Equality Rules december 1997 / planet of the arts 3 But will fewer be merrier in the new SU executive structure? PoA Staff ender equality has arrived at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Close to eighty-five percent of those voting in a referendum on the issue supported a measure that changes the structure of the executive ECIAD Students’ Union Association so that an equal number of positions are guaranteed to committee of the women as are available to men. The referendum was held over seven days, and the 109 votes cast exceeded the minimum threshold to accept by-laws changes by about 30 votes. For a measure similar to the one defeated by referendum earlier this summer in the North West Territories, the Emily Carr plebiscite generated remarkable little passion. No campaign seems to have been conducted for or against the measure. The adoption of the measure puts the Emily Carr students’ union at the forefront of progressively structured student governments. No other school affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Students structures its executive group on the basis of gender equality. The measure to adopt gender equality in student governance was part of a package of representational and administrative reforms put to a school-wide vote by the 1996-97 executive committee of the Students’ Union as one of their final actions prior to the calling of fall term elections and the transition of power to a new group of student decision-makers. Some of the other key measures in the reform package were con- solidating social identity representation into two “hybrid” positions (one female and one male), allowing these two positions to be rewarded with a stipend amounting to one hundred dollars per month of service rendered, and basing curriculum representation on divisions rather than departments. The major housekeeping measure that was adopted as part of the package was allowing for a review or compilation engagement to sat- isfy the requirement of a pub- lic accountant scrutinizing the financial records of the stu- dents’ union. The impulse to change the executive structure of the stu- dents’ union arose from the sense of ineffectiveness that has pervaded student govern- ment at Emily Carr for the past two years. Part of this ineffectiveness was identified as having to do with the size of the executive. The obvi- ous solution to this was to reduce the size of the executive. Prior to the referendum, the executive was composed of one rep- resentative per curriculum department as well as positions for the “The general populace of ECIAD cares very little about anything the Students’ Union does.” -SU survey respondent following identity-based positions: bisexual students, lesbians, gays, students of cultures other than European, women students, students with disabilities, and international students. Another practice that was followed prior to the referendum was to allow two people to share a single representative position. The total number of positions in the old executive structure was twenty-six. When the practice of co-representation is factored in, it was possible for a total of fifty-two people to serve on the students’ union executive at any one time. Some people referred to this as the “more the merrier” principle of recruitment to the ongoing decision- making organ in student affairs. Virtually anybody who wanted to be a student politician could be one. Where this principle seemed to break down was in the area of atten- dance. Meetings came off to a disap- pointing start for the 1996-97 execu- tive when much of their initial gath- erings were taken up trying to deter- mine when all representatives would be available. The best options turned out to be Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. For stu- dents with a social life or a part-time job on the weekends, these two time slots were highly unattractive. continued on next page... planet ofthegrts IN THIS ISSUE SECTIONS SERENDIPITOUS SPACES 11 \ Art Schooling & Art Making According to Gary Coward FEATURES 5 Fleeting intersections of the imagination. Emily Carr Institute studio assistant (and former Concordia University fine arts instructor) testifies to the currency of art in Vancouver. CULTURAL DIALECTICS Our culture is your culture — visual and written essays. 41 Preparing for Emily's Big Anniversary IDENTITIES Emily Carr Institute turns 75 in the year 2000. Big party plans are already underway. And we're not talking pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey... Sameness and difference in the social world. ANXIETIES Witness: Land, Justice, Community Art Harald Gravelsins COVER 7 Uneasy moments, uncertain moods, dark times. Remember the civil rights movement of the 1960s? This project promises to be bigger. And it’s happening at the Roundhouse Community Centre until January 18th. THE INSTITUTE Happenings at B.C’s premier school of visual art, media arts and design. Planet of the Arts is published by the ECIAD Students’ Union Association. Our publisher's address is: Room 122, Editorial and advertising sales access is available as follows: tel: (604) 844-3861 e-mail: poa@eciad.bc.ca fax: (604) 844-3801 http://www.eciad.bc.ca/~poa 1399 Johnston Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3R9. december 1997 / planet of the arts 3 Equality Rules But will fewer be merrier in the new SU executive structure? PoA Staff ‘ender equality has arrived at Emily Cat Institut of ‘Artand Design. Close o eighty-five perent of those ‘voting in a referendum on the issue supported 3 measure that changes the structure ofthe executive ‘committee of the ECIAD Students’ Union Asocation so that an equal number of postions are guaranteed to women a are available to men. The referendum was held over seven days, and the 109 votes cast exceeded the minimum threshold t9 accept by-laws changes by about 30 votes Fora measure similar to the one defeated by referendum eat this summer inthe North West Territories, the Emily Carr plebiscite senerated remarkable tle pasion. No campaign seems to have been ‘conducted for or agains the measure, ‘The adoption ofthe measure puts the Emily Catr students union at the foreftont of progressively structured student governments. No ‘other school affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Students structures its executive group onthe bass of gender equality “The measure to adopt gender equality in student governance was part of package of representational and administrative reforms put to a schoolwide vote by the 996-57 executive commitee of the ‘Student# Union as one oftheir inal actions prior to the cling of fll term elections andthe transition of power to new group of student Aecsion- makers ‘Some ofthe other key measures in the reform package were con solidating social identity representation into two “hybrid” positions (one female and one male), allowing these two postions 0 be revarded with a stipend amounting to one hundred dollars per ‘month of service rendered, and basing curiclum representation on Aivsons rather than departments ‘The major housekeeping measure that was adopted as part ofthe package was allowing for review or compilation engagement os. isfy the requirement ofa pub lic accountant scrutinizing the financial records of the stu ents union “The impulse to change the ‘executive structure of the st ents union arose from the sense of ineffectiveness that thas pervaded student govern rent at Emily Car forthe past two years. Part of this inefectveness ‘was identified as having to do with the sizeof the executive. The obvi ‘us sotion to thi ws to reduce the sz ofthe executive, Prior to the referendum, the excctive was composed of one rep resentative per curriculum department as well s positions for the “The general populace of ECIAD cares very little about anything the Students’ Union does.” ~SU survey respondent following identity-based postions ise students lesbians, gays students of eultures other than European, women student, students with disabilities, and international students. Another practice that was followed prio tothe referendum was to allow two people to share a single representative position, “The total numberof postions inthe old executive structure was twenty-six. When the practice of eo-representation is factored int ‘was posible for atta of fftytwo people to serve om the student Some people refered to this asthe “more the merit” principle of recruitment othe ongoing decision ‘making organ in student affairs ‘unin executive at anyone ti ‘Virtually anybody who wanted tobe student politician could be one ‘Where this principle seemed 9 break down was in the rea of ten dance. Meetings came off oa disap pointing start fr the 996-97 execu tive when much oftheir nial gath rings were taken up trying to deter. rine when all representatives would be availabe. Th best options turned out tobe Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. For st