KSA announces resignation of executive director, appoints acting ED until permanent replacement is hired

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Editor’s note: A previous version of this article stated a motion passed to extend the Gallivan contract until 2029. The article has been updated to accurately report that the motion was pushed to the next council meeting. The Runner regrets the error. 

The Kwantlen Student Association held their last council meeting of the semester on Dec. 16 in their board room on the Surrey campus and over Zoom. All council members were in attendance.  

After a land acknowledgement, council moved in-camera for half an hour to discuss the appointment of an acting executive director. Parveen Sehra was appointed and will fill the position until a permanent replacement is hired in the new year. 

According to KSA bylaws, an acting executive director is appointed by two-thirds resolution of council when the position becomes vacant. 

“I’m very excited to be working with everyone. I look forward to the next few weeks of getting to know everyone,” Sehra said. 

Sehra is a lawyer and said she’s known David Borins, the KSA’s legal counsel, for about 15 years in a mentorship capacity. She did her undergraduate at the University of British Columbia and went to a law school in Ontario. After 10 years, she moved back to B.C. to work at UBC Okanagan with international students. For a year and a half she worked at a national law firm in senior management before recently doing her own consulting for student unions. 

“Our Executive Director, Ben Newsom, expressed their intent to resign last week after serving the KSA for more than 12 long years. After a full consultation with our legal counsel, we drafted a resignation agreement, which was signed by Newsom [on Dec. 8]. Their last day with us is Dec. 16,” said President Armaan Dhillon in his report. Newsom was not present at the meeting. 

“Moving on is always difficult, but this felt like it was the right decision to make at this time for myself and my family,” reads Newsom’s email to KSA staff on Dec. 14 announcing their resignation, anonymously sent to The Runner. “The opportunities for growth, the experiences I have had, and the students I have helped support are important to me and will remain with me as I hope those types of experiences will remain with you.” 

Representatives from Student Support Vaishali Vinayak and Ajamu gave a third presentation for the app package for students, at a discounted rate of $17.56 per semester — which students could opt-out of. They proposed the service be presented to students as a referendum to vote on. After questions from council about the service compared to what the KSA and KPU already offer, the discussion was postponed to the next council meeting. 

John O’Brian, KSA advocacy coordinator, gave a report about a complaint from a student who experienced racism in one of their classes during the fall semester. 

“The class was presenting projects and the instructor was giving fun, energetic introductions for each student, sort of like a sports announcer. When the student’s turn came up, they introduced them by referencing a [food] dish related to their ethnic origin,” reads his report summary. 

The student later emailed the instructor about how the comment made them feel, and the instructor replied “with an email that didn’t come across as sincere, or professional, or apologetic.” The student went to the dean of the faculty, because they didn’t feel safe coming to class, who offered the student some options. The student finished the course online. 

“The dean did the right thing. They met with the student very quickly and gave them some options…. And they made sure [the student] talked to a counselor, who was really helpful,” O’Brian said. 

“The student wanted it all to be on record, and to help make sure that things like this don’t happen to other students,” reads his report. 

O’Brian noted the university is reviewing their anti-racism policies, and that these complaints are usually heard in the KSA University Affairs Committee, which is currently inactive. KSA committee resurrections will be discussed at the next council meeting. 

The council passed a motion to increase the frequency of council meetings from monthly to biweekly starting on Jan. 6. 

VP External Affairs Karan Singh is working on a report to review the cost and benefits of the KSA’s membership with the Canadian Federation of Students. 

A presentation was given by Gallivan, the company contracted to offer the extended health and dental plans to KPU students. A motion was tabled until the next council meeting to extend the KSA’s contract until 2029. 

Council also passed a motion to approve the volunteer position of Associate President. 

As per KSA bylaws, a motion was passed to extend the council meeting by one hour at 2:07 pm. 

In her report, VP Finance and Operations Lesli Sangha said she is continuing to advocate students with disabilities be recognized as full time students who take a reduced course load to accommodate their disabilities. 

Newsom was voted to be removed as a signing authority and other financial accounts, and VP Student Life Guntas Kochar was voted to be added to the list of bank signing authorities to replace former VP Manmeet Brar. 

Queer representative Destiny Lang gave a report on KPU’s gender neutral bathrooms, and recommended the “suggestive gender signs” be removed in the Cedar building gender neutral bathroom at the Surrey campus. They also suggested adding signage saying, “You are beautiful, brave, brilliant and bodacious.” Sangha suggested the signs be added to all bathrooms, and council agreed to discuss details at a later date. 

Kochar is gathering suggestions for a Valentine’s Day event planned for Feb. 9 and discussed different games and activities that are inclusive. 

Civic Plaza Rep Navpreet Singh held a student survey on the immigration services for students. Of the 97 respondents, 89 said they need free immigration consultation with the help of the KSA and favoured discounted prices. Navpreet said he reached out to nine immigration firms and received responses from four. 

After six hours, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 pm and council members who were still available stayed to further discuss Navpreet’s report. The executive meeting originally scheduled for 3:00 pm was cancelled due to the time. 

The next KSA council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 10:00 am in Birch 250 on the Surrey campus and over Zoom. Students can attend in-person or email info@kusa.ca to get the meeting link.