UMSU’s board gathered on Dec. 4 to share updates and announcements for the student community.
Prabhnoor Singh, UMSU president, updates Canada’s Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), the national voice for post-secondary students representing undergraduate, graduate and polytechnic associations. CASA advocates through research, policy development, awareness campaigns, government relations and strategic partnerships.
During CASA’s 2025 Advocacy Week, UMSU delegates, including Singh and Heaven Kaur, VP university affairs, held over 100 meetings with federal ministers, MPs, senators and other stakeholders. Singh also attended Minister Patty Hajdu’s announcement of $1.5 billion in funding for youth employment initiatives, including the Student Work Placement Program and Canada Summer Jobs.
At the provincial level, UMSU continues to advocate for affordable tuition and international student healthcare, noting that post-secondary education received limited attention in the recent Throne Speech. At the university level, Singh met with Richard Jochelson, dean of the faculty of law, to discuss programs such as the Community Law Centre, Business Law Clinic and Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts. He also met with the director of parking and transportation to address student concerns regarding parking tickets and representation on appeals committees. Ongoing initiatives include updating abortion resources on campus, hosting vice-provost (academic affairs) office hours and supporting individual student advocacy cases.
UMSU women’s representative Leata Goulet announced events to support student well-being. On Dec. 3, a collaborative study night with the Arts Student Body Council and Active Minds allowed students to body double, focus on schoolwork and enjoy giveaways and refreshments from local businesses. From Dec. 1 to 8, students were able to stop by the lounge for complimentary snacks and beverages, with additional supplies planned for January.
Temiloluwa Oyewole, UMSU Black students representative, announced that the Black Students’ Association hosted the second-ever edition of The Junction, an African-centric market event that was a success, with many local businesses selling out. The event included rice and drinks, and a networking session for Black professionals, offering students the opportunity to connect, celebrate and engage with the community.
