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Referendum Questions
The following questions have been put to ballot by the SFSS Forum, a representative body consisting of members from every Faculty and Departmental Student Union as well as the recognized constituency groups of the SFSS (Residence Hall Association, Out on Campus and the Women's Centre being active members).
These questions are placed concurrently on the online ballot with the SFSS Election period, set for 17-19 March 2009.
Active Undergraduate students who wish to register a "yes" or "no" side have until Thursday Noon, 26 February 2009. For more information on registering a campaign please contact the Independent Electoral Commission: [email]elections@sfss.ca[/email] or through their website, http://elections.sfss.ca
Question 1: Increase in CJSF Fee
Whereas CJSF Radio is a student-supported radio service providing free training to student and community volunteers in broadcasting and journalism and has not had an increase in fee levy in over 12 years, and
Whereas CJSF would like to improve its service and accessibility to students by establishing a satellite studio in conjunction with the W2 project adjacent to the new downtown SFU Contemporary Arts campus, and
Whereas CJSF requires national advocacy support for issues such as CRTC regulation and copyright via a strong student radio movement and the National Campus/Community Radio Association
Do you agree to an increase of 75 cents per full-time students (38 cents per part-time student) on the current $3.00 ($1.50 per part-time students) allocated to the campus radio station; with 25 cents of this increase (13 cents per part-time students) going to the National Campus and Community Radio Association?
Question 2: Society Affiliations
Whereas last March 66% of SFU students who voted chose to leave the Canadian Federation of Students; and
Whereas membership in said organisation was a toxic and problematic arrangement; and
Whereas the Canadian Federation of Students is an ineffective organisation;
Do you agree to the following, in order for the Simon Fraser Student Society to avoid entering into a binding contract with an extra-univerisity student association/federation or society for at least the next five years, that,
1) No SFSS Board of Directors or meeting of Forum can vote to reinstate or acquire membership in an extra-university student association or other similar body
2) That the Simon Fraser Student Society will remain independent of any extra-university association or similar body for at least the next five years
By Law Change 1: Updating External Relations Officer Position Description
Whereas SFU undergraduates are no longer members of the Canadian Federation of Students and therefore, there is no need for us to have a liaison to this body:
Do you agree to amend By-Law 4. (1.) (c.) to read "Act as a liaison between the Society, and other student unions," and thus remove reference to the Canadian Federation of Students?
By Law Change 2: Prevention of Outside Interference in Elections
Whereas it's annoying enough having to deal with SFU undergraduates pushing their wares on you without non-SFU undergraduates engaging in the same annoying tactics; and
Whereas it's against current election policy to allow outside campaigners to interfere in SFSS elections; therefore,
Do you agree to the addition of By-Law 14 (15) (b.) which reads; "Only Members of the Simon Fraser Student Society may campaign for or on behalf of candidates or referenda during any election period,"?
By-Law Change 3: Democratic Reform to SFSS Forum
Whereas SFSS Forum is an advisory body to the Board of Directors and therefore it makes no sense that directors have a vote on said body; therefore
Do you agree to the following By-Law amendments in order to give forum an independent voice?
Delete By-Law 7 (2) (a.) and rearrange all following clauses of By-Law 7 accordingly, this currently reads "Forum shall consist of: a. The members of the Board."
Add By-Law 7 (5) to read, "Notwithstanding By-Law 7 (2) members of the Board of Directors shall be honorary members of Forum as referenced in By-Law 1."
By-Law Change 4: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
Whereas membership in external provincial and national student organisations in the past has been subject to dubious standards of accountability; and
Whereas external provincial and national organisations have limited the constitutional charter rights of undergraduate students to freedom of association; therefore,
Do you agree to the creation of By-Law 22 and amendments to By-Law 17 as written in "Appendix A" setting standards of accountability for membership in external national and provincial student organisations?
Appendix A: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
[Creation of] By-Law 22: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
1. The Society may become a member of a provincial or national student organisation that requires the Society or its members to pay a membership fee to that organisation, but only if the Society and the organisation enter into a binding, written agreement, which will remain in effect as long as the Society is a member of the organisation. The agreement must guarantee the following:
a. The Society's membership in the organisation does not preclude the Society's membership in other organisations.
b. The organisation will make its by-laws, policies and minutes available online to all members of the Society within three (3) months of their approval.
c. The organisation will, within two (2) months of receipt of a written request from any member of the Society, provide to them a copy of any document in care or control of the organisation not lawfully required to be kept private.
d. The organisation recognizes that the Society reserves the right to terminate its membership in the organisation according to the Society's by-laws and policy and according to any of the following procedures:
i) by resolution of the Board if the Society joined the organisation by resolution of the Board;
ii) by resolution of a General Meeting if the Society joined the organisation by resolution of the Board or by resolution of a General Meeting; or
iii) by referendum in any case conducted in accordance with By-Law 17.
