By: Eden Chipperfield, News Writer
On January 3, The Peak attended the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) bi-weekly Council meeting via Zoom. The adopted agenda touched on crucial motions, including a vote for SFSS to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a notice of motion to strike the Issues Policies.
Vote to call for a ceasefire in Gaza passes
Joining the January 3 Council meeting were various undergraduate students who spoke about Israel’s genocide of Palestinian people, as well as the ongoing occupation in Palestine.
SFSS president Liam Feng read the society’s motion to call for a ceasefire. Many councillors and SFU students disapproved of the motion that would call for a ceasefire and to end the siege and genocide in Gaza.
Councillor Sam Killawee proposed to the Council that the motion should be amended to add more information to the call to action. “I would like to add some of the words that the Canadian government used in this to help frame our argument and also make it very clear, as per Issues Policy (IP) 10, that while we support Palestinian liberation, we do not support antisemitism or attacks on Jewish people,” said Killawee. Following the suggestion, Killawee posted a revised motion in the chat box that condemned the treatment of hostages as well as the immediate release of captured individuals and said, “Israel must respect international humanitarian law.”
The majority of attendees voted in favour of the ceasefire motion. However, a few individuals spoke out against the SFSS getting involved in politics. One councillor described how “as a student society, we shouldn’t talk about this because conflicts are complex. Conflicts are politically complex; that’s not our place.” However, the Council decided the amendment of the motion proposed by Killawee should be reviewed and discussed further; thus, the original motion was struck and a new amended one was reviewed.
The Council then moved to vote on the amended motion for the SFSS to call for a permanent ceasefire, which passed. A referendum to establish this at the SFSS membership level will be submitted and put to a vote at a later time.
Notice of motion of removal of Issues Policies stricken
President Feng submitted a notice of motion suggesting the SFSS remove all IPs, arguing that an “Issues Policy may inadvertently introduce bias or preference towards specific political stances, potentially compromising the society’s commitment to impartiality.” The motion also discussed that it is a way “to safeguard the student union’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness by eliminating any potential sources of bias or partiality arising from the Issues Policy.”
The suggestion to remove IPs caused concern among the Council members, especially those representing constituency groups and undergraduate students attending the meeting. Vice-president of equity and sustainability, Priyanka Kaur Dhesa, commented, “Many of these Issues Policies were born through consultation with or through groups and concerns they raise.”
The ten listed IPs dedicate their support for reproductive rights, Black History Month, tuition affordability, disability justice, living wages and union rights, climate justice and sustainability, Indigenous inclusion and reconciliation, anti-racism, police and militarization, and Palestinian liberation.
An executive with SFU350, Ally Soriano, explained to the Council how removing IP 6 would be detrimental to the clubs and all the work done to raise awareness about the climate crisis. “I would hate for years of student activism and solidarity to be undone by just one action. And one motion, quite frankly, will lose trust in this organization completely,” said Soriano. “I do want to emphasize as it is a student union, and a portion of our tuition funds this organisation’s operations. If I’m paying you to represent me and my peers’ interests, please do so. Striking these Issues Policies is anti-student.”
A past executive and current member of DNA (SFU Disability and Neurodiversity Alliance) stated that removing IPs was “political action against human rights, against equity, against justice.” The past executive also added, “as a student, I am frankly disgusted we are having this conversation. I expect better from my representatives.”
Several concerns were raised regarding the motion to remove the 10 IPs, especially on a day where the SFSS’ call for a ceasefire was listed. A student who wished to remain anonymous spoke up about this coincidence, “This policy protects students in their advocacy for a free Palestine, which means an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, an end to the oppression of Palestinians by Israeli forces, and an end to the genocide that is currently happening in Gaza at the hands of the Netanyahu government and IDF forces, in which Canada as a state is complicit.” The student expressed that removing IPs impacts everyone, from affordability to climate justice, regardless of how someone identifies.
After many students and councillors discussed their views and criticisms, the Council voted to strike the motion. Therefore, the SFSS will retain their 10 IPs.
