empower student spaces & services

A referendum is a vote where all members of the Students' Union get to decide on a specific issue or proposal. It's a way for students to have a direct say on important decisions, like changes to the Students' Union's priorities, services, or fees. Every student gets one vote, and the outcome is based on the majority.

It’s one of the most democratic tools we use to make sure your voice helps shape what happens in your Union.

In our recent survey, here’s what students shared:

Where VIU services are falling short:

• Food is too expensive and options are too limited.

• Lack of accessible, welcoming spaces—you want more lounges, better study spaces, and social environments that aren’t designed top-down.

• Student priorities are being ignored, and services are being reduced across campus.

What Students Want from Students’ Union (VIUSU) Spaces:

• Affordable and diverse food options you actually want.

• Entertainment, social spaces, and student-driven events that reflect student culture.

• Health and wellness resources that go beyond the bare minimum and are shaped by student feedback.

For Clubs & Student Groups: A Game-Changer

This building will become the headquarters for student-led initiatives. If you’re part of a club, society, or student group, here’s what you’ll gain:

• More bookable rooms + club meeting spaces

• Dedicated storage + prep space for your events & activities

• Access to a venue fully controlled by students, free from outside limitations

• Potential for VIUSU to fund more projects, grants, and initiatives

No more waiting lists. No more outgrowing small spaces. This is about building a permanent home for student voices.

Through a student-led and student-approved levy.

No outside institution or administration will control this process. The increase in Students’ Union building fees will ensure that this facility is owned and directed solely by students—giving you full authority over how your contributions are invested.

It means autonomy. It means no external management deciding how your building operates. Student ownership ensures your voices drive how spaces are used, which services are prioritized, and how your money supports campus life. It’s about protecting your interests and shaping your experience on your terms.

We’ve outgrown it—and more importantly, we don’t currently have the student-led financial resources to make meaningful upgrades. With no student-controlled funding for major renovations or expansion, we’re limited.

This referendum unlocks the potential to either expand dramatically or build new—with students making the call, not the university.

Students will decide. We envision food options that are affordable, inclusive of diverse dietary needs, and culturally representative of our student body. Gone are the days of being locked into expensive or limited food options chosen by outside decision-makers.

Potentially, yes—and students will lead the discussion. Whether it’s a gym, studio spaces, or recreational facilities, students will determine what best supports your well-being. This building is a blank canvas shaped by your feedback and priorities.

This project will be fueled by ongoing student input. Surveys, town halls, forums—you will be invited to help design, guide, and oversee the process. Unlike VIU’s top-down projects, this is grassroots and student-run, every step of the way.

April 9, 10, and 11. Keep an eye on your email for your voting link. Your vote is your voice—use it to secure student-led control of our campus spaces.

A “yes” vote means students reclaim ownership over the next generation of student spaces. Planning will begin immediately, with full student oversight on every stage of design, development, and budgeting. The levy will begin in September 2025, funding a future where students call the shots.

If the referendum does not pass, we will continue operating out of our current limited space—but without new, student-controlled funding, our ability to expand or improve services will remain minimal, and VIU’s influence will continue to overshadow student-led initiatives.

By choosing to pay it forward, we free up Students’ Union resources that are currently being reserved for future projects. This means we can redirect funds toward initiatives that benefit students right now. It helps us expand programs like the free Breakfast Bar, grow our Grants Program, and invest in expanded resources for clubs. While we’re committed to creating a better experience for future students, this action also has a direct and immediate impact on making campus life better for current students.

We’re paying forward a better future for the students who come after us. Because of VIU’s shortfall, students today aren’t getting the full experience they’ve paid for. But just like past students made sacrifices to create opportunities for us, we now have the chance to invest in the next generation. It’s about leaving things better than we found them and making sure future students get the experience they deserve.