The Martlet

The UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) Board of Directors will no longer be taking a stance on whether or not UVic students should be involved in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), thanks to a motion passed at the Oct. 19 board meeting.

The original motion, put forward by Director-at-Large Kelsey Hannan, asked the UVSS to declare itself neutral on the subject of continuing membership in the CFS, and to comply with UVic’s postering regulations afforded to campus political clubs. However, the motion that was passed was amended to have the board declare itself neutral on “petitioning” on continued membership in the CFS, and saw the board agree not to “use society resources in a way that is not neutral on the subject.”

UVSS Chairperson Veronica Harrison took issue with the intent and vagueness of the motion, both at the meeting and after the results. Harrison and some other UVSS board members believed the motion was redundant at best and, at worst, an attempt to cut info off from paying CFS members — UVic students.

“I have concerns that people who are openly interested in leaving the CFS are trying to cut students off from learning about what the CFS does for this campus,” Harrison said. “We have an obligation to provide info to people who are paying fees for these services.”

Harrison noted that how this motion plays out is very subjective, as she believes the vague constraints do not specifically instruct the board’s behaviour, but instead make reference to how the group already operates.

Hannan said that he was pleased with the amended motion.

“Neutrality of the [UVSS] Board of Directors on such a contentious question is important, and I think we achieved that,” Hannan said. “My main motive for submitting this motion was to ensure that the board of directors does not become a battleground between pro and anti sides [toward the CFS].”

Last month, Hannan was among a group of students who began circulating a petition asking UVic undergrads if they wanted a referendum questioning the UVSS’ continued CFS membership. The Oct. 19 board motion came after a counter petition appeared, asking students not to question membership in the CFS. The new petition was organized, in part, by some UVSS executive members.

While UVSS board members will still be allowed to make their cases for and against CFS membership, Hannan feels the motion will ensure that such activity will be done on personal time, and will not attempt to represent the UVSS as a whole.

“It’s the job of the student body to democratically decide their membership in the CFS and we intend to keep it that way,” said Hannan. “Our job as a board during this process … is to conduct ourselves in a manner that is fair toward both sides. We should not be picking sides as a board and alienating students.”