Burnaby, British Columbia – October 27, 2016 – Embark Sustainability Society is putting forward a referendum question to SFU undergraduate and graduate student members to ask for a one-time increase to their current contribution. In 2010, undergraduate and graduate students voted to become members of Embark (previously Sustainable SFU) and contribute $2 as full-time students and $1 as part-time students per semester to the society. The referendum that was passed did not account for rising costs over time related to inflation and program expansion. As a result, despite Embark’s demonstrable value to the student body and their growing list of achievements, they are experiencing a lack of sufficient revenue, impacting their ability to provide programming, advocacy, and grants.

Embark is asking for a one-time increase of $1.50 for full-time students and $0.75 for part-time students per semester, resulting in a per semester levy of $3.50 for full-time students and $1.75 for part-time students. If the referendum question is approved, Embark will be able to make up for past and future losses due to inflation, expand their current programming to all SFU campuses, and continue to advance students’ sustainability interests on campus.

Embark’s programming benefits both graduate and undergraduate students. In the past four years alone, they’ve…

• Hosted close to a hundred free events for students – such as Career Nights, Bike to Work Week, Community Kitchens and Food Education Days;
• Trained dozens of students through the Peer Program – an 8-month intensive program where students have the opportunity to implement sustainability projects at SFU while receiving professional development workshops;
• Distributed over 1,000 pounds of recovered produce to SFU students and community members since the launch of the Food Rescue program in June 2016;
• Facilitated and helped launch SFU’s zero waste policy;
• Established the Learning Garden at SFU Burnaby, helping more than 25 active university groups tend plots, encouraging collectively grown sustainable produce.

The referendum vote for undergraduate students through the Simon Fraser Student Society will begin on November 15th at 12 am and end on November 17th at 11:59 pm. The referendum vote for graduate students through the Graduate Student Society will begin on November 29th at 8 am and end on December 1st at 11:30 am.