24 Planet of the Arts / October 1996

Student Power:

The Hi

...continued from page 20

TAKE MY FUNDS, PLEASE!

The public be

damned! —Cornelius Vanderbilt

Financial state- \ ments and reports being non-existent

a huge problem for last year’s executives.

The importance of pro- viding a rough financial budget should be clarified. The final general meeting of the students with the executives, which often occurs in April, is a crucial time in which, a rough finan- cial budget is drawn up for the following year.

Input from the student body is required in order to be as a MICGFA accurate as possible to the needs of the students. Without this input, of who, where and how much funding student groups and services should receive, the democratic process would be compromised and would not accurately reflect the desires of the student body.

Because of the negligence of the 94/95 S.U. executives in not provid- ing the 95/96 S.U. executives a rough financial budget, the Financial Affairs Coordinator had no basis to put forward a budget for that year.

Harald Gravelsins, the Financial Affairs Coordinator claims that, an attempt by himself to put into place a democratic budget process with participation from the student body, was dismissed by the S.U. executive committee.

After circulating documents to the S.U. executives and an extensive pre- sentation given, at the October 26th committee meeting, Harald com- ments, “No-one was willing to support me in having a school wide budget process at the end of October or the beginning of November. They (the executives) didn’t want to talk about democratic process. They wanted to assume that the money was there and they could spend it as the executive commit- tee.” :

In response, Linda Szasz says, “This is two pages of suggestions about how to budget and the budget making process. No motions were put forward concerning this. So that means it either wasn’t discussed

or nobody felt the need to pursue it, including Harald.”

Linda continues, “For clarity of communication | suggest that Harald should have put forward a motion regarding his specific agenda.”

Haralds’ response to

Linda’s comments, “I gave a 20 minute presentation. | reviewed the documents paragraph by paragraph, the documents were circulated ahead of time. | asked the executives, ‘How do you want to proceed?”

Linda’s response, “The date on the document indicates the ‘newness’ of the executive. Harald is a certified general accountant and a lot of faith and trust was put in him.”

Harald’s response, “It doesn’t matter what designation the Financial Coordinator has, we're all in this together. The budget is not a clerical process so you don’t have to know your debits from your credits. You just have to know how to conduct a community based process (to decide how you are going to allo- cate or budget the finances). That's more a matter of inter-personal skills and social work.”

Without a democratic budget process put in place, the decisions on how the student funds were distrib- uted, had been based more on who had personal ties with the executives.

Harald states, “The executive committee allowed proposals (from students) to trickle in. Only the insid- ers, (students who were aquainted with the executive), knew that money was available.”

Information that funds were avail- able for student groups or projects were not prominantely publicized, in fear that the S.U. executives would be inundated with requests from the student body. As a result, funds were generally given to the friends of the executives.

dden Costs

QW Ahad work...

“At no point is it the

money of the Students’

Union. It’s the money of the CFS.”

—-Michael Gardiner,

President BC-CFS. |

Jeff Antonio, Animation Co-Rep.’s position on finances, “Students’ Union (executive) is an elected group from the student body so therefore, we have chosen these people to govern the student finances. The elected people should have the common sense to take care of these affairs without the student body con- stantly putting them under the microscope.”

In lieu of Jeff's comment, it is interesting to note that the 95/96 S.U. executive committee were all appointed by acclamation — all posi- tions were uncontested.

The memory retention of other executives, who were questioned on the financial budget issue, were chal- lenged by this reporter many times. In all incidences the answers received were “| don’t remember”.

Fiow To SomeWHERE

Secrecy and a democratic government don’t mix. —Harry S Truman

Up until February 26th, the 95/96 interim financial report states that an estimated $8,500. dollars in member- ship fees for the CFS was collected by the Students’ Union. Debate on whether that sum should appear on the ECIAD Students’ Union financial budget created many disagree- ments and further hostili- ty within the S.U. executive committee. It appears that CFS and some execu- tive members do not want these fees to appear on any budget put forward by council to the student body.

Harald Gravelsins, Financial Affairs Coordinator and certified general accountant, expresses his views, “I think its’ pretty obvious that for them (the students) the money they pay into the Students’ Union is one package. The Students’ Union execu- tive committee and particularly, the Financial Coordinator has a responsi- bility to fully disclose how the whole amount paid is allocated and spent. This includes fully disclosing whether and how much any of those funds are forwarded to organizations of which the Students’ Union is a member. For example CFS.”