2. If the Society terminates its membership in an organisation as described in By-Law 22(1) by any means other than referendum, and if the Society normally collects a membership fee from its members on behalf of that organisation and remits it to that organisation, then the Society will immediately cease collecting fees.
3. If a resolution is put to referendum to terminate the Society's membership in an organisation as described in By-Law 22(1), and if the Society normally collects a membership fee from its members on behalf of that organisation and remits it to that organisation, then a resolution to cease collecting the membership fee shall be automatically put to referendum according to By-Law 17 to occur concurrently with the referendum on ceasing membership in the organisation.
By-Law 17 (3) amended to read:
Resolutions may be put to referendum by a simple majority vote of the Board or Forum, except where prohibited by these By-Laws, or upon presentation of a petition to the Board which contains the text of the proposed resolution and the signatures of five percent of the members in good standing of the Society, or according to By-Law 22(1)(d) or By-Law 22(3).
These questions are placed concurrently on the online ballot with the SFSS Election period, set for 17-19 March 2009.
Active Undergraduate students who wish to register a "yes" or "no" side have until Thursday Noon, 26 February 2009. For more information on registering a campaign please contact the Independent Electoral Commission: [email]elections@sfss.ca[/email] or through their website, http://elections.sfss.ca
Question 1: Increase in CJSF Fee
Whereas CJSF Radio is a student-supported radio service providing free training to student and community volunteers in broadcasting and journalism and has not had an increase in fee levy in over 12 years, and
Whereas CJSF would like to improve its service and accessibility to students by establishing a satellite studio in conjunction with the W2 project adjacent to the new downtown SFU Contemporary Arts campus, and
Whereas CJSF requires national advocacy support for issues such as CRTC regulation and copyright via a strong student radio movement and the National Campus/Community Radio Association
Do you agree to an increase of 75 cents per full-time students (38 cents per part-time student) on the current $3.00 ($1.50 per part-time students) allocated to the campus radio station; with 25 cents of this increase (13 cents per part-time students) going to the National Campus and Community Radio Association?
Question 2: Society Affiliations
Whereas last March 66% of SFU students who voted chose to leave the Canadian Federation of Students; and
Whereas membership in said organisation was a toxic and problematic arrangement; and
Whereas the Canadian Federation of Students is an ineffective organisation;
Do you agree to the following, in order for the Simon Fraser Student Society to avoid entering into a binding contract with an extra-univerisity student association/federation or society for at least the next five years, that,
1) No SFSS Board of Directors or meeting of Forum can vote to reinstate or acquire membership in an extra-university student association or other similar body
2) That the Simon Fraser Student Society will remain independent of any extra-university association or similar body for at least the next five years
By Law Change 1: Updating External Relations Officer Position Description
Whereas SFU undergraduates are no longer members of the Canadian Federation of Students and therefore, there is no need for us to have a liaison to this body:
Do you agree to amend By-Law 4. (1.) (c.) to read "Act as a liaison between the Society, and other student unions," and thus remove reference to the Canadian Federation of Students?
By Law Change 2: Prevention of Outside Interference in Elections
Whereas it's annoying enough having to deal with SFU undergraduates pushing their wares on you without non-SFU undergraduates engaging in the same annoying tactics; and
Whereas it's against current election policy to allow outside campaigners to interfere in SFSS elections; therefore,
Do you agree to the addition of By-Law 14 (15) (b.) which reads; "Only Members of the Simon Fraser Student Society may campaign for or on behalf of candidates or referenda during any election period,"?
By-Law Change 3: Democratic Reform to SFSS Forum
Whereas SFSS Forum is an advisory body to the Board of Directors and therefore it makes no sense that directors have a vote on said body; therefore
Do you agree to the following By-Law amendments in order to give forum an independent voice?
Delete By-Law 7 (2) (a.) and rearrange all following clauses of By-Law 7 accordingly, this currently reads "Forum shall consist of: a. The members of the Board."
Add By-Law 7 (5) to read, "Notwithstanding By-Law 7 (2) members of the Board of Directors shall be honorary members of Forum as referenced in By-Law 1."
By-Law Change 4: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
Whereas membership in external provincial and national student organisations in the past has been subject to dubious standards of accountability; and
Whereas external provincial and national organisations have limited the constitutional charter rights of undergraduate students to freedom of association; therefore,
Do you agree to the creation of By-Law 22 and amendments to By-Law 17 as written in "Appendix A" setting standards of accountability for membership in external national and provincial student organisations?
