Stock photo of the SUB, by Belle White, Photo Editor.
The Oct. 29 UVSS Board meeting was a cheerful affair, as representatives, Directors-at-Large, and Lead Directors joked with each other and filled their plates with dinner. Ahead of them lay important motions such as changing the date of the Semi-Annual General Meeting next semester and overhauling the SUB Business Marketing Committee’s purpose and duties in the UVSS Board of Directors policy.
Tonight’s uvss board meeting is underway! Minutes have just been adopted.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
The meeting began with reports from Student Union representatives.
Isabella Lee, Director of Student Affairs, spoke on behalf of the UVSS Feminist Collective. She reported that they are in the process of hiring a new coordinator, and that they are clearing out storage space and will have loads of menstrual products to give away.
Next there was a report from Kolin Sutherland-Wilson, the Native Students Union representative.
Report from Kolin Sutherland-Wilson, Native Sudents Union rep: an upcoming open house, and a future podcast.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
This term, the NSU is planning on open house at the First People’s House in late November, and collaborations with Indigenous professors during Indigenous Resurgence month that will result in a podcast.
“Keep tuned,” said Sutherland-Wilson.
Lee reported again for the Clubs Council, speaking animatedly about the meeting coming up on Nov. 5 where they will be making policy changes.
Next is a report from Isabella Lee, Director of Student Affairs. Policy changes are coming to clubs council. "So many new things, so many clarifications," she says.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
Lee’s final report was for the Course Union Council, where she stated that “policy amendments [are also] coming their way,” and that it would be “pretty revolutionary stuff.”
She explained that some policy “hasn’t been touched since 2016 so it’s pretty much in the dark ages.”
“I’ve gotten lots of feedback that people don’t like our policy, don’t like the way I’m doing things, so we’re going to change this stuff out,” said Lee.
A particularly exciting moment of the meeting came when Director-at-Large Tyler Arnold mentioned the Martlet and our recent coverage of faculty representatives.
And now a report from Director at Large Tyler Arnold, on electoral reform. They are looking to meet tomorrow and discuss the possibility of instituting faculty directors.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
“I’m sure we all saw the collection of op-eds or articles or whatever you want to call them in the Martlet where we’re looking at changing up faculty representation on the board itself here.”
Arnold said that the board would be meeting soon to discuss the possibility of instituting Faculty Directors on the UVSS board. The board had previously tried to have this passed during the UVSS Annual General Meeting on Oct. 11, however without quorum this special motion could not even be discussed.
Shortly after this, Director-at-Large Jordan Gilson motioned to recess for 10 minutes so that the board’s annual statutory declarations could be signed.
Jordan Gilson, Director at Large, motions to recess for 10 minutes. Motion carries.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
All board members of the UVSS have now been officially ratified and the break is drawing to a close.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
“Oh look at that,” said Pierre-Paul Angelblazer, Director of Outreach and University Relations, as he banged his gavel. “Looks like the meeting is called back to order.”
Angelblazer relayed a report from Outreach and Engagement about the referendum debate.
The referendum debate had to be postponed because participants “on certain ends of the political spectrum” were not communicating with the board as to whether they would participate or not until it was too late. The referendum debate will still take place, but on Nov. 16 instead of the Nov. 6.
During question period, The Martlet asked the Board to explain what was being struck from the old SUB Business Marketing Committee policy.
Question period: Emily Fagan from the Martlett asks for clarification on what is being struck from the old Board of Directors policy. What is being changed from the previous version?
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
Curtis Whittla, Director of Finance and Operations, responded: “Everything under the purpose, and everything under the duties.”
Curtis Whittla, Director of Finance and Operations responds. It needed to be simplified and focused on strategic planning. They also needed to organize to meet twice per month during the summer. The current version is more focused on market research and brand management.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
The main motivation for editing the SUB Business Marketing Committee policy document, said Whittla, was to “refocus” it on three areas: strategic planning, collaborative marketing, and management of the SUB brand through the graphics department.
Previously the purpose and duties listed in the document were too comprehensive given the amount of staff dedicated to this area.
Next up was Noor Chasib, Director of Events, introduced a motion to move the UVSS SAGM to Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 at 2 p.m. in the Vertigo lounge of the SUB. Chasib invited Angelblazer to explain further.
Angelblazer explained how the last SAGM had not met quorum for very long. In an effort to address this issue for the SAGM in the new year, the board had studied some characteristics of previous SAGMs.
Angelblazer's motion is about quorum at the SAGM. the next SAGM will be moved to a Wednesday, since in the last meeting that had quorum all the way through was on a Wednesday. "TLDR, correlation equals causation," says Chasib.
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
They saw that “the last meeting that had made quorum all the way through … happened to be on a Wednesday.”
Angelblazer admitted that just because a previous meeting that was held on a Wednesday had met quorum, future meetings aren’t guaranteed to achieve the same results. But, he said, it’s worth a try.
After another brief motion by Whittla, the Board moved to in camera, which meant it was time for the Martlet to leave.
The Board moves to go in camera. The motion passes and The Martlett exits stage left. Thank you for joining us tonight. pic.twitter.com/mTy84GluRi
— The Martlet (@TheMartlet) October 30, 2018
The next UVSS board meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Vertigo lounge of the SUB.
