News brief: KSA buys 1,000 silver coins to mark 44th anniversary, approves additional funding for Diwali initiatives

The Kwantlen Student Association discussed its silver coin giveaway to mark 44 years of the student union, as well as its initiatives for Diwali during an executive committee meeting on Oct. 27.

The coins, which are available for in-person pickup at the KSA Surrey member services with a valid student ID and letter of enrolment, were based on feedback from students on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s campuses. 

Vice-President Student Life Ishant Goyal and Executive Director Timothii Ragavan did not respond to The Runner’s inquiry about how much the silver coins cost. 

“Sorry there was no planning tool for this,” KSA Executive Secretary Prabjot Deol wrote in an email to The Runner. 

According to the KSA’s regulations, planning tools are required for funding requests of more than $250 and have to be reviewed and endorsed by the vice-president student life. A planning tool includes information about events or initiatives that make use of KSA funds, spaces, or other resources. 

The KSA purchased 1,000 silver coins, Goyal said, adding that the executive committee went around KPU’s campuses to ask students what they wanted.

Goyal said he spoke to more than 50 students, who noted they would like a non-perishable item and something they could keep for a lifetime.

“We were more of the opinion that we wanted to do something like chocolates and stuff …. But [the membership] mentioned they want to keep something of a smaller size, but more in value that they can remember,” Goyal said. 

“For the service given and the community enhancement done, we gave out something that’s lifelong with the students.” 

In his report, Goyal said the association has been busy planning upcoming events. He added that the KSA has completed the remainder of its giveaways for Diwali, which included diya sets and dry fruit boxes. 

“The Diwali party, or KSA’s Golden Glow Gala, was a major hit for the KSA,” he said. 

An amount of $3,522 was approved for the council’s Diwali Pooja, which took place on Oct. 15 at the Surrey campus. 

Previously, the KSA also organized giveaways for other Indian festivals like Navratri, which included self-care baskets “available for girls only,” according to its Instagram page. The giveaway for Karva Chauth, a Hindu festival usually only observed by married women, included thali sets with a “decorative clay pot and ritual sieve.” 

The KSA did not respond to The Runner’s request for a comment on the funds approved for the Diwali and Navratri initiatives. 

During the meeting, the executive committee also approved $2,000 for the KPU Badminton Club’s inter-university championship, $2,000 for the KSA’s Halloween Gathering event, and a combined $1,837 for the Kwantlen IT Club’s Networking and Beyond, Cloud Career and Certifications, and APIs for Beginners events.

A total of $1,163 went to the KPU Gaming Guild’s Retrospection of Gaming Dead event, and a combined $1,550 was allocated for the KPU Japan Club’s Carnival of Clubs and Akimatsuri events.

An amount of $850 was approved for the KPU Muslim Students Association’s Screening for Solidarity, $400 for the Kwantlen Psychology Society’s Psych Day, $250 for the Accounting Students of Kwantlen’s AI Over Coffee: Shaping the Future of Accounting event, and $195 for the KPU Journal Club’s Career Options event. 

All other motions from the KSA’s Peer Support team were deferred to the next executive meeting.

The next KSA council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14 at noon. Interested students can email info@kusa.ca to join the meeting.