New KSA council bans former director

By Matt DiMera
[news editor]

Former KSA director of events Reena Bali has been banned from all Kwantlen Student Association offices by the new council, who took office April 1.

The ban was issued as one of the first motions of the new term, after a 56-minute discussion held behind closed doors at the April 6 council meeting.

The decision orders Bali to not be present in KSA offices during the new director of events and student life’s, Tarun Takhar, office hours.

Meetings are supposed to be open to all members of the society, but council can decide by a two-thirds vote to go in camera to keep the details of their discussions private and off-the-record.

Bali expressed shock and confusion about the decision.

“It just came out of nowhere,” said Bali. “I don’t even know what it’s about. I haven’t even been told what I’m being banned for.”

“I’m just a regular student now and I pay fees, but I can’t go to the lounges anymore?”

The motion to ban Bali was moved by the director of operations, Justine Franson, and seconded by student-at-large Pavan Sodhan.

Currently a third-year student in BBA Human Resources, Bali previously has held several positions in the KSA since 2007, serving various terms as chairperson of the executive board, director of events, director of operations, Richmond campus council director and Richmond representative. She ran unsuccessfully for re-election as director of events in the February 2011 KSA election.

The chairperson of the executive board declined to comment.