Students say no to Symons Campus centre

Students have said no to the creation of a student centre on Symons Campus.

Nearly 900 students voted on three questions pertaining to the acquisition of student space during the November 6 - 9 referendum held by Trent Central Student Association (TCSA). TCSA President Derrick McIntosh called the voter turnout "fairly good."

Students were asked to agree or disagree on the creation of a student centre, as well as TCSA management of student pubs in partnership with college cabinets, and the establishment of a student-housing cooperative in Peterborough.

Eighty per cent of voters favored a pub partnership and eighty-one per cent favored the establishment of a student-housing cooperative. Fifty-six per cent said no to the establishment of a student centre.

The vote against the creation of a student centre does not mean that the subject is closed, McIntosh said. "In spite of the negative results the need for student space still exists. We have clubs and groups competing for space all the time. We are now meeting with as many of them as possible to see how we are going to make certain that we can replace, increase or improve our space."

McIntosh says TCSA is hoping to establish student committees to work on the pub and the housing projects. TCSA executive will take a leadership role on the pub issue and plans to enter into discussion with the university about next steps. He said another group would be established to research ways of getting funding for the development of the housing cooperative.