News Brief: KSA executives accept resignation of VP Student Life, assign duties to VP External Affairs

The Women’s Representative position and VP Student Life executive role are open for new council members elected in the byelection. (Kyler Emerson)

The Kwantlen Student Association held their recent executive meeting in hybrid format on Oct. 7 at 12:00 pm. The meeting was postponed so President Armaan Dhillon could attend the Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Anti-Racism Task Force report release at 9:30 am. 

The meeting was further delayed due to the late attendance of VP University Affairs Karan Singh so the meeting met quorum. VP Finance Lesli Sangha was in attendance through Zoom. 

Former VP Student Life Manmeet Brar submitted her resignation from the KSA effective Sept. 30. 

“I make this announcement with a heavy heart, as I have sincerely enjoyed my time as a student leader,” Brar wrote in her resignation letter provided to The Runner. “I am deeply appreciative of all the opportunities to attend the conferences and help all the students, this association has provided me as a student leader.”

“Unfortunately, she graduated, and as per our bylaws each councillor is supposed to present their enrollment to the executive director in the [first] month of the term,” Dhillon said. 

“The responsibilities of student life are very important, and this should be delegated to a person responsible. I propose we delegate these activities for the time being, until the next VP Student Life is elected, to VP External Affairs Karan Singh if he is willing to do so,” Dhillon added. 

Dhillon said he already has two responsibilities, and “we need to accommodate the accessibility needs to support [Sangha].” Sangha also supported the proposal, and Singh accepted the duties. 

The VP Student Life executive role will be filled after an internal vote to follow after results of the byelection at the end of this month. 

The KSA is hosting their Peer Support conference on Oct. 13 under the theme “Anti-Loneliness and Making Friends” to foster community on campus and encourage opportunities for students to build friendships. 

Executives delayed approving funds for the Kwantlen Psychology Society’s speaker series to start in November due to a $30 request for a wine expense. 

“We cannot go ahead with this because KSA doesn’t support any alcohol products… We can postpone it to the next executive meeting,” Dhillon said. 

However, the KSA Grassroots Cafe operated on the KPU Surrey campus in the Cedar building “serve alcoholic beverages and KPU brewed beer on tap,” according to the KSA website

The next executive meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21 in hybrid format at 10:00 am. Students can email info@kusa.ca to join the meeting. A council meeting date has not yet been scheduled. 

The KSA byelection is open for nominations until midnight on Oct. 13. There are four campus representative positions, five constituency representative positions, and 14 faculty representative positions. Polling opens at 10:00 am on Oct. 26 and closes on Oct. 27 at 9:00 pm.