Ubyssey Staff, The Ubyssey, November 6, 2013– Sauder School of Business dean Robert Helsley said at a press conference on Monday that he was still hopeful his students would fund the remaining $200,000 of the $250,000 commitment he coerced from the CUS leadership and told the the media about on Sept. 18 — before anyone had a chance to vote on whether to put the quarter of a million dollars toward unclear goals.
Since students just voted down the funding by a margin of three to one, this seems unlikely. And it’s understandable why they rejected the referendum: it’s a vague commitment to a vague and unnecessary position that was conceived only to placate the local and national media who pounced on Sauder after The Ubyssey broke the CUS FROSH rape cheer story.
This crude public relations stunt has failed. Stop trying to make fetch happen, Robert.
Anything Sauder does in response to the chant and the cultural problems it points to should be a well thought out and meaningful contribution to changing the atmosphere around sexual violence on campus and in the business school. The proposed curriculum changes Helsley has announced will require followup, but they seem like a good start.
Sauder also said they will bridge the gap in funding between what the CUS can pledge over their objection of their members — $50,000 this year, $100,000 over the next two years if they choose — and how much it would cost to hire a new counsellor, or whatever the money was planned to go toward. We’ll see.
“We’re looking for some leadership,” Helsley told the media.
Us too. Perhaps it’s time to look in the mirror, Bob.
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