uAlberta, student union resolve Lister Hall dispute

The University of Alberta announced Monday that its administration and the student union executive have settled a dispute related to Lister Hall residence changes. Last July, among other changes, uAlberta announced there would be no alcohol outside private spaces as of fall 2012 at the residence, and that 3 of 4 residence towers would be primarily for first-year students starting this fall. The student union and the Lister Hall Students' Association were not pleased with the changes, claiming a lack of consultation and damage to the "Lister experience." The resolution doesn't change any rules; instead it is a framework agreement that enhances communication, consultation, and more going forward. The student union's president says there hasn't been a consensus from students on the changes, but the student union is "positively and absolutely" happy their voices will be more easily heard in the future and that there will be more thorough consultation. Major points in the agreement include students being in the majority on the Residence Advisory Committee; the student union providing feedback on the existing alcohol policy; a student representative serving as a member of the hiring committee for the position of assistant dean of students, residence life; and the university seeking staff, student, and community input as part of the review of residence operations related to the changes announced last summer. uAlberta News | Metro Edmonton