CFS organizer Philip Link responds, “It’s not a budget item. It’s misrepresenting. Students pay two fees. One to belong to the Emily Carr Students’ Unioi: and one fee to the Emily Carr Students’ Union who transfers those funds to the CFS. Philip continues, “We're not trying to hide anything but to properly repre- sent . If you want to show the CFS funds, you show the CFS budget. By putting it in the (ECIAD Students’ Union) budget, it looks discre- tionary.”

Kyath Battie, CFS Liaison agrees, “It’s not a revenue source, they are fees that go directly to the CFS so we act as a medium... If you see it on the budget line item and its present-

ed as a revenue source it’s really inac-

curate because it’s not a revenue

source for the Students’ Union.” In the February/March issue of

Planet of the Arts, on page 16, a

financial budget statement drawn up

by Harald, was published. The sum

total collected last year from students

as union fees were $36,000, less a contingency of $1,000 and less an

estimate of $8,500 for CFS dues (see

diagram below).

To delegates of the CFS and to some executive members, Harald’s budget representation of the CFS membership fees is considered inac- curate and misleading.

Kyath comments, “The CFS fees look like its part of the revenue but its not. The CFS fees collected on behalf of the ECIAD Students’ Union

should not be in our budget at all. It

can be seen by any student at the CFS-BC provincial office. That's where the fees go.”

Connie Currie, Emily Carr’s Chief Accountant (who is also a certified

general accountant) states, “I think it

should show up (ECIAD Students’ Union) as revenue collected in trust for the CFS. Whoever is responsible must have it on their financial state- ments. It has to show up on their

(ECIAD Students’ Union) budget that

they’ve(the S.U. executives) sent it to,CkS.”

Harald adds, “From.a professional

accounting stand point | genuinely believe that an item of this signifi- cance requires prominent disclosure.

We want full disclosure from corpora- tions in their financial statements. So

what's the big deal about fully dis- closing our CFS fees in our financial statements.”

FIRST THERE WERE 17, THEN THERE WERE...8

Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy.

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

More controversial sparks appear with the May-June publication of the Planet of the Arts. Page 16 reveals that without any offers or notices of withdraw, the S.U. executive commit- tee voted to accept the “resigna- tions” of some members of the executive.

The constant lack of quorum pre- sented a problem to council. S.U. executive meetings were limited to only discussing issues and preparing motions. According to the ECIAD Student's Society Act, voting cannot take place, and motions cannot be passed without at least 51% of the executive committee members present. For last year’s ECIAD’s exec- utive body of 17, at least 9 members must be present for voting to take place, and only 5 of the 9 members were needed to pass any motions.

According to the minutes of the S.U. executive meeting on April 8th, 1996, only 7 members were present, quorum was not reached. Some executives were “desperate”. A deci- sion (not all were in favour) was to enforce bylaw X section 2 in the Society's Act.

Bylaw X section 2 states that, any member besides the part-time executive members, who miss three consecutive meetings or more, without a valid reason, and with 2/3

What's the big deal? And what are CFS and the S.U. executives trying to hide?

To Michael Gardiner, President of

the BC Canadian Federation of Students, “It shouldn’t be in the

budget. The association (S.U. execu- _ tive committee) acts as a collector of

the fees and transfers them directly

to CFS. At no point is it the money of

the Students’ Union. It’s the money ofthe:GES.2

To Harald, “It’s a significant amount of money in proportion to

the ECIAD Students’ Union for school based groups and activities. If it’s out

of sight, it’s out of mind, then you don’t have to defend its value.” To Nicola Sampson, “Anything

that was pushed under the carpet can be pictured as a ‘VanderScam govern-

ment’. The executives that did not

want to publish the membership fees

paid to the CFS, were the executives

that were directly involved with CFS.”

ative

majority vote by the executives, shall be deemed to have delivered their resignations.

However, without quorum, the “resignations” could not take place. Without any notice of what was about to occur, Patrick Gunn, Graphics Co-Rep. at that time, and another representative were sought out, found, then asked to attend the meeting for the purposes of reaching quorum. Bylaw X section 2 of our constitution was then enforced, and subsequently, Patrick Gunn and the others were forcibly “resigned.”

Patrick Gunn’s account of the S.U. executive meeting of April 8th 1996, “| had no idea what was going on. | sat down, they restated the motion , then proceeded to call the list of names to be forcibly resigned . They called the names out. | heard my name. It shocked me. It felt like a slap on the face. | was not aware at any time that | was on this list, or that this list even existed. Then | pro- ceeded to ask, ‘What was the basis they had in choosing the names?’ The response | received from one of the executives, was verbatim of bylaw X section 2. | abstained my vote. | immediately left. The room was silent. | felt shocked and betrayed at how callous and insensi- tive they were in handling the issue.”

continued on page 29, see “S.U. Review: Calling The Question”

24 Planet of the Arts / October 1996

“At no point is it the money of the Students’ Union. It’s the money of the CFS.”

