AMS strikes JDUC Working Group

On Sept. 21, the AMS announced a new working group to oversee the creation of a new JDUC. 

The group will focus on marketing and communication strategies to improve the project’s appeal to students. 

In an interview with The Journal, Student Life Centre Managing Director, Chloe Draeger, said feedback from last February’s referendum will guide the group moving forward. 

“We’re taking [student feedback] and finding ways to channel it into future development in the project. One thing we’ve reimagined since last year is that we’ve created a system of engagement directly between the students and between the architecture of the project itself,” she said.

Draeger added feedback from students led the working group to hire an architect to secure a complete design package. 

The working group is also projected to launch a large-scale student engagement survey that will affect the building’s design. It’s expected to appear within the next couple weeks. 

From previous feedback, Draeger identified affordability and limited understanding of the building’s new features and elements as key concerns.

She said the new JDUC working group has taken this into consideration, and are crafting a response.

 “Students were asked to pay too much into the project so we’re exploring every avenue right now to make sure that its an affordable fee and that the cost of investing in future generations of students don’t fall on those who are the least able to pay them,” she said.

Draeger added the working group is taking measures to directly address these concerns, pointing to financial assistance proposed to the University. 

“This is why we are advancing a $1 million student aid bursary attached to the fee over the course of the project so that will make the project most affordable to students who will least be able to pay out that fee,” she said. 

The JDUC Working Group is set to introduce structural plans for the building in the upcoming Winter referendum. 

City Council extends official patio season

Kingston City Council voted Tuesday to extend the patio season until the end of November. The vote passed unanimously 11-0 with two councillors absent.

During debate, Williamsville District Councillor Jim Neill suggested council could also begin patio season earlier than Apr. 1. 

Deputy Commissioner of Operations-Transportation, Sheila Kidd said in response there wasn’t sufficient “enthusiasm” about that idea due to poor weather in March.

Kidd then conceded, saying patio operators would be allowed to appear during the last week of March, rather than the last three days of the month.

According to The Kingston Whig-Standard, Neill joked climate change may push operators to ask for an earlier opening date in the future.