Usually, elected Students' Union officials take six separate group retreats, to plan the upcoming year. This year, they'll be houseboating in British Columbia from Sept. 28–30, 2002 at the cost of $6,500.

What the heck is "bling bling," anyway? For the Students' Union, it was a fundraising drive that pitted U of C 101 students in a race to raise the most money for Cystic Fibrosis research.

However, it was not just a simple matter of collecting as many of the required pennies as possible. Groups could sabotage the opposing teams' progress by placing other denominations of money in their buckets.

At 1:19 a.m. on Wednesday, the Students' Legislative Council found that Academic Commissioner Gavin Preston violated the su Governance bylaws by lying to SLC. The decision to suspend Preston from his slc and Students' Academic Assembly duties until he apologizes in writing to slc came after over two hours of deliberations by the slc Committee of Hearing, which refused the option of sending the matter directly to the su Review Board.

Almost two months after Students' Union Academic Commissioner Gavin Preston commented about commissioner remuneration, he will face a hearing on charges of breaking SU bylaws. Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday September 10 in Council Chambers, the hearing may determine if Preston is responsible and impose sanctions, or refer the matter to a Review Board.

At issue are Vice-President Academic Rosie Nagra's allegations that Preston over-reported the number of hours he worked in June, and was hence overpaid by Nagra.

Political strife and disagreement claimed the careers of many politicians: Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte and Paul Martin to name a few. Students' Union Academic Commissioner Gavin Preston may become the latest victim if proceedings to be brought by SU Vice-President Academic Rosie Nagra against him succeed.

"For some reason or another, Rosie decided to get rid of me," Preston said. "It feels like I'm being beat upon."

During the Students' Legislative Council meeting on Tue., July 23, Academic Commissioner Gavin Preston brought forward the issue of commissioner remuneration.

Currently, vice-presidents and the president discuss the pay in a confidential process. According to su President Matt Stambaugh, they try to ensure equitable remuneration.

"I think the system is fair, but there is always room for improvement," said Stambaugh, who was a commissioner for two years before becoming president.