Controversies Student Federation of the University of Ottawa

1 controversies

1.1 in skin scandal
1.2 fireworks scandal
1.3 crashing of arc opening ceremony
1.4 yoga cultural appropriation
1.5 allegations of executives illegally obtaining u-passes
1.6 18% exec pay raise, stripping of general assembly legislative power

controversies
in skin scandal

the executives of student federation of university of ottawa planned event called “in skin” held on march 4, 2014. event sought foster 2 conversations, according organizers: each group discuss benefits , disadvantages racialized , non-racialized students face in dealing institutional racism. in order foster conversation planned students split “breakout groups”, discuss discrimination , white privilege , regroup discuss issues whole.

there major backlash students saw event segregation , reverse racism because split students different rooms based on skin colours.

the facebook event , debate shut down , nicole desnoyers, vice president equity, released statement explaining there no intention of segregation , racism on part of sfuo.

fireworks scandal

in summer 2014, vp social ikram hamoud decided hold fireworks display @ closing ceremony of year s 101 week. end, sfuo purchased 10 000 dollars worth of fireworks. hamoud notified city of ottawa wouldn t able use fireworks due safety concerns. caused lot of controversy. several of federated bodies vp socials accused hamoud of failing work social round table. this, concerns vp social s job performance, led attempt @ launching impeachment referendum. in part because of vocal criticism of purchase, facebook group sfuo not represent me gained substantial popularity. 2014 101 week finished budget deficit of $80 000.

crashing of arc opening ceremony

a group of students, led several members of executive, crashed opening ceremony of advanced research complex (arc) in september 2014. group stood behind podium banner calling lower tuition fees, , vp university affairs interrupted [reza moridi] s speech read statement. protest drew criticism many students, including several executive members of science student s association, wrote letter fulcrum stating that: fact student representative felt necessary protest rising tuition fees on opening of (dr. andré lalonde s) building offensive many of us. feel not disrespectful memory , legacy student-oriented dean, because building should celebrated is, instead of criticised not.

yoga cultural appropriation

in november 2015, sfuo cancelled free yoga classes being put on centre students disabilities on concerns of cultural appropriation. news provoked large backlash students, , received coverage international media. free class subsequently reinstated hireing of indian-canadian instructor.“cultural issues” primary concern sited in email university of ottawa’s centre students disabilities, run sfuo, ottawa sun. “while yoga great idea , accessible , great students … there cultural issues of implication involved in practice. [some cultures] have experienced oppression, cultural genocide , diasporas due colonialism , western supremacy … need mindful of , how express ourselves while practising yoga.“ less week later, sun reported sfuo had changed course , issued statement attributing declining attendance , need “ensure students’ money , resources being used in responsible , efficient way,” reason cancellation.

allegations of executives illegally obtaining u-passes

u-passes ottawa-gatineau area public transportation passes students required buy part of forced membership of sfuo if qualify. eligible, uottawa student must full-time undergraduate or graduate student. students able opt-out under restrictive criteria, such living outside of public transit service area, among other criteria. in 2017 allegations made sfuo executives, cannot qualify u-passes because must part time students, had obtained , using u-passes. complaints made against vp social hadi wess, vp university affairs vanessa dorimain, vp finance rizki rachiq, , vp equity morissa ellis. investigated boa disciplinary committee, found indeed wess, dorimain, , ellis had obtained u-passes. ellis had obtained u-pass registering 5 classes, contravened sfuo constitution on maximum course load executives. later dropped excess classes become part-time student, did not return u-pass required. dorimain found not qualify u-pass, part of role works on u-pass portfolio , had access u-passes not distributed due errors. wess found qualified u-pass disciplinary committee did not disclose how. part-time student , part-time students not qualify. during boa meeting @ roger guindon campus on april 2, 2017, faculty of medicine representative lukas hashem asked clarification how wess qualify no answer given. amazingly, disciplinary committee did not recommend sanctions against involved, leading allegations committee toothless.

18% exec pay raise, stripping of general assembly legislative power

in february 2017, sfuo began discussion raising executive salaries $33500 $39700, increase of 18%, despite poor financial condition , bankruptcy of student union in 2016. students criticized continual lack of funding clubs, low wages of other sfuo employees, , accused sfuo executives of conflict of interest. despite widespread online controversy of proposal, passed, sfuo executives citing making less other university student federation executives , dependent children reasons raise. on march 14, winter 2017 general assembly met quorum first time since 1980, on 230 students showing repeal executives pay raise.

after motion passed, added condition execs not allowed raise own salaries more other sfuo worker s salaries have been raised, members of executive claimed legislative power of ga had been stripped , motion passed still have passed board of administration. students argued not trust boa make decisions them reflect had happened during ga, , expressed worry boa meetings not recorded or made available public. after further review, clarified since decision repeal pay raise did not affect bylaws or constitution decision of ga final.

at boa meeting on april 2, 2017, executive aimed strip of ga of remaining powers, several boa members led engineering representative jeffrey colin, special student representative david gakwerere, , medicine representative lukas hashem managed amendso boa require 2 thirds super majority repeal motions passed @ ga.