Looking back on 2009-2010
The year flew by, as they have a way of doing. When it comes time to hang our hats for the summer, we often forget how much we’ve been through in a year at Bishop’s. And so, to jog your hazy, exam-stuffed memories, here is a recap of the notable Lennoxville events of 2009-2010.
In a disastrous welcome back, the school year opened in flames when two fires broke out in town. Around 9 p.m. on the night of September 9, an electrical fire was reported at 3053 College Street, home to six students and many locals.
Shortly after 1:30 a.m. the same evening, the apartment above the Korvette store caught fire due to a candle-related incident. Seventeen students in that building were left homeless.
Despite their difficult situation, the affected students remained resilient, bolstered by generous donations from local businesses and students, emergency loans from the business office, and support from friends.
Last summer, the federal and provincial governments granted the university $4.5 million to renovate the Johnson science building. The administration hopes that modernized labs will help lure more students to studies into the natural sciences department.
The renovated building will feature new lab equipment, as well as updated ventilation systems. The renovations are slated to begin this summer.
The governments also awarded Bishop’s nearly $30 million for massive renovations to the Plex, including a new double gymnasium and an 800-seat arena. The university is confident that these renovations will be finished sometime in 2012 – in time to host events for the 2013 Canada Games in Sherbrooke.
It wasn’t until January that we finally saw a little action from the SRC, although not the kind students would hope for.
On the 17th of our first month back, it was announced that the VP Academic, Sam Ho, was facing impeachment, following the submission of a petition with thirty signatures that called for his removal.
The SRC Executive Committee initially voted 15-2 in favor of dismissal. Because this decision needs to be made at two consecutive meetings, Ho had two weeks to improve, and evidently swayed more than a few of his fellow councilors: in the second vote, the executive voted 9-8 to keep him in office.
The SRC continued to make headlines into February during their election period. Violating three clauses of the Council’s constitution, President Brad Leung extended the nomination period for all positions, and the elections were declared invalid before they even had a chance to take place.
According to the SRC’s governing documents, nominations can only be extended by the CRO, and only if there are no nominees for that position. Because voting was postponed to restart the electoral process, the ballots were long and plentiful when the time finally came.
Included in this year’s election season were three referenda: Bixi Bikes, an SRC fee hike, and the ban on bottled water.
Bixi Bikes, a proposal from ACE*Bishop’s that would see bikes available at four locations on and off campus, was rejected by students 371-153; the proposed SRC fee hike, intended to supply the council with more money for staff salaries and other projects, was also rejected by students with a vote of 409-269.
The only referendum that passed was the ban on the sale of bottled water on campus, which had a 73.6% positive vote. In March, The Campus reported that “the phase out of bottled water would not be completed until this time next year, at best.” This is due to ongoing contracts with vendors.
Finally, the story that seemed like it might never be resolved: the College Street crosswalk. Last year’s Council’s push for a flashing light at the dangerous crosswalk near Reed Street was left to current President Brad Leung, and the problem has dragged on throughout the year, with constant rumblings of discontent from students and staff. However, one week before a planned student protest, a substantial flashing light was installed above the crosswalk.
Not a bad way to wrap up another noteworthy year inside the deceptively quiet Bubble.
