EDMONTON — Construction on a new facility dedicated to students at MacEwan University will get underway in the spring after students voted in favour of a fee hike in order to help fund the project.
A referendum was held at the university last week, asking students if they would support paying an extra $35 per term in student fees to help pay for the new Students’ Association building. About 77 per cent of the students who cast a ballot voted in favour of the fee hike.
“You know, here we are as MacEwan, we’re growing, we’re becoming this vibrant hub in downtown and now they voted to say, ‘we are a part of creating our legacy,'” said Brittany Pitruniak, president of the Students’ Association of MacEwan University.
“Our legacy is MacEwan, but also as SAMU. We don’t have a building. They are going to be able to drive by and say, ‘I voted for that.’ And some of our students are going to be the first users in that building.”
Over the past few years, MacEwan University’s campuses have been centralizing at the downtown location, leading to an increase in programs and people. But the buildings at the downtown campus weren’t able to serve the needs of the increased population.
The new Students’ Association building will house food services, study spaces and room for clubs. It will be located next to the Sports and Wellness building, and be integrated with the existing pedway.
The Students’ Association says students will not begin paying the fee until the building is open.
The plan still has to be approved by the university’s board of governors.
The university hopes to break ground on the $40-million project in the spring with an opening date scheduled for 2018.
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