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UMSU hardship fund more than half depleted

$12,000 of $20,000 fund has already been spent

Colton McKillop, staff

The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) hardship fund is more than half depleted only two weeks into the start of classes due to an increase in students requesting financial aid, according to UMSU vice-president student life Tracy Karuhogo.

UMSU’s budget allocates $20,000 for the hardship fund each year, and so far $12,000 has been distributed, much more than is usually spent by this time in the year.

The hardship fund, administered by UMSU’s vice-president student life, provides aid to students needing emergency financial assistance who have utilized all other resources available to them.

Karuhogo said that students may receive up to $500 per semester for costs associated with child care, health care, rent, urgent bills and other general needs such as groceries or school supplies. The fund cannot be used to cover the cost of tuition, textbooks or credit card bills.

Karuhogo encourages interested students to consult UMSU’s website, where they can access more information about the fund, including categories students can apply for.

She blamed the increase in applications on inflation and highlighted the role that rising rent and grocery prices play in students’ financial difficulties.

“Rent is just becoming outrageous,” she said.

As of July, Canada’s rate of inflation was 7.6 per cent, while Manitoba’s was even higher at 8.8 per cent.

Karuhogo pointed out that

students often have difficulty finding good-paying jobs, and that international students specifically have a limited earning potential. “International students are only allowed to work twenty hours in a week, so definitely that limits their budget,” she said. Karuhogo also said she may ask UMSU to reallocate funds from other areas of the budget where the money is “not being used as much.” “After October 15, I am able to apply to the “After October 15, I am finance committee and just kind of appeal to able to apply them” to the finance committee — Tracy Karuhogo, and appeal to them and tell UMSU vice president student life them we need more money allocated to a specific area,” she said. Karuhogo cautioned that the hardship fund “can’t be a continuous solution,” and called it a “band-aid for students.” “We do need more longterm solutions when it comes to giving students more jobs or increasing hours for inter-

staff Ebunoluwa Akinbo / photo /

national students,” she said.

“I think [the] hardship fund is just a band-aid for all the situations that students are going through, and the government or the university has to provide more resources for students to get jobs or more opportunities for students to be working.”

If you are in need of financial assistance, visit https:// umsu.ca/services-and-support/hardship-fund/ or email vpsl@umsu.ca for more information

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Student group for Latinx and Hispanic students forms

Advocacy, welcoming, community building cultural group’s goal

Matthew Merkel, staff The University of Manitoba Latinx-Hispanic Student Association (UMLatinx) arrived on campus this month. The group aims to represent Hispanic students as well as students of Latinx background, including people from Central America, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

UMLatinx vice-president Ivan Nuñez Gamez, comment editor at the Manitoban, said that he helped found the group after learning about other cultural student organizations on campus and realizing that his own community needed one. He said that the goal of UMLatinx is to be a culturally sensitive entity that will advocate for and welcome Latinx and Hispanic students to the U of M.

“It’ll give us a voice on campus,” Nuñez Gamez said.

“We have the International Student Organization, we have faculty representatives and we have club representatives. We don’t have a Latinx voice in there.”

Nuñez Gamez said that UMLatinx’s ability to organize quickly and connect with students have been the group’s biggest accomplishments so far. However, he recognized that UMLatinx will need more new members if it hopes to have future success. Nuñez Gamez encouraged all Latinx and Hispanic students to join the group.

After a flag raising for central American and Mexican independence on September 15, Nuñez Gamez said that UMLatinx will be celebrating Latin American Heritage Month in October. He added that UMLatinx is also in talks with U of M student groups and other external organizations about future partnerships.

Nuñez Gamez is hopeful for the future of the UMLatinx. As one of few Latinx and Hispanic student groups in Manitoba, he thinks that the group is in a position to potentially become a helpful organization for students across the province.

“I really hope it stays for a long run,” Nuñez Gamez said.

“I hope someone actually is interested in leadership and actually jumps in and takes the rails of this club, because it’s very important. It’s very important for our community.”

Pablo Mejia said he joined UMLatinx to meet people and help others. He said that it is often difficult for international students to come to and feel welcome in a foreign country. He hopes that UMLatinx can help make the process easier for newcomers.

“The first few weeks it was

staff / Ivan Nuñez Gamez photo /

hard, and you kind of feel really unencouraged to continue your life here, because you don’t really know anyone,” Mejia said.

“You’re new to a university, a new country and you don’t speak the language. Getting to see everyone happy and excited to help each other, it’s really cool.”

Mejia said that Latinx and Hispanic people are generally very accepting and welcoming people. He recommends that more students join the group, and explained that it is a great opportunity to meet people, take part in events and learn about different cultures.

“While getting involved you get to meet a lot of people, both international and Canadian,” Mejia said.

“Also, you get to share your experience and hear from others, helping you grow as a person and also as a part of the community.”

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