Nomination period starts for upcoming byelections, referendum
The Concordia Student Union (CSU) is holding its nomination period from Nov. 4 to Nov. 7 for the open councillor positions to sit on the CSU’s board of directors as student representatives of their individual faculties.
This time, the available slots include one seat for Arts and Sciences, Independent students, and Engineering representatives. Three additional seats are up for grabs for John Molson School of Business (JMSB) after two left because they were unable to meet their time commitments.
The Fine Arts councillor positions, however, are already filled, which as CSU President Ben Prunty says is pleasantly unusual.
“I think that it’s really awesome there are no spots open for Fine Arts students. It’s the first time in years that we haven’t pretty much called by-elections specifically for Fine Arts students. It feels good to turn the page and [that] Fine Arts feels engaged in the union again.”
Though it is unclear how the campaigns will play out, if the last few years are anything to go by there may be tight competition for the spots.
“Often people hand in the paperwork on the last day,” said Prunty.
The upcoming byelection will also see ten referendum questions presented to the student body, tackling everything from austerity and Concordia’s daycare to the final ratification of funds used to create and run the Hive Cafe and fee levies.
The International and Ethnic Association Council of Concordia is an international student association run by the CSU, and this vote will see whether they are to be completely separated from the CSU.
The councillor campaigns will stretch from Nov. 11 to Nov. 24, afterwhich the actual byelections themselves will be held in the last week of the month.
If you’re interested in putting your name in a hat, or know somebody who might be, the nomination forms can be found at the CSU offices or from the Chief Electoral Officer at H-462-3. These forms must be submitted in person by the nominee. Deadline is 6:00 p.m. by Nov. 7.
Referendum questions in full:
- Day Care Centre – Do you as a member of the Concordia Student Union approve the continued prioritization and active support of the establishment of a Daycare Centre as an initiative to improve student space on campus through the student space, accessible education and legal contingency fund?
- Student Housing – Do you as a member of the Concordia Student Union approve the continued prioritization of efforts being made to address student housing conditions and actively support student cooperative housing as a student space initiative?
- Hive Café CSU Loan – Council has approved the use of the Student Space, Accessible Education and Legal Contingency Fund (SSAELC) for the general purpose of starting the Hive Café Solidarity Cooperative, but the committee set up to overview the Fund (the Fund Committee) has not ratified the decision by Council. The only way to forgo the ratification by the committee is by referendum. Do you approve of expensing the $102 536.79 used to create and launch the Hive Café Solidarity Cooperative from the SSAELC fund, thereby nullifying the need for the CSU to use its operating budget to repay the load to the SSAELC.?
- Budget Cuts 1 – Do you wish for the CSU to take the position of officially opposing the budget cuts to the education sector and the public sector in general?
- Budget Cuts 2 – Do you wish for the CSU to take the position of supporting working in solidarity with other organizations with comparable positions?
- Budget Cuts 3 – Do you wish for the CSU to take the position of being in favor of seeking additional revenues for the public sector as facilitated through the provincial and or federal government?
- IEAC Separation – The international and ethnic association council of Concordia is a federation of international students associations that is currently administered by the CSU. They plan social and educational events for their various constituencies and have a governing body that intervenes on their collective behalf between the member associations and the CSU. Do you agree to the complete separation of the IEAC from the CSU?
- IEAC Fee Levy – IEAC Separation – The international and ethnic association council of Concordia is a federation of international students associations that is currently administered by the CSU. They plan social and educational events for their various constituencies and have a governing body that intervenes on their collective behalf between the member associations and the CSU. Do you agree to increase the fee levy for the IEAC from $0.06 per credit to $0.12 per credit?
- Do you approve the collection of a fee of 7 cent per credit to fund the operations of the Model United Nations Education and Leadership Centre, effective with the Winter semester 2015, which fee shall be refundable with accordance with Concordia’s with Concordia University’s Fee Payment, Refund and Withdrawal Policy?
- Do you approve of the CSU supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which calls for the boycott of all academic and consumer ties with any institution or company that aids in Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
