KSA to now approve resolutions outside of meetings, discusses re-holding SGM

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The Kwantlen Student Association passed a motion to allow the executive committee to put forward and approve resolutions outside of regularly scheduled meetings during a Sept. 27 council meeting.

Resolutions can now be approved via email or in writing. Motions passed outside of regularly scheduled meetings would be reflected in the executive committee’s meeting minutes under “non-meeting motions.”

KSA President and Vice President (VP) Student Life Yashanpreet Guron was not present when The Runner asked him about the motion. 

“Why is the president not in the council meeting for the second time in a row? Just because he receives stipends not honorariums. Why is he so unprofessional?” Jiwanjot Singh, a KPU student, asked in the meeting chat.

“[Before], we needed to [get] every executive’s signature, which is a difficult task, as many of the executive members may not be awake at that time or in different campuses,” VP Finance and Operations Simranjot Sekhon said. “So, it’s just a smooth layer, so it’s easier to pass motions through email.”

Council also suspended the honorarium of Richmond Campus Representative Nitin Aggarwal due to “inappropriate conduct” at the Cultus Lake Water Park event held on Aug. 4, in which the council spent $17,614. 

Aggarwal spent $80 on a personal food bill, which was expensed to council during dinner at the event. Council could not present proof of the bill during the meeting. 

“There is no solid proof,” Aggarwal said. “So, this is not ethical, right?”

Surrey Campus Representative Simranjeet Singh’s honorarium was suspended for “failure to perform his duties.” 

The council passed another motion to hold a special general meeting (SGM) before the end of November to make changes to their bylaws and constitution. The SGM was initially scheduled to be held on Sept. 26 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Richmond campus but was postponed after KPU cancelled the space for the meeting. 

Associate President Ishant Goyal, who also chaired the council meeting, said the KSA will release a statement for the media in regard to the SGM. He also said that their legal counsel has responded to the letter from KPU administration requesting an investigation into financial coercion allegations and bylaw concerns before an SGM is held. 

During the question period, Goyal raised concerns about The Runner anonymously receiving access to the letter. 

He said the letter was only sent to KSA councillors and Executive Director Timothii Ragavan, and that their legal counsel is currently investigating who “leaked out the letter” and the individual will be “subject to disciplinary action.”

“KSA is being targeted. I’m going to make it very clear,” Goyal said regarding The Runner’s recent coverage of the association. 

Students with Disabilities Representative Lesli Sangha made a request to have a meeting with their lawyers so that council can express concerns or ask questions they have about the SGM and bylaws. Sangha added that she hasn’t received a response from Ragavan after he said he would look into the request. 

Concerns were also raised at the meeting about student safety and alcohol consumption ahead of the KSA Socials Night event at Vancouver’s Playhaus Nightclub on Sept. 27.  

“How’s the funding going to ensure that alcohol won’t be covered …? Have they ensured that there’s insurance in place to hold an off-campus event? I know that there’s a lot of logistics and permissions that have to be acquired, so I just want to be sure that the KSA has done their due diligence,” Sangha said. 

“I think they might have taken care of all that,” Goyal said. 

Council passed another motion for the executive committee to receive their $10,000 tuition benefit after KPU’s add/drop deadline. The motion would prevent the executive committee from getting reimbursed for a course they dropped out of before the deadline. 

Queer Students Representative Arnav Grover resigned in an email sent to council and Ragavan. No reason for the resignation was provided during the meeting. 

The KSA is holding a provincial election debate on Oct. 4 in collaboration with KPU’s political science department. The debate will be held at the Surrey campus and will feature Surrey-Newton candidates Jessie Sunner of the BC NDP, Amrit Birring of the Freedom Party, and a Green Party candidate. 

The association has also launched an Emergency Grocery Hamper Program for the fall semester. The program will offer students a one-time grocery hamper which will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program is an addition to the KSA Food Bank program.The next KSA council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 11 at 2:00 pm. Council meetings are currently not listed on the KSA’s website. Interested students can email info@kusa.ca to join.