GOVERNMENT OF THE STUDENTS? BY THE STUDENTS? FOR THE STUDENTS? Feature by Ling Chiu Student apathy is essential to the smooth operations of the Student Society, claim some members of last year’s Students’ Union executives. An examination of their operations calls to question some executives’ resistance to pursue democratic processes. Nicola Sampson, Animation Co- Rep. resigned her position because she was ‘abhorred’ by the undemoc- ratic practices and demoralizing tactics of some members on council. Patrick Gunn, former Graphic Design Co-Rep. says, “a few people on council were more for self-interest rather than student interests.” With a budget of approximately $35,000 a year, and preceded by a past record of serious corruption, can Emily Carr students afford to be indifferent to the decisions of the S.U. executive committee? According to the Students’ Union constitutional bylaws, the elected executives “shall maintain active communications between their departments and the executive com- mittee”. How representative were last year’s executive committee to the students and their departments? What opportunities were Emily Carr students granted by their representa- tives to express their concerns? Jonathan Lander, Photography Co-Rep., says that last year’s council was representative “technically” because the majority of the executive positions were filled, however, there was insufficient communication between the repre- sentatives and the student body. “It is the responsibility of the reps to rep- resent departmental concerns and to bring forward those concerns to the executive council,” says Jonathan, “reps should be going out to get people active and involved.” Linda Szasz, Ceramics Co-Rep. and Chair, has a different view. She says, “The idea of being a rep is that you speak as a student for the student.” Linda believes that unless its an “extremely specific issue”, a representative can make a “general- ization” on the common issues of students i.e.: student loans, econom- ic hardship, studio space etc. “The idea of being a rep is that you speak as a student for the student.” —Linda $zasz To what extent should the execu- tive committee assume decision- making on behalf of the students? Is it solely by virtue of their successful election, even when they don’t have an active dia- logue with the stu- dents they say they “represent”? Brooke Allen, a third year graphic design student expresses her opinion, “I think the student body is so diverse that you can’t make gener- alized decisions for them. There should be better advertising on when and where executive meet- ings are held, and (then) whether students attend or not is another matter. Students should be given the opportunity to make a choice.” As an example, Pam Killin, “Reps should be going out to get people active and involved. ” —Jonathan Lander Painting Rep., prior to joining the executive committee thought that you had to be an official rep in order to participate in student executive meetings. Throughout last year there were no programs or policies put in place within the executive agenda to enhance dialogue between S.U. exec- utives and the student body. Advertising the time and place of executive meetings were limited to the sporadic publication: of the Planet of the Arts, inconsistent and unreli- able postings on the Students’ Union door or by word of mouth. To some executives, more open advertising of meetings was undesired. Sam Shem, First Year Rep.’s position on advertising exec- utive meetings stated, “Yeah, it would be really nice to do that; but what might happen, is that meetings would run for five to six hours. | think things might run more efficiently (with less people). It’s up to the reps. It’s their responsibility.” Grace Salez, fourth year film/video student states, “It‘s not that | don’t trust that the Students’ ACRONYM DEFINITIONS S.U. = Students’ Union (each and every student at ECIAD) S.U. executive committee =a council elected or acclaimed representative of the ECIAD student body who have ongoing decision- making power within the S.U. CFS = the Canadian Federation of Students, a national organization composed of Federation “locals” of which Emily Carr is local 32 PoA = Planet of the Arts newspaper (what you are reading right now) October 1996 / Planet of the Arts 17 Union executives have our best inter- ests at hand, but | have to feel that I'm part of the process. I’m afraid | don’t feel that. | feel very shut out.” SOLIDARITY FOREVER, THE UNION MAKES US STRONG? The general good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite and flatterer. -William Blake Beyond the S.U. executives’ main purpose of representing Emily Carr students’ concerns and distributing funds to various student groups and services, Emily Carr students are affili- ated with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and contribute con- siderable funds to their coffers. Therefore, the executive committee has an obligation to inforin the student body on CFS activities so that students can decide whether CFS is a worth- while organiza- tion to support. The ECIAD Students’ Society constitution states that, stu- dents at Emily Carr pay 50¢ per credit to a maximum of 15 credits per semester, to the Students’ Union bank account. The S.U. executives then pays these membership fees to the CFS. The maximum a student eA aels i 4 CD aA posh) My Terms For Writing This Feature (1) Independent research without the PoA facilitators’ input, except as interviewees. (2) Editorial assistance from a person not affiliated with PoA. (3) No viewing of text by the PoA facilitators until publication. (4) Greeking of text during layout to conceal the article’s content from the PoA facilitators. : -L.C. “I don’t know what they’ve been doing, except for being part of CFS and putting on pub nights.” —Carmen Morrow pays to be a member of the CFS is $15.00 a year. According to the Financial Affairs Coordinator of the Students’ Union, in 95/96, Emily Carr students paid $11,458.98 to the CFS. With this money, CFS’s primary responsibility is to represent student concerns at the provincial and national level, and to lobby government on behalf of the students. On February 8th, 1996, students from Vancouver and all over British Columbia, mobi- lized