MacHall mediation extended for third time

By Fabian Mayer and Kate Jacobson, March 24 2016 —

For the second time this week, the University of Calgary and its Students’ Union have agreed to extend their mediation over MacHall’s ownership. The mediation period, which expired today, was extended until April 15 at 5:00 p.m. This is the third time the mediation has been lengthened.

The SU made their dispute with the university over the building’s ownership public after years of negotiations on a new operating agreement stalled last September. The two sides engaged in a bitter back-and-forth over the content of the agreement, which was originally set to expire on Dec. 9, 2015. University administration stated that they planned to assume control of the building on this date.

Both parties initially agreed to a mediation period on Dec. 4, 2015 — just hours before a court was set to rule on an injunction that would have allowed the SU to maintain temporary control of the building.

The original mediation period began on Jan. 18, 2016. It was extended for the first time on Feb. 26 and for a second time on March 21.

“All legal proceedings have been put on hold during the mediation period, and the Students’ Union continues to operate and manage MacHall under the terms of the current License of Occupation, Operating and Management Agreement,” reads a statement on the SU’s website.

Both the university and the SU have refused to speak publicly about both the mediation and the subject matter of the mediation since December of last year.