SFU students and CFS settle out of court

SFU Students Society no longer a member of the Canadian Federation of Students.

After a long dispute (since 2008), the SFSS and CFS have settled out of court.

This is the text of the statement that was agreed upon Dec 23rd and publicly released today.




"The Canadian Federation of Students and Simon Fraser Student Society Reach Out of Court Resolution.






The Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Federation of Students - Services, Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia Component (collectively, the "CFS Entities") and the Simon Fraser Student Society


("SFSS") have come to an amicable, out of court resolution of their dispute regarding the SFSS voting membership in the CFS Entities.


As part of this resolution it is agreed that the membership has ended.


The agreement was motivated by a desire on the part of all parties to resolve all outstanding issues. The parties have agreed to this common statement and have agreed to make no further public statements regarding this matter."

The Martlet | Students asked to partially fund new facilities

The Martlet | Students asked to partially fund new facilities

The athletics fee issue is back. The GSS was active in the campaign to defeat this last year by calling on the Minister of Advanced Education (now Science and Universities) and the BC Tuition Limit Policy.

some past news on this issue:

Coverage of the campaign victory at UBC Insiders
Some past Martlet coveragae here.

And hey, here's the campaign info from the last time around.

Martlet Story: GSS responds to athletics referendum

Amy Cox and Mike Large have been busy ensuring grad students are heard on the referendum campaign with two recent op eds in the Martlet.

Newest is here:
http://www.martlet.ca/article/20376-gss-disappointed-with-referendum-information

My fave comment is "Why is the GSS so well run?" Thanks, "argh", it's because we have people like Amy and Mike!!

It’s your call: One click could save you $55 per term in athletics fees

Should students pay for a new athletic facility with a “new” $55/term fee (in addition to the current $73/term fee)?

You will be asked to vote on this question October 19-23, 2009 on webvote at https://webvote.uvic.ca

The Graduate Students’ Society is opposed to this fee increase. Here are some of our reasons:

Is this fee increase legal?

The GSS is concerned that the fee increase is not permitted under BC’s tuition limit policy, which caps increases of tuition and fees for current programs at 2% per year. This new fee will be a 75% fee increase for students.

The GSS has sent UVic a letter (PDF) asking UVIC to account for this, and will post any reply we receive on our campaign site here: http://gss.uvic.ca/2009athletics.htm

Who uses and who pays?

In the January 2009 term alone, contribution by students to the Athletics and Recreation budget was $1,082,939.00—without including additional fees paid by students for intramural, weight room, and program fees.

According to UVIC data for January – March 2009, which assumes average usage of 1-3 visits per week, about 30% of undergraduates and 8% of graduate students are using the Ian Stewart Complex (the most popular recreation facility on campus).

Athletics fees: the goal posts keep moving!

Until UVIC purchased the Ian Stewart Complex (ISC), athletic fees increased at a rate almost identical to inflation. Since the purchase of ISC, students have been paying a greater proportion of the cost for Athletics at UVIC each year. In the past decade, the proportion of the Athletics budget covered by student fees has risen from 20% to 38%.

Mandatory fees can be a benefit—if they are less than market rate

Compare this fee proposal to the U-pass... the U-pass costs one quarter the cost of buying a monthly buss pass. Every student pays in, but the cost is kept lower than market rate. In return, transit improves bus service to Victoria campuses.

Now compare the proposed athletics fee proposal to other recreation passes in Victoria *:

No. of terms	Current fee	New fee
One term	$73	$128
Two Terms	$146	$256
Three Terms	$219	$320*
COMPARE
Sannich Rec student pass	285/year
Oak Bay Rec annual pass	$345/year
YM-YWCA pass - family pass	$444/year $780/year

* graduate students will have the option to opt out of the summer term; summer term will be charged at 50%. 60% of graduate students and 20% of undergraduates pay 3 terms of fees per year.

What are the other options?

UVIC says mandatory student fees need to cover 36.7% of the cost of the building—but what are other options? UVIC’s consultation process suggested selling the Ian Stewart Complex as one revenue source. Other options include bigger donor campaigns, a stronger lobby for government support.

UVIC’s facility analysis indicates UVIC will seek to cover costs of the building with the following revenues:

1. New students Mandatory Fee

2. Program revenues

3. Donors

4. Government funding

5. UVIC contribution

What are the arguments in favour of the fee increase?

