In a relatively short Board of Directors meeting on June 22, the body elected a representative for the UVic Campus Planning Committee, moved their next meeting to July 13, and spoke about a new uniform coming to Campus Security later this year.
In a rare occurrence, the introductory motion to record Monday’s meeting received an objection due to privacy concerns. After being seconded and put to a private vote, the motion ultimately passed, and apologies were paid to any individuals with privacy concerns.
The board then discussed the necessity of consensus and potential accommodations for objectors going forward.
The meeting’s land acknowledgement was then delivered by Director of Student Affairs Maddy Vanderhooft, who first spoke to the lands she was raised on, being “Treaty 1 Territory, the homeland of the Red River Métis, and the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Inninewak, and Dakota Oyate peoples.”
Having just recently returned to the prairies, Vanderhooft highlighted a local garden designed by both elders and Indigenous community members in her area. She admired how “when places are returned to communities … [they] can transform. Power comes from collaboration.”
The director also acknowledged that the UVSS offices are located on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xʷsepsəm peoples of the Esquimalt Nation.
On June 19, the UVSS released a statement for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, sharing various resources for decolonization and reconciliation. These included educational materials like podcasts and readings, along with ways to support Indigenous students and local Indigenous businesses.
The agenda of the last meeting on June 8 was amended to include late reports at the suggestion of Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) Representative Cecilia Bulbrook, and was then promptly adopted.
Previous meeting minutes were similarly amended and adopted, at the prompting of Director at Large Artem Kuklev, to note Kuklev’s regrets for his absence.
Director of Finance & Operations Mariah Luzon moved to shift the next Board of Directors meeting from July 6 to July 13, as multiple members will be occupied attending an Alumo health plan conference to gain greater healthcare and advocacy insights to better represent students.
Those away will include Luzon herself, Director of Outreach and University Relations Matthew Allen Curtis, Human Resources and Administrative Services Manager Laila Casado, and General Manager Dale Robertson.
The motion was carried, confirming the next meeting will take place Monday July 13.
The UVSS Electoral Committee held its first meeting on June 18 to discuss the rough timeline for the 2027 UVSS General Elections, and potential policy changes.
Thus, Director of Events Mohan Selvarajan brought forward a motion to the board proposing tentative election dates which, after a brief discussion on the feasibility of campaign periods spanning reading break, was carried. The approved dates are Jan. 13–20 for the call for nominations, nomination period from Jan. 27–Feb. 10, campaign period from Feb. 16–March 3, and voting from March 1–3.
Next, Vanderhooft brought forward a motion to appoint a UVSS representative for the UVic Campus Planning Committee, an advisory body to the President concerning the development of the university campus.
Curtis clarified that while the committee package is confidential, topics may include things like parking, the university greenway, and statues across campus.
Pride Collective Representative Jayce Kusardi and Kuklev nominated themselves for the position. Each was granted two minutes to discuss their fit for the position.
Kusardi spoke about the importance of sustainability and accessibility on campus, and mentioned being part of the Society for Students with a Disability.
In the chat, Kuklev wrote about being established in wider Victoria, having diverse community and organizational connections across campus and municipalities.
The vote was confidential, with both candidates requesting their abstentions be noted. Kusardi was subsequently selected as the representative, and confirmed they’d attend the committee meeting on June 23, as well as bi-annual gatherings going forward.
UVSS management and committees then presented their respective reports, key highlights of which are as follows:
Director of Campaigns & Community Relations Tam Aljundi mentioned the first steering committee on harm reduction in collaboration with UVic.
He also reported that Campus Security will have a new uniform come this August, though he provided no details on the respective changes. Some students had previously expressed discomfort with the current uniform’s resemblance to police gear.
Aljundi also said that security has taken on two student staff for the first time.
Vanderhooft additionally mentioned that a guide for the club ratification process is in the works as a student resource, thanks to previous feedback concerning obscurity around the process.
Around the one-hour mark the board moved in camera, concluding the public portion of the meeting.
