KPU student movement calls to ‘clean the KSA’

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“Attention students — We are against corruption at KSA, are you?” 

Flyers with this phrase have been circulating at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s campuses for more than a week, calling for students to “join the movement” to “clean the KSA” — the Kwantlen Student Association. 

The flyers question the KSA’s actions, transparency, and management of student money. 

“We need to question if our student representatives are serving the needs of students, or are they colluding with outside forces for their own gain?” the flyers read.

The flyers allege that KSA council is trying to centralize control of the student union building fund, which has $8.7 million as per the KSA’s 2023 audited financial statements, and that council has violated their bylaws by engaging in partisan political activities. 

It also alleges that students are threatened with “being placed in bad standing by Council if they question them,” that there is favouritism in KSA event prize distribution, and “alcoholic beverages [are] being served at events with [students’] money.” 

“This is our money, our council, and our future,” the flyers read. “Demand transparency and accountability from our student leaders …. Together, we can make a difference.” 

The flyers also reference the KSA’s Reduce All Fees (RAF) party scandals in 2006 and 2011, in which more than $2 million in student money was misused “to commit mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty,” The Runner reported at the time. 

The flyers have a QR code that leads to a WhatsApp group chat for students to “join the movement.” At the time of publication, the group chat had more than 250 members. 

Jaspreet Shokar, who served on the 2023-24 KSA council as the students of colour representative, says he is one of the spokespeople for the students who have joined the group. 

“[Some council members] are draining the money out for their own personal benefits,” he says. “I’m afraid that if it’s not me, then who else is going to speak up and stop them?” 

Shokar says the purpose of the flyers is to spread awareness to students, and the WhatsApp group will allow them to ask questions and receive guidance on how they can hold council accountable. 

“I’ve been a council member for the last year, and this is the worst way a council can work — mismanagement of funds, everything, there’s no transparency. When we send emails to council, there is no reply.”  

Shokar says if students don’t receive answers from council addressing their concerns within the next few weeks, they will put out a petition calling to remove the board of directors, which are the council members.

The KSA posted a media release to its website on Oct. 8, which addressed transparency and accountability.

The KSA’s focus is to serve KPU students, the release reads, and it “operates with full transparency, ensuring that every decision made is in the best interest of [its] students.” 

The release also addressed concerns about KSA events and budgets, stating the student union will continue to refine spending practices. As for increasing its legal fees, the association says this is a result of “ensuring compliance with the BC Societies Act,” which the KSA is governed by. 

“And for those who have raised eyebrows at compensation adjustments, these decisions were made following thorough reviews, ensuring that roles reflect the responsibilities attached to them,” the release reads. 

“We welcome open dialogue and encourage students to engage with us directly for facts and transparency. No need for dramatics or cryptic flyers — we are here and always happy to answer questions.” 

The KSA has also created their own WhatsApp group chat over the past week called “KSA Council Updates,” which aims to keep students informed about upcoming events. 

“We have taken this initiative to have more participants in the events that would be conducted in the future,” the chat’s info reads. 

The chat also intends to provide students with council members’ contact information if they wish to reach out to them. 

The Runner reached out to KSA President Yashanpreet Guron and Executive Director Timothii Ragavan for a comment but did not hear back before publication.