Minutes – Joint College Meeting – November 4, 2002
DRAFT
1. Call to Order – 8:03 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda
- Motion to approve the agenda, by F. Umar-Khitab, seconded by J. Parker.
o Amendment made to move the Senate report from point 12 to point 7j, by F. Umar-Khitab, seconded by P. Obradovich. Passes.
- Passes.
3. Approval of minutes from the JCM on October 2, 2002
- Motion to approve the minutes, by K. Johanson, seconded by K. Waterston. Passes.
4. Business arising from minutes from the JCM on October 2, 2002
- None.
5. Approval of minutes from the JCM on October 30, 2002
-
Motion to approve the minutes, by J.
Cooper, seconded by F. Umar-Khitab. Passes.
6. Business arising from minutes from the JBS meeting on October 1, 2002
- None.
7. Reports
a. Heads
of College
- C. Butler reports that all are welcome to submit events to her for the St. Hilda’s whiteboard. Also, there is a Remembrance Day Service on November 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Soldier’s Tower.
- A. Oakden reports that Trinity was awarded a trophy at the University of Toronto 175th anniversary parade. He also notes that there will be a foosball tournament in the Roost and that sign-ups are approaching.
- F. Umar-Khitab requests that A. Oakden advertise his events throughout the entire College and not only in the Roost.
b. Heads of Arts
- G. Choi reports that he met with Tony Rager, who says that the storage room at Trinity is too full, and will be emptied for a reasonable price. He also notes that there are Trinity positions open for the food committee concerning the availability of certain religious food.
c. Heads
of NRAC
- J. Burman reports that the program to get non-residents security keys for St. Hilda’s has been delayed. It is still being worked on though.
d. Heads
of Divinity
-
Absent.
e. Chair
of TCM
- M. Napier reports that the next TCM will be held in mid-to-late November. Motions that will be discussed include: posters being taken down within 48 hours after events and the requirement that the NRAC head must have lived out of residence for one year before running for the position.
f.
Chair of SHCM
- Absent.
g. JCM
Auditor
- J. Cooper reports that the winter audit is due in December and reminds clubs that they should keep good books.
h. JCM
Treasurer
- J. Haylock reports that the JCM has $74,000 in funds and cheque request forms are available in the Porter’s Lodge.
i.
SAC
- A. Galbraith reports that he has no business to report.
j.
Senate Representative
- F. Umar-Khitab introduces the senate representatives, and notes that students should tell their respective representatives (Science, Humanities, Social Science) to go to the Senate meetings to properly represent their voices. He also reports that the International Relations major entrance GPA was raised 0.1.
- The student Senate representatives are: Kit Scotchmer, Paul Kraft, Faran Umar-Khitab, Gyun Choi, Kathryn FitzGerald and Tiffanie Ing.
8. Corporation Election
- N. Marceau nominated by G. Choi, seconded by H. Lee
- J. Parker nominated by J. Burman, seconded by A. McCoomb
- L. Crawford nominated by J. Woodward, seconded by C. Butler
- J. Woodward nominated by L. Crawford, seconded by C. Butler
- K. Johanson nominated by P. Obradovich, seconded by J. Boyle
- E. Reaney nominated by K. Waterston, seconded by C. Butler
- J. Predovic (in absentia) nominated by F. Umar-Khitab, seconded by P. Obradovich
- Motion to close nominations by A. McLeod, seconded by G. Choi. Passes.
- L. Crawford is elected as Corporation representative.
9. Initial Report from the Committee on Co-ed Governance
- P. Obradovich notes that motions will be held at the SHCM and TCM regarding mechanical changes to the constitutions. He also requests further guidance from the JCM as to what the responsibilities of the committee are. He notes that the committee was thinking of looking at all of Trinity’s governments, and examining any changes necessary in case of co-ed residency.
- A. Oakden notes that there are two objectives of the committee, to make changes to constitutions so co-ed residency would not be contradicting, but would work out and if we want co-ed governance or not.
