File photo by Belle White.
In the Sept. 21 UVSS board meeting, two committee vacancies were filled, and the board received the 2025/2026 draft audit with discussion about legal fees.
Director-at-Large Lila Grierson began the meeting with a land acknowledgement. “I will be speaking personally because speaking on behalf of others or on behalf of the institution of UVic is a colonial practice,” she prefaced, before giving her acknowledgement that focused on Indigenous language.
The first main motion, brought by Director of Campaigns and Community Relations Tam Aljundi, moved to fill four vacancies on the University Relations Committee. Member-at-large Shaan Deo and former Society for Students with a Disability (SSD) Representative Acorn Wasserman nominated themselves and gave two minutes of motivation, both saying that they want to advocate for UVic’s disabled community.
Both students were elected to the committee and the motion carried.
Aljundi also moved to fill vacancies on the Member Outreach and Engagement, Policy Development, and Clubs Council committees, but nobody nominated themselves.
The last main motion, brought by Director of Finance and Operations Mariah Luzon, moved for the board to receive the 2025/2026 draft audit. As Luzon was not present, and lead directors wanted more time to review the draft audit, the board decided to table the motion.
During question period, a student inquired about the potential use by the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) of a space in the Mearns Centre for Learning — McPherson Library as an overflow space to administer accommodative exams.
Director of Outreach and University Relations Matthew Curtis said that he spoke with Associate Vice-President of Student Affairs Jim Dunsdon, and that the space will be introduced around May 2028. He said that, to his knowledge, the space will be in the library’s basement and may require renovations, but will not reduce the number of study spaces. Curtis said the new space is intended to address overcrowding at CAL.
After the question period concluded, the board revisited the last motion to receive the 2025/2026 draft audit, and General Manager Dale Robertson reviewed it with the board.
The draft audit is an annual process in which a third party examines UVSS financial records from the previous year, ensuring everything is correct and adheres to the rules.
Director of International Student Relations Cherop Lyoba inquired how the budget is divided amongst the board of directors. Robertson explained that each director’s budget is determined based on needs in previous years as well as anticipated needs in the coming year.
He clarified that fees are collected and set by referendums, though some directors’ portfolios don’t have a dedicated fee, and the amount budgeted to them is based on their needs in previous years.
Native Student Union Firekeeper K’sana Wood Lynes-Ford asked if the UVSS has a long-term strategy for legal fees, and Director of Events Mohan Selvarajan asked if the board has legal expense insurance.
Robertson explained that the UVSS has legal insurance for some instances. Selvarajan asked how much was spent on legal fees in the last term, and Robertson said that $20 615 was spent.
Lynes-Ford asked Robertson if he has seen an increase in possible litigation over his time at the UVSS, and if it is something the board will look into. “I think it could make sense to look at [creating a dedicated legal fund], because it seems like the potential for litigation is increasing,” she said.
Robertson said that based on trends in legal spending over the last ten years, it is not a major concern.
The board then voted to move in-camera, and the public portion of the meeting ended.
The next UVSS board of directors’ meeting will happen on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