Michael Gardiner, President BC-CFS.

Diteekreuinylan.’ poston enter suas” Gitebesue trraamrene FIRST THERE WERE 17,

Student Power: The Hidden Costs

TAKE MY FUNDS,

Linda continues, “For Union (executive) isan elected group Source forthe Students” Union." PLEASE! lant of communication |___ from the student body so therelore, nthe Febuary/March sue of THEN THERE WERE...8 suggest hat Harald should have we hve chosen thee people to Planet ofthe Arts on Page 34% is not so short but that The public be ut forward a motion gover the student nance The nana budget statement drawn up fe HS not so short but that Mereuar regarding his speciic lected people should have the by Harald, was published. The sum" there is always time enousl ede agenda” common sense to take care ofthese total collected last year rom students fOr courtesy. ‘ornelis Harald’ response to. afas without the student body con- af union fees were $36,000, esa “Ralph Waldo Emerson Vanderbilt Stanly putting them unde the entngencyof $1,000 and ies an microscope." tstimat of $8,500 for CFS des ee More controversal sparks appear Financia state In fiew of ffs comment tis diagram below). withthe May-June pubiation ofthe ments and eports interesting to note that the 95/96 “To delegates of the CFS and to Planet of the At, Page 16 reveals being non-extstent SU, executive commitee wee al some executive members, Harald's that without anyofes or notices of from 1993.95 presented appointed by acclamation = all post budget representation of the CFS withdraw, the SU. executive commit- ‘huge problem for ast tions were uncontested membership fees is considered inac- tee voted to accep the “resigns. Years executives “The memory retention of other Curate and misleading. tions” of some members ofthe “The importance of pro: executive, who were questioned on —-Kyath comments, “The CFS fees executive viding reugh franca” | (J ihe tances DDGEEESeE WeRGNE e MAM eel eens bk The couaatiornlomeee budget shouldbe clad lenged by this reporter many times. isnot. The CFS fes collected on sented a problem to coun, SU. ‘The final general meeting Inallincdences the answer received behalf ofthe ECIAD Students’ Union executive meetings were limited 10 of the stents with the were“ don't remember” should not be in our budget at alt only dicusing issues and preparing ‘executes, which often Can be seen by any student at the motions. According tothe ECIAD ‘occur in Api 2 cri CF5.8C provincial fice. That's Student's Society Act, voting cannot tie in whieh, a rough ier the Tees 9.” take place, and motions cannot be «ial budget i dawn up for Connie Cure, Emily Car’sChit__pasied without at least 5196 of the the following year. ‘Accountant (who is a0 a certified Executive commitee members Input rom the student {general accountan states, “I think t present. For last year's ECIADS exec bodys required in should show up ECIAD Students’ _nve body of 17, at leat 9 members order tobeas | - 2iZ Union) as revenue collected in tust__ mut be present for voting to take curate as posible (othe needs of Linda's comment, "gave a 20 forthe CFS. Whoever i responsible place, and only 5 of the 9 members the students Without this input, of minute presentation reviewed the ‘must haveit onthe finan tte- were needed to pass any motions who, where and how much funding documents paragraph by parsgrph, ments. fehas to show up on their ‘According tothe minutes ofthe Student groups and services should” the documents were culated shad (ECIAD Students’ Union) budget that SU. executive meeting on Apri 8th, tcc, the democratic process times the executes, How Somewnere ——Sreyvetne SU. execuves sent 1996, ony? mame nese preset, would be compromised and would do you want to proceed?” tocrs.” {quorum was not reached. Some ot accurately reflec the desires of" Linda’ response, "The date on Secrecy and a democratic Harald add, “rom a professional executives were “desperate” A dec the student body. the document indicates the ee accounting stand point | genuinely son (ot all ere in favour) was to Because of the negligence of the ‘newness’ of the executive. Harald is SVErtIment don't mix. believe that an item of this signfi- enforce bylaw X section 2 in the 194/95 S.U. executives in not provid- a certified general accountant and a Harry $ Truman cance requires prominent disclosure. Society's Act. ing the 95/96 5U. executives alot of fat and trust was putin hin.” We want ull disclosure from corpora- Bylaw X section 2 stats that, any Tough fancia budge the nancial" Harald response" est Lp uni February 26th, the 95/96 tons intemal statements SO. member besides the parse ‘Ants Coordinator had no basis to matter what designation the interim firancil repor states that nwa’ the big deal about fly di- executive members, who miss the ut forward a budget for that year, Financial Coordinator has, we're alin timated $8,500 dollars in member. Coting our CFS fees in ur financial consecutive meetings or More, Harald Cravesns, the Financial this together The budget i not a ship Fes forthe CFS was collected by Statements” ‘without a valid eason, and with 2/3 ‘Afas Coordinator claims that, ancl process 0 you dont have tothe Students Union. Debate on attempt by himsel to putinio place know your debits from your credits, Wether that sum should appear on 8 democratic Budget process with You just have to know how to sis EGAD Spades! Union Partpation from the student body, conduct a communty based process anda budget created vs dimised bythe SU. executve Co deide how you are going to alo» Many Stage. Commitee. {ate or budget the finances). Thats TENS an ‘After culating documents tothe more a mater of interpersonal sis further hos S.U. executives and an extensive pre-and soil work Sy within the sentation gwen, atthe October 26th "Without a democratic udget____-S.U. executive Commitee meeting, Harald com pocess putin place the decisions on commit. It ments, "No-one wa wiling to how the stoden funds were istib- SPER that Support me in having a school wide uted, had been based more on who CFSand budget process at the end of had personal ties with the executes, some execu ‘October or the beginning of Harald sates, “The execatve te members November. They (the executives) commit allowed proposals (rom 40 Mot want crt want to talk about democratic students) to tried in. Only the iag- these fees to proces. They wanted to assume that et, (students who were aqusinted SPER on imsjrty vote bythe executives, shall the money was there and they could withthe executive), knew that any budget be deemed to have delivered ther spend tas the executive commit- money was avaiable” put forward resignations. tee.” Information that funds were avail: BY council to However, without quorum, the im response, Linda Szasz says, ale for student groups or projects the student rexgnations could ot take place. “iiss two pages of suggestions were not prominantey publica, in BOB Without any notice of what was about how to budget and the fear that the SU executives would arald Graves, Financial lars ee about to occur, Pack Gunn, SSRN oton Snltiwicens ict Somanermscesggnd” What the big deal? BERS ESEMACEN were put fowarth concerning this. 50 student body. As a eu funds were S¢COUNtnL, exprese his iw, another representative were sought Uintmeaneetherwaurt Gaciied| Senely geno end fine, {BOK prey obviow that orthem ANd what are CFS and solve epracnute ww ou executives, {the students) the money they pay the $.U. executives trying meeting for the purposes of reaching Into the Student’ Union one , peers pene oe faciage. The Students Union execs. £0 hide? rata es ter fect oe tie committee and pac, the To Michael Gardiner, President of Sosution was ten enforced, and OW wouk Franc Coownator has reponse the BC CanadanFedrston ol ‘SBS, Pack Gunn an bility to fully disclose how the whole Students, It shouldn't be in the Fein ee a aS = amount pais allocated and spent. budget. Te association (SU. exeeU-_ gueatne acing Ave ath 1996, ‘This inches fly icosng whether tive committee) acts asa collctorof Sinan Kes wet eh wore on 1 ard now much any of those funds the ees and vansers them deel racy ey na goer fae forwarded to organizations of to CFS. tno point sit the money of {pec ted festa he OM ‘ich the Student Unions 3 the Students Union. W's the money Sane te on they ‘ember Fr example CFS” ofthe C5" iin, canoe tena iy ‘CES organizer Philp Link To Harald, “les a sigicant Gee aaa

