Carleton University's administration is withholding funds that belong to the school's student unions, according to the president of Carleton's undergraduate association.
"They're trying to push us up against a wall by not remitting our income," said Alex Sirois, president of the Carleton University Students' Association. "This is money that belongs to the students."
CUSA, along with the Graduate Students' Association, applied to a judge Wednesday to force the university to hand over the funds which are gathered when students pay their tuition. A portion of tuition fees are reserved for membership in student associations.
Sirois estimated the school is withholding about $3.5 million which CUSA needs to run various student services on campus.
He alleges administration is withholding the money to force them to sign new fee agreements that he says will give the university an unfair amount of power.
"They want to be in control of what we do," Sirois said.
University administration, however, says it isn't withholding anything.
"CUSA and the GSA have been invited to request the funds required to operate their organizations," said spokesman Jason MacDonald in an email. "No student groups or campus clubs have been denied the fees required to operate their services."
GSA president Kimalee Phillip said that having to apply for the funds is new this year and an unnecessary measure enacted by the administration.
