services Management and Residence Management, as well as for Conference Services Management and Parking Services. The committee announced that rental charges for undergraduate residences will be increased by an average of 5.5 per cent in 2009-2010 while rates for family and graduate rentals will go up by 3.25 per cent. Last year student housing rates increased by eight per cent for undergraduate students and four per cent for families and graduate students. “The fact that residence is increasing its prices is a real concern for residence students and future residence students,” explained AlyKhan Madhavji, a first year representative with UTM Student’s Union. “We can see some of the residences have gone up nearly 12 per cent, which is a substantial financial burden on residence students.”
Photo/Matthew Filipowich
Erindale College Council recently approved increases to residence fees, which will mean that student costs have increased up to 12 per cent in the last two years. The OPH cafeteria is also increasing prices, between 3.5 and 4 per cent, which Chartwells insists is smaller than increases in the general marketplace. Also announced was that due to the economic slowdown, UTM plans to negotiate with Chartwells, the food service provider for UTM, to
minimize food price increases to 3.5 – 4 per cent. According to the Food Services Management report, this would be lower than the reported 7.6
the No Frills grocery at South Common. For example, one litre of Sealtest 2 per cent milk is $2.98 at OPH, and only $2.17 for the Neilson brand at the grocery store. The cost of Ruffles Regular Chips is $3.98 if bought on campus, compared to $2.99 at No Frills. If Chartwells only increases the price of food by 3.5 per cent and the price at No Frills goes up by 7.6 per cent, a student would still pay $4.12 for the same bag of chips they could get for $3.22 at No Frills. Residence students must purchase a meal plan in order to live on campus. Students could shop at other grocery locations instead, but that would be an extra cost above the meal plans they must pre-purchase at the beginning of every academic year. The price for student meal plans will also increase by 2.3 per cent on average the next school year, but the actual monetary value of the required first-year plans will not go up. Although the reason for the increase in prices of meal plans was not directly addressed, the committee noted that upper-year meal plans will have the benefit of being fully exempt from taxes commencing in September 2009.
per cent increase of food in the general marketplace. But the price of food at OPH cafeteria is already high in relation to
See Many Students page 3
Mardi Gras Pub kicks off break CHRIS SA’D SPORTS EDITOR
UTM experienced a night full of metallic beads and outrageously flamboyant costumes in a crowd more than eager to celebrate Mardi Gras in the most festive way possible. On February 12, the Blind Duck Pub was transformed to host the UTM Mardi Gras Pub night, which saw a better turn-out than expected. UTMSU and the UTM Residence Council collaborated to organize the party just before reading week, all in the purpose of getting students into the spirit of traditional spring break
parties. It was two years ago when a similar theme was produced by UTMSU in the hopes of uplifting the spirits of UTM bookworms and influencing them to party laced with a little Louisiana spice. Approximately 250 students attended the bash this year, a turnout considerably bigger than two years ago This year, UTMSU VP Campus Life Johnny Ho and Kristian Jurlewicz, President of UTM Residence Council, combined their time and effort in producing one of the better pub engagements of the school year. “We feel the regular pub nights do not contribute much to student life on campus, and Mardi Gras is right before reading week,” Jurlewicz explained. “We want to enrich the student experience.” The affair began with some pyroentertainment, which included a bout
of fiery sword spinning right outside the pub next to the line-up of attendees. Inside, go-go dancers were propped on two corners near the stage, dancing in glittering skirts and sliding up and down an invisible pole. This went well alongside two masked peacocks busting a move on stage. “We know what Mardi Gras is about and we wanted to try to bring it to our fellow students,” Ho said during the party. “This is a party to relieve stress and to forget about studying for a night.” The pub was under parental guidance, however, with no explicit language or Mardi Gras traditional extremes. It was ultimately a night with mostly awkward dancing and light drinking, all within a comforting atmosphere. The trend of Mardi Gras Pub Nights is set to continue at UTM. Let’s see if next year’s bash will top last week’s proceedings.
Photo/Lara Matiisen
Pyro performers outside the Blind Duck Pub.