Appendix A: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
[Creation of] By-Law 22: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
1. The Society may become a member of a provincial or national student organisation that requires the Society or its members to pay a membership fee to that organisation, but only if the Society and the organisation enter into a binding, written agreement, which will remain in effect as long as the Society is a member of the organisation. The agreement must guarantee the following:
a. The Society's membership in the organisation does not preclude the Society's membership in other organisations.
b. The organisation will make its by-laws, policies and minutes available online to all members of the Society within three (3) months of their approval.
c. The organisation will, within two (2) months of receipt of a written request from any member of the Society, provide to them a copy of any document in care or control of the organisation not lawfully required to be kept private.
d. The organisation recognizes that the Society reserves the right to terminate its membership in the organisation according to the Society's by-laws and policy and according to any of the following procedures:
i) by resolution of the Board if the Society joined the organisation by resolution of the Board;
ii) by resolution of a General Meeting if the Society joined the organisation by resolution of the Board or by resolution of a General Meeting; or
iii) by referendum in any case conducted in accordance with By-Law 17.
2. If the Society terminates its membership in an organisation as described in By-Law 22(1) by any means other than referendum, and if the Society normally collects a membership fee from its members on behalf of that organisation and remits it to that organisation, then the Society will immediately cease collecting fees.
3. If a resolution is put to referendum to terminate the Society's membership in an organisation as described in By-Law 22(1), and if the Society normally collects a membership fee from its members on behalf of that organisation and remits it to that organisation, then a resolution to cease collecting the membership fee shall be automatically put to referendum according to By-Law 17 to occur concurrently with the referendum on ceasing membership in the organisation.
By-Law 17 (3) amended to read:
Resolutions may be put to referendum by a simple majority vote of the Board or Forum, except where prohibited by these By-Laws, or upon presentation of a petition to the Board which contains the text of the proposed resolution and the signatures of five percent of the members in good standing of the Society, or according to By-Law 22(1)(d) or By-Law 22(3).
Comments
So, what it is trying say is that if you want a fee increase for better entertainment from our radio?
Question 2: Society Affiliations
What, you can't ban people from voting a certain way because they are a part of SFSS! That's not democracy! That is like the retarded priest in the US that demand his congregation to confess because they voted for Obama. NO!
By Law Change 1: Updating External Relations Officer Position Description
We are not too sure if we are out yet. But hey, whatever! YES!
By Law Change 2: Prevention of Outside Interference in Elections
I voted against the CFS last year because I want to get them out of my face. Since I found that having external people heckling for you will only do more harm than good, I will have to vote NO just to see how much more EPIC the FAIL will be.
By-Law Change 3: Democratic Reform to SFSS Forum
Uhh, yes?
By-Law Change 4: Accountability in External Provincial and National Student Organisations
How about instead of demanding accountability from external body, can we please demand some accountability from within SFU itself (ie Student Service)?
NO, until they start addressing issues within SFU.
I walked by there one morning at 5 am and they were playing bird sounds. Gtfo.
Question 1: give more money to the CJSF to expand; and better advocacy for good causes
Question 2: ban the SFSS from joining the CFS for the next 5 years
By-Law Change 1: housekeeping stuff
By-Law Change 2: Ban CFS from flying in goons in the future.
By-Law Change 3: take away board's voting power in forum
By-Law Change 4 (a): SFSS will only join student organizations that commits to transparency and allow us to leave easily.
By-Law Change 4 (b): make it easier to put questions to referendum
I would only listen to CJSF if they picked a decent music format and stuck with it. I don't want to ever hear African tribal drums, or bird sounds, or talk radio. I also don't want to hear thrash metal one hour and classical guitar the next. My ideal radio station would be something like Victoria's Zone, but without the "hit" songs (because campus radio stations aren't allowed to play hits).
Mostly though, I just want some consistency.
2. No. It's an unnecessary rule. I'm no fan of the CFS, but what if they offered us free candy? We'd obviously have to get back in.
By-Law 1. Sure, why not.
By-Law 2. No. Why ban people from campaigning? That's just undemocratic.
By-Law 3. Don't really care.
By-Law 4.a Good advice, but I see no reason to make it a by-law.
By-Law 4.b Sure, why not.
Why exactly do we need to ban ourselves from joining something, can't we make up our own minds?
I wasn't going to vote as usual, but if Joe Paling runs again I'm going to be sure to vote for the other person and just ignore the sneaky changes. Looks like last times referendum taught them not word things sneakily.
If so, yeah, I am voting for anyone but Paling.
For By-Law change 2, it's not a ban on campaigning, it's a ban on outsiders from campaigning. Any SFSS member (aka all SFU students) are unaffected. It makes sense to limit campaigning to SFU students, since we're the ones who are subject to any changes, not outsiders.