UVIC made a presentation to the GSS Grad Council about the proposal. It can be found here.

UVIC’s facility analysis (500 pages) can be found here.

UVIC’s/vikes website supporting the fee increase is here

Student facebook group in support of the fee increase is found on the vikes website here

Visit open houses

Help the campaign

Visit the GSS campaign site, download a poster, learn more: all here

SFSS-CFS dispute must be resolved in full trial

Those who were involved in the referendum in which the GSS left the Canadian Federation of Students have been watching the trial resulting from the Simon Fraser vote on the same issue with some interest. Simon Fraser students voted 66% in favour of leaving 2008, but the CFS contests the validity of the referendum. The SFSS tried to get a summary judgement (judgement without trial) affirming the vote was valid, but lost this month--not because they were wrong, but because the jude decided the issue needs a trial to be resolved. The judge's ruling makes for interesting read. And it seems not only SFSS will be paying (part of?) the CFS costs for the summary judgement proceedings but SFSS students are paying CFS fees with their tuition and it seems unclear what is happening to them. Is SFU holding them in trust until this is resolved?

The GSS referendum to leave the CFS (in which our members voted to leave) has not been contested. GSS members voted 57% in favour of leaving the CFS.

Dental referendum vote today!

Don't forget to vote in the GSS dental referendum this week!

Lots of information is posted here:

http://gss.uvic.ca/dentalreferendum.htm

but essentially the choice is to keep the current plan and pay $15 more per year (raising the plan fee to $200 per year) or to keep the current rate ($185) and reduce the maximum claim to $500. Right now the maximum claim per calendar year is $750.

The cost to add your family will likely be $205 per year if the increase goes through.

See ya, Joe, and thanks!

GSS director of Communications Joe Kolthammer has stepped down. The Grad Council passed a motion to thank him for all his hard work, and I want to add my personal thanks.

Joe was first elected in Spring 2007 and worked tirelessly producing four issues of the source, largely without any assistance. To give you a sense of the immensity of this, the magazine to be managed by a part time staff person. However, Joe managed to pull off high quality work with limited resources.

Joe also led the GSS referendum campaign to leave the CFS, and prior to the referendum gave many (frustrating) hours to that dispute. What could have been largely unpleasant was fun because of working with Joe.

This year, Joe didn't stand for re-election. However, when no one stood for the position, he accepted nomination from the floor of the March 2008 SGM and undertook to revamp how the Director of Communications position works--partly with an eye to making it more do-able for a grad student with other full time commitments. Joe also knew that due to the enormous shift in communications, and the work required in producing a magazine, it was time to rethink how we managed our publication and communication strategy.

All this was an enormous amount of work, and I will miss Joe's contribution to the GSS.

Most of all, though, I will miss having Joe around: his always hilarious (but rarely sent) letters to the Martlet, his old green cardigan, and making me laugh (and increasing my vocabulary) with every visit. Oh! And wearing my son's crazy bird costume!

Hopefully all that won't have to change (except maybe the bird costume... that might not bear repeating!).

Ok, maybe once...

Here's to the kudzu of anarchy!

Stacy

Referendum on Health and Dental Plan

Going to the polls... again. (This is it, I swear!)

Grad students will have the opportunity to vote on the coverage and cost of the GSS extended health and dental plans on April 22, 23, and 24th 2008.

The referendum will ask you to choose between the following options:

1. Keep premium at current level with benefit reductions.
2. Increase paramedical coverage to 100%, with $10 co-pay ($230/year, $19.17/month, an increase of $1.58/month
3. Add vision coverage of up to $200 every 2 years ($245/year, $20.42/month, an increase of $2.83/month)
4. Combine options B and C ($255/year, $21.25/month, an increase of $3.67/month)

Choice with the highest number of votes will be selected.

You will be able to vote on webvote and also by paper ballot at the GSS office.

Info on the referendum is here: http://gss.uvic.ca/Healthanddentalreferendum.htm

Info on the health and dental plan is here: http://gss.uvic.ca/health.htm

GSS Party March 20

Need an excuse to cut out early for the long weekend??
Exercise your franchise... and then your drinking arm!

Party for Democracy!

Step one: GO VOTE
March 18-20, 9am to 5pm is polling on the referendum on CFS membership. So... if you haven't already voted by Thursday, better leave the lab/office/corner of a shared desk where you study and get to the polls before 5! (Polling is at University Centre and MacLaurin A wing foyer

then...

