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Students rally against 4 per cent tuition increase
UMSU advocates for accessible, affordable education
Arifah
Gheesah, staff
UMSU held a rally in front of the U of M Admin Building on April 2 to call on the university’s leadership to stop the four per cent increase in tuition fees and advocate for a more affordable and accessible education.
“[The tuition increase] is really [going to] affect students in a negative way and reduce the accessibility of education for students overall”
— Tharindu Kottegoda, undergraduate student and rally attendee
Tharindu Kottegoda, an undergraduate student and an attendee of the rally thought the rally was “pretty effective.”
“We talked more in depth about how this is going to affect students, how it might lead to them going into debt,” Kottegoda explained. He also mentioned how the increase affects mature students who
will have less time and money to spend with their kids. “It’s really [going to] affect students in a negative way and reduce the accessibility of education for students overall.”
Hunter Reynolds, another attendee of the rally, also thought positively of the event. “It felt like there [were] a lot of different people coming together and it did feel like there was a lot of unity in the crowd.”
Kottegoda currently works a part-time job, but on reflecting on the impact of the increase, he believed that it would lead to working more, studying less and “doing the opposite of what [one wants] to do, which is to get an education in order to give yourself a better opportunity.”
Reynolds mentioned his friends are struggling to afford university. “That worries me a lot,” he expressed.
Kottegoda believed that the best way to move forward is to let members of parliament know. Hunter suggested awareness — to speak to friends and family about it.
For more information and follow-up questions, visit @myumsu on Instagram.
U of M responds to ALC safety incident
Delayed alerts spark campus safety concerns
Arifah Gheesah, staff
The U of M has given a response following a March 26 incident at the Active Living Centre, addressing questions about campus safety and communication with students.
According to university media relations, the incident occurred at approximately 7:35 p.m. and involved individuals who were known to each other. The U of M Security Services (UMSS), alongside the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, responded to the situation.
UMSS identified the location of the suspect and assisted WPS, who made an arrest without incident. Emergency responders cleared the scene shortly after 8 p.m.
On addressing raised concerns about delays in notifying students, particularly through the UM Safe app, the university responded that the app is reserved for situations where there is an “ongoing and imminent” risk to the
broader campus community.
“The situation was contained rapidly due to the quick actions of [UMSS] and emergency services,” the statement read.
Instead of an immediate alert from the app, the university sent an all-student and staff email the following morning, while WPS issued a public release later that day.
The university, emphasizing the role of UMSS in maintaining campus safety, noted that the service operates 24/7 and conducts patrols and crime prevention initiatives.
Students requiring emergency assistance on campus are advised to call #555 on mobile devices using Bell MTS or Rogers Wireless, or on a university phone, or call 204-474-9314 to reach security services directly.
For further updates, students can refer to official university communications and releases from WPS.
PHOTOS BY EBUNOLUWA AKINBO / STAFF
PHOTO BY MIKE THIESSEN / STAFF
STUDENTS PROTEST THE FOUR PER CENT TUITION RATE HIKE ON APRIL 2.
Exiting UMES senior stick reflects on role
Historic president shares journey, community impact and future goals
Nafisa Al Lilo, staff
The U of M highlights student leadership through voices shaping campus life, including biosystems engineering student Simran Gill.
Gill is currently in her final year of studies and has taken on one of the most prominent student roles in the engineering faculty. She is the first woman of colour and tenth woman to be senior stick for the U of M Engineering Society (UMES), as well as the second person to hold the position for two years in a row.
She credits those who came before her as key to her achievements.
“I could not have done it without the women before me [who] walked so I could run,” Gill stated. “It is a great honour and a great privilege.”
The position is the head of the engineering student body, which involves overseeing a large student council and representing the interests of nearly 2,000 students.
Gill said, “Our council is made up of 110 students, and we do everything from social [and] professional events [to]
student outreach.”
Gill was born and raised in Winnipeg, with her family originally coming from Punjab, India. Her academic path is guided by a broader goal of using engineering to support those who are often overlooked.
“I’m really passionate about using engineering for good. So, I’m planning to pursue a master’s in using engineering to help marginalized communities,” Gill said.
The focus is already reflected in her current academic work, which involves collaboration beyond the classroom.
“I’m in a capstone project, and we are building a land shelter in a participatory co-engagement project with an Indigenous community,” she said.
“I’ve been on UMES since my first year as a frosh intern and I really loved the environment,” she said. Gill’s involvement in student leadership began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students were navigating isolation.
Despite the circumstances,
she found connection through student involvement.
“I signed up because I didn’t have anything else to do, and I just fell in love since then,” Gill explained. “Even if I was meeting on Zoom with other students, there was still that sense of community.”
That early experience led her to continue taking on increasing responsibility within the student body.
“It was really just the community and the great support that came through UMES,” she explained.
Throughout her term, one of the most meaningful aspects of the role has been engaging directly with students.
“I really love having our events and overseeing all of our events and seeing the smile on people’s face when they come,” Gill said.
As her term concludes, Gill reflected on the experience with appreciation for the students she represented.
“I just want to say thank you,” she said. “These two years have been great.”