responds, “i's nota budget item. It'S amount of money in proportion to misrepresenting. Students pay two. the ECIAD Students Union for school SP onthe (a, Nas tt a fees, One to belong to the Emily Car based groups and activites. iS out {ye even exe Then vo Student’ Unio and one fe to the of ight its out of mind, then you teauuy eAeSiymsetess are hae Emily Carr Students‘ Union who don't have to defend its value.” tip isdn choamaheneiat

Slap on the face. Iwas not aware at

transfers those funds to the CFS. “To Nicola Sampson, “Anything ashe eek hep taied Philp continues, “We're not trying to that was pushed under the carpet can qn casPamen wcsvebutm of hide anything but to property repre- be pictured as a"VanderScam govern- byiaw X section 2 | abstained my sent Hyou want to show the CFS ment’ The executives that dd not Ye" engi the sooee funds, you show the CFS budget. By want to push the membership fees Yosh inmedate Ie The, putting tin the (ECIAD Students’ pad tothe CFS, were the executives,

betrayed at how callous and insens

Union) budget, it looks dscre- that were directly involved with CFS." tye they mere m handing the seve

tionary." 'Kyath Bate, CFS Unison agrees, “’s nota revenve source, they ae fees that go directly to the CFS so we act asa medium... I you see it on the budget line itert and its present

00°50, Review Ealing The Ouetin