Step two: Come to the party!
Starting at 5pm at IQ Bistro in the Grad Centre!!
DJ Westcoast Convolution will provide the tunes, there will be cool prizes, and of course, you can enjoy the friendly camaraderie of your fellow grad students before the 4-day weekend.

Step three: Be first to hear the referendum results!
Referendum ballots are being counted (at a secret location) starting 5pm Thursday. We will hear the results first.. and then toast the referendum process!

Yes and No CFS Campaign websites launched

The NO (campaign to leave the CFS) and YES (campaign to stay) have had their websites approved by the Referendum Oversight Committee.

No Campaign: http://cogitoergono.blogspot.com/

Questions for the No side can be sent to Joe Kolthammer gssdcomm [at] uvic.ca or by phone cell 889-4134

The "Yes" campaign (campaign to stay with the CFS) website is here.

Also, you can contact the CFS yes side with questions etc at campaigns [at] cfs-fcee.ca

General information on the referendum (rules, where to vote, etc) is here.

For those who prefer to read about the synchrotron there is also this site.

Other referenda?

You may have heard there are other students in BC holding referenda on CFS membership. This is true. They are Simon Fraser Students Society (which currently includes both grad students and undergraduates) and Kwantlen College Students Association.

Cape Breton University Students Union has also posted a notice of referendum for next week.

Referendum update

Some news on the referendum on CFS membership.

Referendum Oversight Committee meeting minutes from March 3 are now online and posted
outside the GSS office.

Campaign period has now begun (until March 20), and graduate students interested in campaigning can join a campaign team via contacts here. It is important to remember that campaigners must register with the campaign teams prior to campaigning.

GSS in the news re: referendum on CFS membership

The Muse, a student paper from Memorial U in Newfoundland quoted GSS Director of Communications, Joe Kolthammer, on the CFS referendum on whether UVIC grad students will stay in the CFS last week. Read it online here: http://www.themuse.ca/view.php?aid=40916

In related news (but not quoting anyone from the GSS) Camosun College Students Union has voted to devote money and resources to the referendum campaign on the pro-CFS side. It was reported in York's student paper, The Excaliber, here: http://www.excal.on.ca/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5751

The referendum on whether UVIC grad students wish to remain part of the CFS is being held March 18, 29, 20 at UVIC and information on the process can be found here: http://gss.uvic.ca/cfsreferendum.htm

CFS referendum question, voting method determined

Graduate students at UVIC are going to the polls March 18, 19, and 20 2008 to consider whether to maintain membership in the Canadian Federation of Students.

The Referendum Oversight Committee made the following decisions in their February 4 meeting.

The Question:

The referendum question will be:

Are you in favour of maintaining membership in the Canadian Federation of Students?

YES or NO

Method of voting:
The referendum is governed by CFS Bylaws and is overseen by a referendum oversight committee as per those bylaws.

GSS members should note there will be no web vote in the CFS defederation referendum. Voting will be done at two on-campus polling stations.

Proposed location for the polling stations is the University Centre and the MacPherson Library foyer, but this is subject to bookings so watch for final notice on this on.

Keep up to date
News updates and information on the referendum, referendum rules, etc. will be posted here.

Referendum Oversight Minutes posted

Minutes of the first CFS Referendum Oversight Committee meeting on January 24 have been posted on the GSS website. Have a look!

http://gss.uvic.ca/cfsreferendum.htm#minutes

UPDATE: Feb 4 minutes are now up too.

CFS Referendum Updates

Reformation information website
The GSS has established a website to house information on the upcoming referendum on whether to leave the CFS.

The website is a neutral space meant to keep students appraised of the workings of the referendum oversight committee and thus the rules of the campaign. It will likely link to online campaign material for both sides when available.

Referendum oversight committee
The process of the referendum is a bit convoluted. The GSS served the required 6 months notice, and now a Referendum Oversight Committee has been formed. I am calling it "ROC", affectionately.