People will raise hell in the peak if that happens.
This sounds like some vendetta of the outgoing people in power to ban the CFS, it just looks sad on their part and I doubt itll pass.
"Andy Shen, who ran unsuccessfully for university relations officer in last year’s election and was endorsed by Paling, has entered the race for member services officer — putting him in position for the presidency if both he and Paling were to win their respective contests and Paling were to resign."
Look, there is no rule against President resigning right after they win. Look, they may encounter some extenuating circumstances that may lead to their resignation (ex: sickness, RTW, family, burned out, schooling, assassinated [oh wait]). So having a President Shen is not out of the question. As much as I want CFS to get out of my face, I just think that these proposals are very undemocractic and I will vote no on them all.
Oh, wait, according to his Facebook he also goes to UBC.
Okay, UVic.
Oh, again, according to his Facebook he goes to UVic.
. . .
P.S: Sorry about the Meet-Up Thread. I debated with myself about rather to add your name onto the list after you expressed that you are not interested in going. It all came down to a coin toss.
That is just the low-level douchebaggery Joe Paling and Andy Shen would pull.
Fucking cunts. Who the fuck decided Paling would make a great student society president? Him being a raging alcoholic aside, the guy is an idiot.
So, who are we all going to vote for for him to go down?
As for who, it doesn't really matter as long as the people who are in on this vote for the same guy. How this works is that we will all vote for one candidate instead of spreading our votes out among everyone else who is running. If we do the latter, Andy may still win because he is the one with the most vote.
Using a "real" life example, instead of people wasting their votes on people like Ralph Nader and other third party candidates, EVERYONE who doesn't support Bush votes for Al Gore in the 2000 Election.
I now keep him on Facebook for the "lulz". (* Took the guy's name out for privacy reasons? I don't know, I just took it out for the heck of it.)
FALLING OUT?!?!? POLITICAL DRAMA?!?!?!
But seriously, when is the voting and who are we all voting for?
a bunch of ppl have andy on fb and can see it
Q1: YES
Q2: NO!
Bylaw Change 1: Sure, whatever.
Bylaw Change 2: YES.
Bylaw Change 3: Who cares? Yes, sure.
Bylaw Change 4: YES.
Anyway, Bylaw change 4 does everything Q2 does, but without being quite so blatantly retarded, or as alarmingly general.
and endorse me as I am running for FAS rep.
Back to the endorsement issue, now that everyone knows about TalkSFU (thankyou Morro), is it a good idea for TalkSFU to start endorsing candidates? Well, we obviously give our FAS Rep endorsement to JayDub. What about other candidates? If anyone cares, here are my suggestions...
President: Ada Nadison
Not CFS and beautiful, the perfect combination. Besides, the other candidate, Natalie Bocking, is sucking the dick of the B.C. Chairperson of the CFS of Students Shamus Reid (both figuratively and literally) as we speak. So that pretty much is a conflict of interest. Natalie Bocking will do a terrible job representing SFU students because she remains a CFS sympathizer even though we voted to leave CFS. How can we trust her to represent us when her CFS sympathy doesn't even reflect our wish?
Member Services Officer: Mona Law
I found that Mona Law seems to be the "cool head" in the chaos and infighting that characterized SFSS over the past year. Also, the other cadidate is Boogyman, I mean, Andy Shen. Since it seems to be popular to hate Andy, we definitely endorse Mona Law as she is NOT Andy and more experienced. If we divided our support between Mona Law and Nigel Tunnacliffe, Andy will win.
Internal Relations Officer: Andrew Fergusson
His statement regarding PolSci reflect how some people have long viewed the PolSci Department, that they are immature, nostalgic, and should grow the fuc* up. Regarding his CFS sympathy, we should have at least one CFS in the board just to be the "opposition". Besides, he is the internal officer, I think the worst he can do is to have a CFS coffee mug on his desk.
Faculty of Applied Science Represenative: Joshua Weissbock
Our very own JayDub, need I say more?
I gave that list IN CASE we ARE interested in endorsing candidates in SFSS elections.
With that said, I think JayDub would make a great FAS rep. I've noticed that he doesn't get involved in the games that most politicians play...and that's what keeps him down to earth.
I'll vote for JayDub of course =]
Just my $0.02. Well, unfortunately, I do not think we Arts students are allowed to vote in the Applied Science election. We can only vote for the Faculty Representative of our own faculty. Ex: FASS students can only vote for FASS Representative and FAS students can only vote for FAS Representative.
However, we can definitely help JayDub by convincing our Applied Science friends to vote for JayDub. We can start off with Flora and Nicole, our two Communication major members.