KSA calls off ‘Holidaze’ party, cites safety and religious concerns
The association is still in talks about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year
The KSA will hold their next council meeting on Dec. 20 in hybrid format. (File photo)
The Kwantlen Student Association held an executive meeting on Dec. 15 at 1:00 pm in Birch 250 on the Surrey campus and hybrid over Microsoft Teams.
President Abdullah Randhawa said the “Holidaze” party, scheduled for Dec. 21, is being postponed due to concerns from Kwantlen Polytechnic University staff.
Some of these concerns had to do with the safety at KSA events after allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the Freshers Party that took place at the Grassroots Café on Oct. 4, in addition to issues with liability on the university’s part.
There were also concerns from KPU students who follow the Sikh religion and observe the second half of December as a time of mourning. It is a month of remembrance for the martyrdom of the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s sons and mother.
Amandeep Brar, a faculty of business representative, said students had concerns about celebrating with food, dance, and singers during this time of mourning.
“KPU had a lot of concerns [regarding the] “Holidaze” party and we had to call it off and are postponing it till further notice,” Randhawa said.
He said he hopes to come back with a better organized event without “spoiling and wasting money.” Randhawa also said there were consequences in the relationship between KPU and the KSA.
“We just want to have good relations with KPU,” he said.
While the party has been postponed, the main singer for the event, Amantej Hundal, had already bought airplane tickets which the KSA has offered to pay for along with a signing fee.
Randhawa says the KSA has a “good image” with the singer.
He also said there were issues with the contract for the “Holidaze” party in the absence of legal counsel, which they are expecting to hire by the new year.
In his report, Executive Director Timothii Ragavan mentioned he has been in discussions with KSA staff and council regarding the finalization of their budget for 2024.
The Regulations state that “council shall adopt a final, detailed Budget for the Society no later than January 30 in each Fiscal Year for the then-current Fiscal Year.”
Ragavan has also been in meetings with KPU staff and Grassroots Café regarding expectations for the upcoming year. He said a full-time, work-in-office policy has also been implemented as requested by former Executive Director Richard Hall.
The council also approved invoices for Borins & Company for the months of November and December after discontinuing their legal services, which totalled $18,386.93.
The KSA postponed their council meeting earlier that day due to not being able to find a speaker to chair the meeting. Titus Gregory was the KSA’s previous speaker of council, and his resignation was announced at the Dec. 8 meeting, which was chaired by former KSA President Armaan Dhillon.
However, the KSA bylaws state a meeting should be dissolved within 30 minutes in the absence of a quorum.
The bylaws also state that, “In the event that the role of the Speaker becomes vacant, then Council shall be unable to conduct any business until it has elected an acting Speaker to perform the functions of the Office of the Speaker during the vacancy.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 10:00 am in Birch 250 and online through Microsoft Teams. Students interested in attending can email info@kusa.ca.