The ROC is a 50-50 committee made up of two delegates elected by the CFS and two delegates elected by the GSS. The committee is:

From the GSS:
Nicole O'Byrne (Law) and Takuto Shiota (Philosophy)

From the CFS:
Lucy Watson (Campaign Staff) and Ben Lewis (CFS National Treasurer)

GSS ROC reps "arms length"
The GSS Exec has decided, in consultation with O'Byrne and Shiota, that the GSS delegates to the ROC will be "arms length" from the GSS. The GSS Exec felt it was important for GSS members from either (or no) side of the debate have representation on the committee, and the focus of the ROC be on establishing fair referendum procedures.

Since the GSS Executive has formally supported the petition to leave the CFS, the formal independence of the GSS delegates to the ROC formal was especially important.

GSS Office space to be "campaign neutral"
The GSS executive has also designated the GSS Office as "campaign neutral". All materials related to referendum campaigning will be kept out of Grad Centre 102 to ensure all grad students feel welcome in their student union office with questions about referendum rules and processes.

Referendum Oversight Committee

The Canadian Federation of Students bylaws set down rules for a referendum on CFS membership, including the creation of a Referendum Oversight Committee. This committee is made up of two members elected by the CFS National and two members elected by the Graduate Students ' Society Executive Board.

The GSS has elected Nicole O'Byrne, graduate student in Law and Takuto Shiota, graduate student in Philosophy as the GSS representatives to the Referendum Oversight Committee.

Watch this space and the GSS website for updates on the referendum process and news of the CFS delegates to this committee.

Upcoming issues for grad students at UVIC

At the beginning of each semester I start thinking about what the key priorities will be at the GSS office. I am always a bit overwhelmed at the broad range of subjects I am expecting to deal with, and a bit nervous I am missing something. So here is my list, and I am wondering if others see some I don't?

GSS members have some major decisions to make about our internal affairs.

Building expansion:
Should we expand our building, and if so, how much should we invest in expansion (and how will we get the money?!) Watch for a Special General Meeting in February to look at architects plans and to give your executive board direction on what you want your building to be like, and how it should be financed.

CFS Membership:
March 18-20 graduate students will go to the polls an decide on whether to continue membership in the Canadian Federation of Students. The referendum will be governed by CFS bylaws so the GSS so my big concern at the moment is whether our familiar processes can be used--most of our members use web vote in GSS referenda and elections, but it remains to be seen whether the CFS will agree to that process.

Beyond our student union, grad students also continue to face many other issues in their studies:

Office space continues to be a big concern for students on campus. Perhaps the engineers, with so much experience stuffing themselves into beetles could offer advice on sharing an office with 10 other students (and two desks!)

Expansion of the graduate student population through new provincial funding also poses some problems for our members--what if there aren't enough resources in your department already, and now your population is doubling? Some students are worried they may never find a supervisor.

Funding. After much pressure from both students and university administration, the BC government created a graduate scholarship program in 2007 and redesigned some others, like MITACS. Great news! But is the program design working for graduate students? I would like to hear more from students who are involved in the various funding programs established this year.

Most frustrating to me is that fellowships administration continue to be a problem... and so we continue to be a thorn in the side of the administration. Check out our original report on fellowship policy if you don't know about this issue.

For many students, poverty, housing, immigrant/international students rights and lack of adequate childcare are problems faced in their lives outside of school--but that cause problems academically. Generally support for these campaigns comes in the form of writing letters in support of agencies lobbying effots. For example, the GSS has been active in supporting the BC childcare campaign.

GSS Chair interviewed on CBC Radio

GSS Chair Patrick Reed was interviewed on CBC Radio Victoria's morning show October 10 about the campaign to hold a referendum on defederation from the CFS.

A link to the interview is available here.

CFS Defederation petition

Many of you will have seen petitions in your departments and the grad centre calling for a referendum on membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS).

On Friday September 14, the GSS received a petition with 11.4% of currently registered graduate students' signatures calling for this referendum. Accordingly, notice has been sent to the CFS of a referendum to be held March 18-20, 2008, which is in accordance with the CFS requirement of six months notice of a defederation vote.

If you have read the latest issue of the GSS magazine, Unacknowledged Source you will find an article on the reasons behind the petition, as well as a piece by CFS-BC Chairperson, Shamus Reid discussing the merits of the CFS. Over the next six months, expect to hear more from both sides of the membership debate.

More information on the defederation campaign can be found here:

http://petitioncfs.blogspot.com

Note that students at SFU and Kwantlen College are also holding membership referenda.

More information from the CFS about their campaigns and services can be found here:

http://iamcfs.ca