16 July 2014
WPIRG Forced to Move out of SLC
The WPIRG Board of Directors would like to inform our members and volunteers that the Federation of Students (Feds) has terminated WPIRG’s lease for our current office at the Student Life Center, effective as of July 31st, 2014. We were notified of this decision in May and have since been working with the Feds Board of Directors and Executives in the hope of reaching a mutual agreement for our continued use of this space. We presented the Feds Board of Directors with a statement from 13 different Feds Clubs, Services and Student Societies who strongly believe that WPIRG belongs in the SLC. However, the Federation of Students has chosen to uphold the eviction. We are disappointed with this decision and will be looking for a new home beginning next month.
As a student-run, student-funded volunteer organization, WPIRG belongs in the Student Life Centre, a building that is meant to be the hub of student life on campus. For the past 20 years, WPIRG has served students from the SLC and has been a significant part of student life on campus. The Federation of Students’ decision to remove WPIRG from this building will make it more difficult for students to connect with WPIRG and take advantage of the volunteer and extracurricular opportunities our organization offers. We believe this decision works against student interests and against Feds’ mandate to serve and empower students at UW.
Although students will no longer be able to find us in the SLC, we are no less committed to serving our student membership and will continue to do so as we have in the past. Our regular programming will continue during the 2014-2015 school year, and as always, plenty of volunteer opportunities will be available. We will be holding regular office hours on campus, and will send out more information about our new space as details are finalized. If you are interested in discussing this further, please attend our Members Meeting on July 17th in SLC 2105B.
We would like to thank all of our active members, volunteers and supporters for the hard work and support you have provided us in the last year. We hope to continue to work with you in the coming years to improve student life on campus and in our communities through WPIRG’s mandate of social and environmental justice. If you have further questions, please contact us at info@wpirg.org.
Sincerely,
The Board of Directors,
Waterloo Public Interest Research Group
