USC concerned with Access Copyright deal; urges Western to reconsider

The University Students’ Council (USC) is pleased that students will be refunded a large portion of the $30 Access Copyright fee levied by Western for this academic year, but is very concerned that Western has chosen to renew its license for another two years.

“We applaud the University for returning fees for this year, but we see this as short-term relief given that students will be assessed a $27.50 fee next year,” says Andrew Forgione, USC President.

The University has indicated that they will pay a portion of this fee in the amount of $2.50.

At the November 23^rd, 2011 meeting of the USC Council, councilors approved a motion urging Western to end its licensing agreement with Access Copyright and follow the lead of many other Canadian universities – including Queen’s University, the University of Alberta, Dalhousie University, and the University of Waterloo – that ended their licensing agreements this year. The full motion can be found here.

“Other leading universities have pulled out of Access Copyright, which has saved their students money without having a negative impact on teaching and scholarship. Western has chosen to minimize the risk of litigation, and students are left to foot the bill,” says Patrick Searle, USC Vice-President University Affairs.

The USC is also concerned that Western will levy a new Access Copyright fee without seeking student approval, or without holding meaningful consultations. $27.50 represents an 850 per cent increase in the fee, compared to the fee in 2010.

“Increasing a student fee by 850 per cent without having a meaningful consultation with students is very concerning, and we’ll be in contact with the provincial government as we believe this increase violates the Ministry’s ancillary fee regulations,” says Searle.

The USC will continue to express its concerns to Western, and hopes it will reconsider the decision to renew its license with Access Copyright.

For more information, please contact:

Patrick Searle
VP University Affairs
University Students’ Council
usc.university.affairs@uwo.ca
519-661-3574

Andrew Forgione
USC President
University Students’ Council
usc.president@uwo.ca
519-661-3574