U of R Women's Centre files legal claim against URSU for 'withheld' student fees
Court documents obtained by the Regina Leader-Post show the Women's Centre filed a statement of claim against the U of R Students' Union (URSU) near the end of March.
It alleges that approximately $200,000 in student fees are being 'withheld' by URSU from the 2024 spring, summer and fall semesters as well as the winter 2025 semester.
The centre wants those fees to be paid, along with unspecified punitive damages from alleged harm to its operations caused by the delay.
Also requested is a court order to stop URSU from terminating its service agreement with the Women's Centre while legal matters proceed, plus an order to prevent the students' union from claiming the centre has failed to comply with its service agreement.
The action is similar to one filed in February by UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity — another group on campus that supports LGBTQ+ students.
The Women's Centre provides study space, counselling, connective supports and bursaries to students on campus, in addition to planning events and doing advocacy work on the topic of women's rights.
No further disruptions as University of Regina Women's Centre succeeds with second AGM attempt
UPDATED: University of Regina students' union denies involvement in Women's Centre disruption
Both organizations have been part of a months-long dispute triggered when URSU claimed the centres have been non-compliant with their service agreements.
The dispute went public in late 2024 after URSU's board of directors proposed a student referendum to stop fee collection for UR Pride and the Women's Centre. The referendums did not go ahead.
UR Pride says its efforts to come into compliance have been unsuccessful after more than a year of working with URSU. The Women's Centre denies being non-compliant.
Nearly all of the Women's Centre's operational funding is provided through student levies, as is a significant portion of UR Pride's funding.
The university recently announced it will end its agreement with URSU to disperse student fees as of August, stating the decision comes amid concerns over the union's finances and governance.
At the time, U of R president Jeff Keshen said in a written statement that the university had 'lost confidence in URSU's ability to serve and represent' its students. Despite terminating the agreement, Keshen said core student services would continue in the fall 2025 term, 'as will the collection of student fees that fund those services.'
lkurz@postmedia.com
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