Two recently obtained access to information (ATIPP) requests reveal the total project cost of renovations to the offices of senior administrators in the University Centre (UC) at $184,974. The ATIPPs specifically asked for the costs of office renovations for the Associate Vice-President (Academic) Students Donna Hardy Cox and the Director of Student Life Jennifer Browne. However, costs for individual rooms or spaces were not created, and only the total cost was provided. 

Hardy-Cox wanted to change the location of her office from the Office of the Provost to the UC. It seems that she wanted to be closer to the work that she is responsible for overseeing as the Director of Student Life reports to her. So, the university had to make changes to the office areas on the 3rd and 4th floors of the UC to make it happen.

Hardy-Cox’s office, including space for her staff, includes 148m2 or 40 percent of the total floor area renovated. Student Life amounts to 119m2 or 32 percent, Student Support at 67m2 or 18 percent and Chaplaincy at 37m2 or 10 percent. The total area renovated was 371m2.

See ATIPP files below:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

Due to the high level of interest in article MUN’s infrastructure woes (a tour) part 1 and part 2, it was decided to do a third story with more pictures of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s crumbling infrastructure.

See photos below:

MUN’s infrastructure woes (a tour) part 1: https://mattbarter.ca/2021/11/04/muns-infrastructure-woes-a-tour/

MUN’s infrastructure woes (a tour) part 2: https://mattbarter.ca/2021/11/11/muns-infrastructure-woes-a-tour-part-2/

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

A recently obtained ATIPP request reveals the total amount that Memorial University of Newfoundland paid to KPMG firm for the report “Memorial University Economic Impact Assessment” at $103,500.

The report can be viewed here: https://www.mun.ca/main/media/production/memorial/main/files/ECON-REPOY0914.pdf

See below to download ATIPP file:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

A recently obtained ATIPP request reveals the current contracts between Memorial University and Belfor for duct cleaning, duct maintenance and asbestos abatement services.

See below to download file:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

Conveniently leaves out projected costs of the project and no student consultation.

Following an article on November 20th, 2021, with pictures of The Breezeway student bar in bare-bones condition and questioning why it has been closed for months, on November 22nd, 2021, the student union finally released information on the situation.

They posted a letter to the membership of the student union on their Facebook page. They state that “We have some very exciting and long-awaited news for you!” implying that it had to be kept secret until a point that they could surprise the student body. They state that the bar has been closed for almost two years.

According to the letter, the team at MUNSU has been working for months to implement a vision of the space. Starting in Winter 2021, the student union entered the process of renovating The Breezeway. Referring to renovations to The Breezeway by former MUNSU members, they state, “we will be doing way more than rearranging the furniture or throwing on some new paint.”

The student union contracted the design firm, Carvell & Helm, for the project with the goal “to brighten the space, modernize it, make it more welcoming and accessible, and, best of all, they have designed a space for your favorite pop-up vendors to serve food as well as a small coffee shop where you’ll be able to get fairly traded, ethical coffee here on campus.” The student union’s auditors and financial advisors recommended the union start development during the pandemic.

There will be a new mixer room available for clubs are societies to book out and new comfy seating for students who cannot find a place to study or meet with their group for a course project. 

The construction phase of the project is expected to run until the end of the Winter Semester. Additionally, the student union planned to finish the renovations and reopen the bar to coincide with the September 2021 semester. However, there were many construction delays.

The student union conveniently left out the project’s projected costs, and consultation with the broader student body was at no point a part of their plan. A request has been submitted to the student union for the financial information of the project.

See MUNSU Breezeway update document below:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

The Breezeway bar located on Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s campus and run by the MUN student union has been closed for months without any explanation.

All of the door windows are covered with RCS company sheets. On the main door, it states that it is a construction site. However, I did manage to get some pictures of inside the bar.

See below pictures of The Breezeway:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

Students at Memorial University of Newfoundland have taken to washroom stalls to express criticism of president Vianne Timmons after she censured posters calling for her resignation on public bulletin boards.

The drawing in one washroom stall includes the statement, “Me, seeing the MUN President getting pay raises meanwhile I don’t know if I can even come back next semester…”

Furthermore, it then states, “Dear janitor/maintenance, sorry about the graffiti… I just need someone to witness my struggle. Bless you. I’m sorry…”

A student called J.D. wrote, “Whoever wrote this, I witness your struggle. I pray you find a solution.”

Another student wrote, “I witness your struggle.”

It is then written by another person “Vianne is a coward.”

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

A recently obtained ATIPP request reveals the employment contract of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s newly appointed permanent Associate vice-president, research and strategic partnerships (Marine Institute) Paul Brett at $173,870.

The contract is dated June 25th, 2021. Brett reports to the Vice-President (Marine Institute). The position is a member of MUN’s Senior Leadership Groups.

See ATIPP document below:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

A recently obtained ATIPP request reveals the salary and benefits of Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Associate Vice-President (Academic) Students Donna Hardy-Cox at $214,944.

Hardy-Cox’s appointment is for five years and took effect on January 1, 2019. The appointment can be renewed for up to five years, essentially another term.

The university agreed to provide Hardy-Cox with a $21,000 annual research grant.

It was agreed that Hardy-Cox would develop a five-year strategic work plan in collaboration with the provost during the first 6 months of appointment. The purpose of the plan is to serve as a framework for Hardy-Cox’s annual plans, including goals, activities, and outcomes. Hardy-Cox is expected to submit an annual plan at the beginning of each academic year.

See ATIPP document below:

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.

Memorial University of Newfoundland student Cassidy England is a resident in Shiwak Hall in the McPherson building. She states that her on-campus accommodation has several problems like “limited/no hot water, heating issues and other similar problems.”

England has filed many maintenance requests and complaints over the past weeks only to receive no response. She hopes that by going public, “some of these problems can be resolved or at least brought to attention.”

“In my room, the heater is falling off the wall, and in my shared bathroom, the toilet is detached from the wall. Which have both been reported,” says England.

She says that the water takes 10 to 15 minutes to heat up, and then it quickly turns cold again.

With regards to heating, England states, “there isn’t a good seal around the window, so there is a constant draft of cold air coming in, that also makes a whistling noise. When I turn the heat on, it doesn’t cut in for a long time after that, and the room/building is always very cold.”

England states that all these issues have been brought to the responsible Resident Assistant’s attention and filed properly under the residence portal, and nothing has been addressed.

Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.