Background

In 2020, UMSU repurposed the former clubrooms in the Helen Glass Centre (rooms 116-127) without consultation from the very clubs that depended on them. Despite citing various reasons for this move, it has come at the expense of student clubs.  For example, the Photography Club faces a recurring existential threat, having again lost the darkroom they petitioned for back from UMSU in 2020.

Replaced by a booking system meant to improve utilisation, these rooms’ supposed efficiency remains dubious. The rooms were used as storage until mid-October, and efforts to obtain information on the rooms through inquiries to the Physical Plant and Freedom of Information requests were unsuccessful, leaving students uncertain as to how these rooms are being managed.

Having passed no motions or consulting any clubs, the re-purposing of the rooms in 2020 represents a unilateral decision made by past UMSU executives. It has failed to make an improvement to student life, and clubs remain sidelined on the priorities of UMSU to this day.

Who We Are
This movement is made up of 13 student clubs who've come together from across the university. Our assembly of clubs represent the social and hobby clubs that exist within the university under UMSU. The clubs that make up this movement are:

• UMAnime
• UM Chess Club
• UM Movie Club
• UM Model United Nations
• All Aboard Club
• UM Book Society
• Musical Kaleidoscope
• UM Esports
• UM DnD
• UM SOMI
• UM Pep Band
• UM Crochet Knitting Enthusiasts
• UM Photo Club

What We’re Looking to Accomplish
We are petitioning UMSU to dedicate specific clubrooms for hobby and social groups. We will be launching a series of motions at the next UMSU Board of Directors meeting to call an investigation into the utilisation of the former clubrooms. This investigation should analyze and disclose room usage data, detailing how frequently and effectively these spaces are being utilized. If the findings reveal inefficiencies in the current booking system, we will propose reallocating 5 of the 11 bookable rooms to serve as dedicated spaces for hobby and social clubs. We’ll be looking to establish a student run library, a games room, a musical studio room, a networking room, and a studio for artists and small entrepreneurs managed between our clubs. This leaves 6 rooms for booking, not including the 5th floor University Centre meeting rooms already designated for student group bookings. 

Why This Matters
Unlike faculty-affiliated or externally supported groups, our clubs rely entirely on UMSU for resources and support. We offer spaces for all students to engage, explore, and belong, regardless of faculty association or identity. Understandably rooms are limited; however, the current booking system fails to account for the unique needs of each club. More than just reclaiming clubrooms, this is an affirmation of the role student clubs play in making the university a vibrant community. We’d like to start the conversation of how all clubs – not just ours, can be better served moving forward. As well, we want to demonstrate that change can come from students, not just decisions being made top-down without any regard as was done in 2020. 

Our goals include:
Addressing the reputation of the University of Manitoba being a commuter school by creating spaces where students have a stake in the school. This encourages students to stay, connect, and collaborate on campus.

Providing equitable access to facilities amid increasing competition for bookings, especially as faculty spaces become more exclusive.

Aligning with national best practices of top schools like U of T and UBC, whose unions champion student initiatives and provide dedicated spaces. While the U of M may have fewer resources, UMSU has lost sight of its purpose: empowering students and prioritizing their needs. 

This is a movement to foster student life and reinvigorate the student clubs of campus, who have been sidelined by UMSU for the last few years. As well, this is an exercise in asserting the student voice, to reinforce the principle of student self-governance that UMSU is supposed to stand for.  UMSU serves students, not the other way around.

We call on your support to challenge the status quo for the benefit of all clubs. And much more than clubs, it's time to reaffirm the rights of the union’s true constituents—the students.

Supplementary Material:

July 2020 Manitoban article of Photo Club's loss of darkroom and troubles with UMSU

Photo Club's 2020 Petition to UMSU

UMSU's original communication to clubs announcing club room closures​

Successful case study of student-run library in UBC

University of Toronto Student Union’s Club Spaces Application policy, a point-based assessment that would mitigate UMSU’s concerns of favoritism/abuse of power by their execs/candidates.