The Martlet

Caitlin Meggs is the chairperson of the UVSS.

Last week, independent UVic Students’ Society board member Ahmed Mumeni wrote a heated column in the Martlet smearing the current UVSS board.

Ahmed’s words surprised me. First, his tactic to engage students was counter-intuitive. More students are disenfranchised when they hear nothing but negativity.

Second, Ahmed fails to take responsibility for addressing any of the problems he saw. Maybe instead of being critical he should take more time to get involved. There are endless opportunities to make positive change.

Take Geordon Omand, who spearheaded making a Student Union Building Operations Committee and has been tirelessly chairing and seeking input into how to improve the SUB. Or take Stafford Richeter, who organized a food security movie viewing called “Island on the Edge.”

These are just two examples of how any student can get involved. I am ashamed that Ahmed did not take the time to recognize any of the countless hours that his colleagues have spent.

I am disappointed to see how cynical and jaded Ahmed has become. He attacks current and future board members for “making promises” about affordable education and sustainability. No such promises were ever made, but board members and candidates have committed to working toward these goals.

It is sad to see that he thinks there is no point in keeping pressure on the government to address tuition costs, or working towards making UVic and the SUB more environmentally friendly. In fact, students lobbying and working hard year after year on these issues have made huge strides. Tuition is now capped at inflation, the university has taken up a Sustainability Action Plan and local mayors are creating a Late Night Transit Task Force all thanks in large parts to student pressure.

Other things that the UVSS has been active on this semester: bringing back the SUB Party, hosting Sue Johanssen’s Sex Talk show, having a soup kitchen to address rising student debt, open mic nights once a month, a packed and fun UVic Idol, Municipal and Provincial election forums and much more. Maybe it is Ahmed himself who “lacks imagination and creativity.” Right now, he has failed to be constructive as a student representative.

Finally, Ahmed argues that is time to end the controversies. While its true that UVSS has seen its fair share of debate and controversy, I can’t see how this is necessarily a bad thing. People need to take risks, have debate and learn from it. This is a university, after all. The fact that the UVSS is an open place for students to debate, discuss and often disagree is integral to it being a democratic body. I would not want to see it any other way.

It seems that its much easier to criticize and call your fellow board members names than actually work to find solutions. But either way, I doubt the name-calling is going to inspire any student to get involved or go out there and vote.