- E. Pachaud says that the responsibility of the committee is to examine the constitution of all of the governing bodies and remove all of the gender issues, as the government pertains to residence, not gender
- K. Johanson says that the point of the committee is to change student government to make it work for co-ed residency (i.e. TCM, SHCM, residence/gender issues, etc.), and should inform all students about what is happening
- A. McLeod says that the committee must be proactive, because if we are not, the Provost will take action
- J. Burman notes that the Provost has said that a Professor from the Sociology department will poll students regarding co-ed residence. He also says that a functional government is required if co-ed residence is implemented, and the committee should determine what needs to be changed.
- A. Oakden notes that the survey will come later this year, and there will likely be a referendum. He also notes that the committee has already ground out rules for changing constitutions if co-ed residence occurs immediately.
- Be it resolved that the committee on “Co-ed Governance” assess the necessary changes for the current student governance system and provide students with structural options and ramifications in the event of more wide-spread residence, by L. Crawford, seconded by J. Burman
o Amendment to change the name of the committee to “Committee for the Re-evaluation of Student Government”, by J. Parker. Friendly.
-
Call to question by K. Waterston. Passes.
-
Passes.
10. Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) discussion with Trinity SAC Representatives
- A. Galbraith states that the CFS referendum is taking place beginning on November 5, 2002, and will determine whether or not SAC (representing undergraduates at the University of Toronto) should join the CFS. The CFS was formed in 1981 to advocate for affordable tuition fees and costs $12.54/year/student.
He notes that the claims of the ‘Yes’ side are: The CFS has 450,000 members, making it the largest student organization in Canada. There is strength in numbers, giving the CFS lobbying power for freezing or lowering tuition. CFS membership offers a free ISIC card, which is normally $16.00 and provides students with cheaper travel and lots of discounts.
He notes that the claims of the ‘No’ side are: The University of Toronto is big enough to have political clout without belonging to the CFS. The CFS does not limit its policy to issues dealing with students (i.e. The CFS disagrees with free trade). The freezes that have occurred in other provinces were not necessarily due to CFS lobbying. The University of Toronto would provide the CFS with over $400,000, but will have the same representation on the CFS as a school with 2100 students. The practices of the referendum are shady.
To vote in the CFS referendum, there are many locations across campus, including the Sid Smith lobby, the Med Sci lobby, the Galbraith building, Victoria College, the Athletic Centre, OISE, Convocation Hall, etc.
-
Motion that the JCM adopt an official ‘No’
stance as the official governing body of Trinity College, by P. Obradovich,
seconded by L. Bernstein
-
P. Josselyn notes that he is the Chair of the
‘No’ committee, and his main objection is the way the referendum is being run.
The referendum is being overseen by the JRC (Joint Referendum Committee), which
is made up of two SAC representatives, and two paid CFS employees, which
clearly goes against SAC guidelines for conflict of interest. The JRC has
subjected the ‘No’ campaign to blatant censorship.
-
A. McLeod notes that it would be more
appropriate for the JCM to send a letter addressed to SAC stating that we do
not approve of the undemocratic nature of the referendum, as opposed to taking
an official stance, everyone should be encouraged to vote how they want
-
K. Leadbeater notes that the problem with
Trinity is that there is a small vocal group who are in favour of the ‘No’
side, and that people are not informed enough to make a decision for the whole
College.
o
Amendment made that the JCM write an open
letter to the CFS and interested campuses in Canada to express its displeasure
with the process and undemocratic practices by which the CFS infiltrated the
University of Toronto to conduct its referendum, by M. Bennett, seconded by
M. Cornett.
Motion for 5 minute recess, by A. McLeod, seconded by A. Oakden
o P. Obradovich notes that the referendum is tomorrow, it is too late for a letter to have any impact
o Call to question by J. Lea. Passes.
o Passes.