and rallied successfully, for a two year tuition freeze and shortly after, Premier Clarke announced a one percent increase in funding for post-secondary institutions. Tension within the Emily Carr S.U. continued on page 20, See “S.U. Exec Power Dynamics” GOVERNMENT OF THE STUDENTS? BY THE STUDENTS? FOR THE STUDENTS? Feature by Ling Chiu Student apathy s essential tothe smooth operations ofthe student Society, claim some member of last years Students’ Union executives. "An examination oftheir operations «alls to question some executives’ resstance to pursue democratic processes. ‘Nicola Sampson, Animation Co- Rep, resigned her postion because she was aborted’ by the undemoc: fatic practices and demoralizing tactics of some members on coun Patrick Gunn, former Graphic Design Co-Rep. sys, "afew people ‘on councll were more fr seinterest father than student interest." With a budget of approximately $35,000 a year, and preceded by a past record (fserious corruption, can Emily Car Students alford to be inert to the decisions of the SU. executive committee? ’ecording tothe Students Union constitutional byaws, the elected ‘executives "shall maintain ative ‘communications between their ‘Separtments and the executive com: mittee": How representative were last year executive committee to the Students and thee departments? What opportunities were Emily Carr students granted by their represent tives to express their concerns? onathan Lander, Photography Co-Rep, says that last year’s council was representative "technically" because the majority ofthe executive postions ‘were filled, however, there was insufficient between the repre sentatives and the student body. “Ils the responsibilty ofthe reps to rep rent departmental concers and to bring forward those concerns tothe ‘execttve counci” says Jonathan, reps. should be going out to get people active and involved.” tina Szasz, Ceramics Co-Rep. ‘and Chai has a diferent view. She Says, The idea of being a rep is that you speak asa student forthe Hludent” Linda believes that unless itsan “extremely specific sue", a representative can make a “general laation” on the common issues of sfdents ie. student loans, econom- ichardship, studio space et. To what extent should the execu tive committee assume decision ‘making on behalf ofthe student? Is an Isley by virtue The idea of x trersoccesit being a rep is that you speak as a student for the student.” “scien -Linda Szasz sor sen expresses her pinion, think the stent body $0 diverse that you cant make gener Bzed decton for them. There Should be beter averting on wen and where fogs ae hal and (then) wether students Sitend or not Soother matter Students should be given the opportunity to make a chote ‘Asan example, Pam Klin, election, even ‘when they don’t have an active dia logue with the stu dents they say they “represent”? “Reps should be going out to get people active and involved.” ~Jonathan Lander Painting Rep. prior to joining the ‘executive committe thought that {you had to be an oficial rep inorder to participate in student executive ‘meetings Throughout last year there were ‘no programs or polices putin place Within the executive agenda to enhance dialogue between SU. exe Utves and the student body, “Advertsing the time and pace of ‘executive meetings were liited to the sporadic publication of the Panet ‘ofthe As, inconsistent and unr able postings onthe Students Union ‘door or by word of mouth. To some ‘executives, more open advertising of ‘meetings was undesred, ‘Sam Shem, Fist Year Reps poston ‘on advertising exe tive meetings stated, “Yeah, i ‘Would be really nice todo that but what might happen, i that ‘meetings would run for five to si hours | thnk things ‘might run more efficiently (with ess ‘eople) sup to the reps, It’s hele esponsibility ‘Grace Saez, fourth year fmvideo student states, 1s not that I dont trust thatthe students’ ACRONYM DEFINITIONS (esha every student a ECIAD) SU. executive committe = 8 oun ected raced representative of he ECIAD student I who ave oo dec ‘making power within tre (CFS = the Caan Fseatin of Stale national naman compose Felton “cl of whe Ely Car cl 32 af Plane of he Arts newspaper (nha you are eg right now). October 1996 / Planet of the Arts 17 Union executives have our bes intr ests at hand, but Ihave to fel that Fm par of the process. fm afraid | don't feel that eel very shut out.” My Terms For Writing This Feature (2) Independent research without the PoA facilitator Input, except 3s interviewees (2) Editorial assistance rom a person not affiliated with Pos. SOLIDARITY FOREVER, THE UNION MAKES. US STRONG? The general good is'the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite and flatterer. William Blake @) No viewing of text by the Pod facitators until publication. @) Greeking of text during layout t0 conceal the articles Pod facil Beyond the S.U. executives’ main purpose of representing Emly Cart ugentsconceme and distributing funds to vorious student groups and services, Emily Car students ae affil- ated with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and contribute con- siderable fonds to their coffer. ‘Therefore, the executive committee has an eolgation to inform the student body on CFS activites so that students can decide whether CFSis a worth while organiza tion to suppor. The ECIAD students’ Society onstttion [ays tobe a member ofthe CFS is 515.00 a year. “According to the Financial fairs Coordinator af the Students’ Union, in 95/96, Emily Care students paid $11,458.98 to the CFS. With this ‘money, CFS's primary responsiblity is to represent student concerns at the provincial and national level, and to lobby government on behalf ofthe students ‘On February Bath, 1996, students from Vancower and all over British Columbia, mobi lized and raed succestly, fora ‘two year tuition freeze and shorly “1 don’t know what they’ve been doing, except for being part of CFS and putting on dos atnly pub nights.” ee ensnces Carr pay 80¢ pe" Carmen Morrow sone ere credit to maximum of 15 credits pee Semester, tothe Student Union bank account. The $.U. executives ‘then pays these membership fees to the CFS. The maximum a student increae in funding {or postsecondary insttions. “Tension within the Emily Cae SU 00 "8. ee Peer Dyn?