News Brief: KSA discusses Fresher’s Party allegations, repeals motion to reduce fees for Indigenous students
The KSA offers a variety of discounts available to current KPU students. (File photo)
The Kwantlen Student Association held a council meeting on Oct. 20 at 11:00 am in their boardroom at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus in a hybrid format.
Council members Destiny Lang, Usha Gunatilake, Jashandeep Singh, Manraj Grewal, Jasmine Kaur Kochhar, Gurtejpreet Kaur Kaliyan, Amitoj Singh, Gurnoor Kaur, Taranpreet Singh, Jaspreet Shokar, Akashdeep Singh, Asad Husain, Akashdeep Sidhu, Jashanpreet Singh Maan, Nitin Aggarwal, and Abdullah Randhawa were in attendance. Jashanpreet Sekhon, Mehakdeep Singh, Yugveer Gill, and Jobanpreet Singh were absent.
After a land acknowledgment and approval of the Sept. 26 council meeting minutes, Shokar, the chair of the internal committee, presented a motion to appoint Kaur to the student life committee. Aggarwal and Jashandeep were appointed to the finance and operations committee after council took the nominations to a vote and the majority were in their favour. Kaur was also appointed to the internal committee after a vacancy.
During his report, Sekhon said they successfully organized the Fresher’s Party, which took place on Oct. 4, but there were reports of misbehaviour.
Richard Hall, the new Executive Director, said there was minimal security at the Fresher’s Party and that council is required to give a minimum of four weeks’ notice for any small events hosted by the KSA and six weeks for bigger events.
Kaur said the council members were never informed of the required four weeks’ notice for events in the past.
However, KSA Regulations state that, “all individuals or groups wishing to hold a Society event (or a non-KSA event using KSA space, funds or other resources) must first complete the Planning Tool Form found on the Society’s website, and electronically submit that form to the Events Coordinator (events@kusa.ca) no less than four weeks prior to the event.”
Hall said this submission requirement results “from the inappropriate behavior that took place at Fresher’s.”
“I’m going to caution everybody to think about ensuring that we’re able to provide as much as possible a safe, courteous, and respectful environment for all students, for all KSA and KPU staff as well,” he said.
Hall also said appropriate mitigation measures have to be set up to avoid any “inappropriate occurrence” at future events and that there needs to be “serious consideration” before inviting outsiders to KPU events.
“There’s obviously KPU policies with respect to alcohol consumption, and vaping. … I was deeply concerned with respect to some of the allegations that I’ve heard concerning female students and attendees that were there and individuals putting video phones in front of female attendees and filming them, and that’s just not appropriate,” he said.
Council also passed a motion to repeal a motion they carried at the Sept. 15 council meeting which reduced fees to $1 per semester for KPU students who are part of the Kwantlen, Matsqui, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, Tsawwassen, and Musqueam Nations.
This motion was a response to KPU’s decision to waive tuition fees for such Indigenous students which came into effect this semester.
Council repealed the motion as it conflicts with their Bylaws which states, “the Society may waive Student Society Fees of certain classes or groups of students by Ordinary Resolution.”
The meeting ended at 1:58 pm. The next council meeting will take place on Friday, Oct. 27 at 11:00 am. To join the meeting, students can reach out to info@kusa.ca.
