The UVSS Board of Directors approved the annual report, updated the Board of Directors Policy, and ratified numerous clubs.
Photo by Belle White.
On April 13, the UVSS Board of Directors filled vacancies on a committee, approved the draft annual report, updated the Board of Directors Policy, and ratified numerous clubs.
The meeting started late with a land acknowledgment from Michael Caryk, interim director of campaigns and community relations. The board then adopted the agenda and the previous meetings minutes before beginning main motions.
The board then amended the agenda to include a motion put forward by Katie King, director of student affairs, to ratify select clubs without funding.
King put forward a motion to open nominations to fill two vacancies on the Senate Committee on Learning and Teaching. Caryk and student senator Evan Maher, who is an incoming Director-at-Large (DAL), both nominated themselves to the committee and were appointed.
King also put forward a motion to approve the board’s annual report before it received graphic design and final formatting. This report outlines to students what has been done over the last term. The board approved the draft annual report.
Lindsey Andrew, director of events, put forward a motion to approve changes and additions to the Board of Directors Policy — which outlines the duties and responsibilities of Directors — as recommended by the Policy Development Committee. After some inquiry by numerous board members about confusing wording in the policy about vacation pay and office holidays, the motion carried.
Club Ratification
Finally, King put forward the last motion to ratify numerous clubs without funding. The clubs ratified were the UVic BSW, BiPoc Circle, Nightshifters, Toastmasters Club, and UVic Car Club. The motion carried and then the question period began.
During question period, a student asked why the Students Supporting Israel (SSI) Club was not included in the list of clubs ratified. She said that during the last meeting on April 7, the SSI club was excluded from club ratifications due to a mistake with paperwork and information.
Caryk said the process of club ratification, which includes being approved at clubs council before being brought to the next board meeting. He also said that the clubs council only received the necessary information from SSI 30 minutes prior to their last meeting, which was not enough time to have it verified and included in the membership list.
The student still felt that her question was not answered, and at that point Andrew jumped in to reiterate the ratification process. She said that outside of exceptional circumstances, any club must be ratified at clubs council, where they did not have enough time to verify the membership list. The clubs that the board voted to ratify in this meeting had already been ratified by the clubs council.
The student said that it was the club’s fourth time applying for ratification and that this is “becoming very disappointing.”
After this, a different student sent a message into the chat directed at King that claimed the UVSS board ratified the UVic Conservative Club after the Clubs Council refused their ratification.
The student also asked “why is this process being denied JUST to Israeli students?”
King said that they bring all motions passed by Clubs Council to the board, including ones where a club not given ratification at the Clubs Council meetings. She said that they typically discuss these motions (without ratification) in-camera.
King said it was decided in-camera to bring the motion out of camera to ratify the Conservative Club by the board.
The student asked if the matter would be reviewed. King said that it would be discussed in-camera.
The student then asked if concerned students could expect an update soon, and Caryk responded saying that he would send an email to SSI and give them updates the following day, bringing the question period to an end.
Reports
The meeting moved into reports. Caryk reported getting delegate seats in the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Community (AVICC) conference. They will continue to be able to push the $10 ferry rate and food security grant.
King reported she will be launching the Course Union handbook and is preparing for the next director.
Andrew reported working on the Donation Stations events. Otherwise wrapping up in preparation for end-of-term.
Cecilia Bulbrook, board representative for the Gender Empowerment Centre (GEM) reported that their budget for the upcoming year has been approved. They also reminded that the GEM Journal launch and open-mic are coming up on Friday, April 17th.
K’sana Wood Lynes-Ford, the Native Student Union’s (NSU) Firekeeper reported their recent AGM on March 24 and a new council starting in May where she was re-elected as Firekeeper. Wood Lynes-Ford took a moment to acknowledge the recent passing of Dr. Baptiste Harry “Skip” Dick, an Elder of the Songhees nation.
“He was a really important Elder in our community,” she said, “he had an honorary degree from UVic, he was a residential school survivor, and was just a really important part of the community here.”
Wood Lynes-Ford sent condolences to the family on behalf of the NSU and said that they will be donating some funds to the funeral costs. She said that if different Indigenous groups on campus aren’t responding as fast right now, that is likely the reason.
Jayce Kusardi, representative for the Pride Collective reported two upcoming events: Queer Prom and Gay in the Garden. Queer Prom will be at Capital Ballroom and will be an 19+ event, while Gay in the Garden welcomes people of all ages. They also had a recent meeting where the budget was approved and Jayce Kusardi was re-elected as their Board of Directors representative.
After reports the meeting moved in-camera.
