Radical Campus

"Today, SFU is anything but a radical campus. There was an aura of determination, commitment, and passion on the faces of the attendees that is seldom — if ever — seen these days. The early days of SFU saw a wave of participatory democracy from students and faculty who shared a common desire to influence the direction of this university." - Glyn Lewis, Un-Radical Campus - The Peak

To say the least I'm proud. I'm not proud to say that we had to come down the path as to strip seven people of their 'life's work' (if one could call it that) but rather I'm proud to see a student union - the members of the SFSS voice their opinions. I'm proud that the meeting wasn't just about the so called witch hunt that is kept being referred to; impeaching the 7 members but more importantly for the first time in 10 years we managed to meet a quorum AND amended two bylaws of our union. That is something to be proud of, clearly out of the norm - Radical. To extrapolate on that, how could one say we aren't radical? One of the more radical moves happened recently, two months ago, the opening of satellite campus - 'SFU Surrey' which already educates about 10% of the collective student body.

The original SFSS was created with the respect that members of the student body, Undergrad and Graduate, so that there was someone to stand up for the little guys whether the unjust termination of a TA, better services, or the rights students deserve to have. We did today what we did ten years ago, what we did 40 years ago. We gathered as students, as a society, to utilize our democracy. We gathered to support what we believe in, a calling for change.

SGM:

Quorum was the main sub issue today. When I first got there there were only 220 people. Eight minutes later there were 741 people. The 'G7' kept trying to argue that we were just a bunch of people set out on a witch hunt. I honestly can't say we were or weren't. I can however say I wasn't. The fact it if the only time we make quorum is to impeach those in question in the ten years that they serve office then clearly they aren't doing their job thus logically implying them the boot. Also for one person who didn't feel us in order to stand up and say, "What we were doing was wrong" and "We are just 'Narrow Minded People feeding off the impeachment of people' " had no place in a meeting like today. The way it worked was the two men that kept coming up to the con microphone - Paul and the other one didn't help the directors in question's cause. The one guy who was whistling in the mic in my opinion sealed their fate.

I must add however I was disappointed to see the impeachment of Erica Halpern. I have no opinion on why or why not she should have been impeached however I am a bit confused as why she was on the impeachment protocol. As a person that I have associated with before the allegations seemed out of place however I voted in accordance to my opinion, that is the democratic process.

The 'Democratic Process' came up a lot during the meeting. The 'G7' kept assuming that the fact they were elected into a leading position means they hold absolute power toward the society. Their Democracy was what one would call an oligarchy. Democracies rule by the people and shall always retain the 'power to the people'. As well the motions to hear more about the debate. In all honesty this meeting wasn't about the debate. We had 2 months to hear sides. We also had a certain group of seven using a legal council at $340 / h of society money which I'm sure made many peoples minds right then and there.

So the vote count:

Director's name	Position	In favour	Against	Abstain
Shawn Hunsdale	President	724	6	13
Margo Dunnet	External Relations Officer	613	14	61
Wei Li	Internal Relations Officer	573	20	45
Glyn Lewis	Member Services Officer	607	22	3
Vanessa Kelly	Treasurer	597	10	30
Marion Pollock	At-Large Representative	492	20	57
Erica Halpern	At-Large Representative	382	60	155

And Some Final Words:

• Shawn Hunsdale was apparently unable to produce his SFU ID card, and so the registration desk was unable to verify his student status.
• I laughed at the motion of "Roll Call"
• Next time SFU blankets!!! And maybe a porto-potty.

Some other Citing Info / Blogs:

• Titus Gregory - SGM Successful
• Victoria Kowalewski - SGM... woot woot
• Chani - I still Exist
• Joey Coleman - SGM at Simon Fraser
• Nicholas Schmid - Success... For Now
• http://marcusontheroad.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!5C9864A505375EE2!231.entry

I would like to shout out thanks to all of the people that came to the SGM. Hopefully that wont be the last meeting you attend. Hopefully we can attain a quorum at each successive AGM that we will have now to make it so these people didn't get impeached as 'martyrs' for their cause. Also I would like to say that Titus you did an awesome job and I never want to hear another quote from Roberts Rules of Order. Furthermore I am amazed at the lengths that certain students will go to delay the process called to that order. I would have however liked to hear a little more debate rather than pulling the question.

So Mr. Glyn Lewis, did you see that one coming or was the thought and idea just way to radical.