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An upcoming referendum at the Uniâ€" versity of Waterloo threatens to divide the students‘ union. Federation of Stuâ€" dents president Wim Simonis is heading up a drive to withdraw the student union from the Ontario Federation of Students, and he is directly opposed by a group led by student viceâ€"president Bob Elliot. The student body finds itself in the middle of the two factions, and will be asked to vote either for or against an OFS membership in a referendum Nov. 14. Elliot announced Monday his support for the OFS, which will cost University of Waterioo students over $35,000 for memâ€" bership this year. He said the OFS continues to be the most important lobby group for Ontario Vote threatens student unity By Mark Wessel universities when dealing with the proâ€" vincial government. We do have a voice (belonging to the OFS), and if we get out there‘ll be a lot more work to do," Elliot said. "In the past they used to hold strong protest marches, but now they‘re doing more lobbying,"‘ he said. "An example is the meetings they have with cabinet ministers every few years to discuss a revised OSAP (Ontario Student Assisâ€" tance Program)." He said the OFS may seem less visible in provincial politics than in recent years because the organization is going through changes in techniques. Elliot charged the student president with "jumping too quickly" to opt out of the OFS and refusing to attend more OFS meetings to voice his grievances. ON UW CAMPUS In a pre; conference Monday, Simonis said he decided not to attend the last OFS meeting because his concerns were not being heard. Previous meetings "were very much disorganized,"‘ he said, addlngodiscus- sions ‘"‘were getting away m the regular student."‘ * .‘‘They were so concerned about makâ€" ing sure half their delegates were either female, black, or gays and it ended up lacking real student representation.‘" Simonis charged the OFS has become ‘"a very topâ€"heavy bureaucracy with about twoâ€"thirds of student fees collected going towards salary benefits."" He said about $220,000 will be spent paying staff and members of the elected executive branch this year out of OFS‘s $360,000 budget. WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981 â€" Help for aged wanted These old people are all residents of poor, thirdâ€"world countries, where there are no pensions, medical help or often even adequate shelter. They have no friends or family who can care for them. The basic requireâ€" ments of these destiâ€" tute old folk are being met by one of the carâ€" ing bodies, approved by Help the Aged. Adoptâ€"Aâ€"Gran is a personal way of showâ€" ing an old person who has nothing, that you care. For just $12 per OKTOBERFEST OPEN HOUSE When you succeed... we succeed. THURSDAY > & FRIDAY _ OCTOBER 15,16, 1981 Thursday 10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. KING and HERBERT. WATERLOO 824 KING ST. WEST, KITCHENER (across from Kâ€"W Hospital) &# ROYAL BANK At The Branches Listed Below: Friday 10 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Simonis said he will hold a meeting later this week to decide the referendum wording, which he promised "*won‘t be as confusing as the fluoride referendum" held in Waterioo this past summer. If The Federation of Students breaks with OFS, Simonis doesn‘t know how the $35,000 membership fee will be used, but he predicted Waterioo students would get equal or better lobbying from their own union with the Davis government. ‘‘When the committee for future roles of universities in Ontario was held we gave our own presentation (apart from OFS). And I think ours was more effective because we used faculty and grads as well as undergrads." The referendum was called Sunday after the student council voted eight to seven in favour with one abstention. This small amount of money, by our stanâ€" dards, buys so much. With it they can purâ€" chase supplementary food, clothing, medical supplies, and the few extras that make life worthwhile. For more informaâ€" tion contact Adoptâ€"Aâ€" Gran, Help the Aged, 44 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 311A Toronto, or phone (416) 489â€"1146. month, Canadians can adopt a ‘Gran‘ and are encouraged to write letters to this newest member of their famiâ€" ly. PAGE 11 ,