Referendum vote could impact students’ health

By Taylor Busch

CP Editor

 

The Student Representative Council of St. Clair College is looking to increase health benefits and costs for students if enough students vote yes in next week’s election.

According to the St. Clair College website, the last time students voted in a referendum was nearly five years ago when students voted in favour of SportsPlex facilities for the school’s South and Chatham campuses.  Members of the SRC are confident students will vote yes again on this issue which will benefit thousands of students for years to come.

“We are looking to expand health coverage for the students of St. Clair College so they will also be covered for vision and dental work on top of the benefits they’re already receiving from the college,” said Olivia Bauer, vice president of Downtown Affairs.  “We felt our students really need this increase so they can be able to complete their studies without having to worry about extra costs.”

Bauer said the council spent many months negotiating the terms of the new coverage to make it as affordable as possible for students.  If the referendum is passed, students who choose to keep their coverage can expect to see an extra $130 added to their tuition expenses each year they attend the college. Students who choose opt-out of the coverage will be given a refund of approximately $257.

Sanu Basheer Mohamed is an international student taking business at the college.  She said she does not support the referendum because she can barely afford her tuition and living expenses as they are now.

Brandon Williamson from the marketing program said he thinks students can benefit from increased coverage and the college should be looking at some of the companies and unions in Windsor to find the best way to do it.

“Personally, I think it could be a huge selling point for the college,” said Williamson. “The better our benefits are, the better our school will look to the students who are coming in because they’ll see St. Clair has benefits other colleges and institutions don’t have. It could become a huge selling point for the college and draw a ton of new students here.”

Under the new coverage, students would be entitled to $150 for glasses and/or contacts, $75 for vision exams and consultations and up to $750 for dental screenings, x-rays, minor restorative procedures, extractions and oral surgeries.  In addition, periodontic and endodontic screenings and major restorative procedures would be covered at 10 per cent of their total cost.

“It’s important to vote yes because as students, we already have so much to worry about and we don’t tend to think about things happening until they’ve happened, so God forbid you break a tooth or worse,” said Bauer.  “But there’s very good coverage with this new plan and I believe it will help students whose parents don’t have full coverage and don’t have an extra $750 just in case something happens to them.”

Students are encouraged to participate in the referendum by voting at one of the many voting stations that will be set up on college campuses from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25.  Bauer said information packages and SRC members will be available to voters on those days so they can make an informed decision before casting their vote.  At least 51 per cent of students must vote yes for the referendum to pass.