-
K. Johanson notes that SAC and UC, among other
bodies, have all adopted official stances, therefore, it is appropriate for
Trinity to adopt one
o
Amendment to add to the beginning of the
motion: For the reason that the referendum is in contravention of University of
Toronto guidelines put in place to protect the spirit of democratic student
governance, the University of Trinity College’s Joint College Meeting…, by
J. Burman. Friendly.
-
Call to question by J. Woodward. Passes.
-
Passes.
- Be it resolved that the Trinity College JCM does not accept the validity of the outcome of the CFS referendum due to the undemocratic practices taking place, by A. Oakden, seconded by P. Obradovich.
o Amendment made to add to the end of the last sentence: and requests that the Office of Student Affairs of the University of Toronto invalidate the referendum based on its unconstitutionality, by A. McLeod. Friendly.
- Call to question by G. Choi. Passes.
- Passes.
- K. Leadbeater states that in order to vote in the CFS referendum, one must bring your T-Card and one other piece of photo ID to the polling station. The polls are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. She also notes that the issues are more important than the process and everyone should vote no matter what.
- Be it resolved that the Bursar be instructed not to collect the CFS levy unless there is a democratically sound referendum, by J. Burman, seconded by J. Woodward.
- A. McLeod notes that this should be addressed when the CFS referendum is determined to be in favour of the ‘Yes’ side.
- Motion to shelve to the first JCM after the CFS referendum results are announced, by A. McLeod, seconded by M. Singleton. Passes.
- Motion to close discussion, by J. Parker, seconded by F. Umar-Khitab. Passes.
11. CFS on the NRAC email list
- Be it resolved that NRAC run a CFS information campaign through its email list, showing the advantages and disadvantages of joining the CFS, by J. Burman, seconded by T. Ing.
- J. Burman notes that the results from this JCM will be included.
- Call to question by M. Cornett. Passes.
- Passes.
12. Correspondence
13. Other Business
- Be it resolved that Trinity College SAC and governing council representatives are strongly requested, before each SAC meeting, to come to the JCM and present the agenda issues to be raised at the upcoming SAC meeting, and to ask the JCM for its decision on how they should vote, in order to represent the views of Trinity College, by K. Johanson, seconded by K. Waterston
- A. McLeod notes that the SAC representatives are not the only ones guilty of not getting student opinions, as the Senate and Board of Trustees representatives also do not come to the JCM to get student opinions.
- J. Lea notes that SAC only has one or two days notice of the agenda for each meeting
- Call to question by G. Choi. Fails.
- Point of Order that SAC representatives are not officers of Trinity College, therefore we cannot tell them what to do, by P. Obradovich
- Chair rules that this motion is in order
- L. Crawford notes that every member of Trinity College can come to a JCM, it is a direct democracy and should be treated with respect.
o Amendment made to strike “and governing council representatives” and to add after “upcoming SAC meeting”, replacing “and to ask the JCM for its decision on how they should vote”: “and strongly encourage SAC representatives to consult the JCM and individual students for their opinions on how the SAC representatives should vote”, by L. Crawford, seconded by G. Choi.
-
Motion withdrawn
-
F. Umar-Khitab notes that the Frosh Week books
are being wrapped up, there will be a final presentation at the next JBS/JCM
meetings before handing over the account
-
A. Galbraith asks if anyone is interested in
having a listserv for SAC, he could e-mail agendas and then receive people’s
opinions
-
J. Burman notes that the Heads are at JCMs and
have rooms or offices, they actively seek opinions, are openly available and
ask the same of the SAC representatives
-
E. Pachaud notes that the TCDS is accepting
proposals for the winter play. If anyone requires more information, you can
speak to her
-
Motion to add a line item to the Salterrae
budget for $300 for a phone line from within their current funds, by A.
McLeod, seconded by P. Josselyn.
-
Call to question by F. Umar-Khitab. Passes.
-
Passes.
14. Adjournment
- Motion to adjourn, by F. Umar-Khitab, seconded by M. Cornett.