By Alison Roach
Photo by Alison Roach
Last Tuesday, the SFU Graduate Student Society (GSS) held their annual general meeting (AGM), hosted in the GSS offices in the Maggie Benston Centre. The AGM was the first in the history of the GSS to reach quorum, drawing 103 members of the student society. The full quorum set in the GSS bylaws is 100 members. This amount of members is required to make an proposed law changes in general meetings.
A year-end review was given by coordinating and external relations officer Julia Lane. After a brief overview of the structure and functions of the GSS itself, Lane launched into highlights from the past year.
Emphasis was placed on the GSS’s continuous struggle for independence. An incident was recalled where the official SFU website stated that the SFSS is the only SFU student society, and represented all SFU students. After the GSS pointed out the error, the misinformation was quickly taken down. “We continue to work to be recognized by the university as independent, and it’s an ongoing struggle,” said Lane.
Other highlights included advocating for more student space at SFU’s Surrey and Vancouver campuses, improving communication with the GSS membership, more GSS funded caucuses organized than ever before with a proposal in the works to change the current caucus funding model, and cleanup of GSS bylaws following a large overhaul last April.
Part of the proposed amendments to GSS bylaws addressed changing the caucus funding model, removing the stipulation that at least 10 per cent of GSS general membership fees must go to caucus funding. The funding model to be put in its place is currently being developed.
A financial report for 2012 was given by auditor Tompkins, Wozny, Miller & Co., with Gary Wozny presenting. The report found that total expenses for the GSS were just over $225,000 more than in 2011. This was due in part to an increase in salaries and wages, which jumped from $138,260 to $208,260. The increase in revenue from 2011 to 2012 was $52,045, and a deficit of $178,555 was seen in the operating fund.
Addressing this deficit, the GSS has created a referendum question that proposed changes to the capital levy, a fund established in 2007 that collects a fee from each member for the purpose of construction and maintenance of the society’s current space, and investing in future planning and development of space. The fund now sits at $1,237,836.
With no specific plans for the fund in the future, the GSS Finance and Audit Committee recommended the discontinuation of the capital levy, and the reallocation of the levy amounts to the GSS membership fee, addressing the issue of the budget deficit and planning for future growth of the society and their services.
Lane explained, “One of the things that we saw at council with the deficit budget was that we were actually reducing programs . . . We want to be able to see the GSS grow if we can without raising membership fees wherever possible.” However, she continued, “Eventually membership fees will have to go up, that’s the reality of increasing services.”
Another upcoming issue discussed was the U-Pass referendum, which the GSS will be holding concurrently officer elections and the SFSS referendum on the same question. The referendum question is whether or not to continue participation in the TransLink U-Pass program, accepting fees of $35 in 2013, $36.75 in 2014, and $38 in 2015.
Concern was raised that failure to pass the referendum, either a vote of no from the membership or insufficient voter turnout, will result in the termination of the U-Pass program for GSS members. Polling for both the officer positions and U-Pass referendum will be held online from March 11-14.
The meeting concluded with all motions carrying with few objections and abstentions. The motions carried were the receival of the financial statements for the 2011-2012 financial year, the appointment of Tompkins, Wozny, Miller & Co as auditor for the current financial year, and all proposed amendments to the GSS bylaws.
