Students to decide CFS's future at SFU

VANCOUVER —– Members of Simon Fraser University’s student society Forum voted strongly in favour of questioning students on whether or not they believe SFU should separate from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) at their last meeting. Forum is an advisory body composed of representatives from each SFU faculty student union and members from the SFSS board of directors.

The question will be put to SFU students as a non-binding referendum during the Simon Fraser Students’ Society (SFSS) elections from March 20 to 22.
The SFSS recently organized a working group which looked into the relationship, both currently and historically, between SFU and the CFS — a national student lobbying group formed to, according to their website, to give students “an effective and united voice, provincially and nationally.” The group lobbies all levels of government for lower tuition fees and other education-oriented concessions. They also provide a variety of services including health services, and deals on travel, phones, and other products.

The working group attempted to assess whether SFU’s relationship with CFS was worthwhile, or if it was in need of reconsideration. It looked at three possible options: retaining the status quo, reforming the CFS from within, and separation. The working group recognized the above advantages of being in the CFS, but cited many costs, both practical and perceived.

Membership in the organization cost SFU students $439,204 this year, an amount that triggered questions of whether or not it is worth it to be a member. There are also questions over the fact that the SFSS was denied their vote at the CFS national meeting in February. However, this was explained by CFS-BC chairperson Scott Payne as being a result of a pending lawsuit following the impeachment of the SFSS executive last fall, which left in question who constituted the rightful board of the SFSS.
Other criticisms came in lack of fiscal faith, as CFS-BC has yet to file a 2005 audit. This report is for the period in which significant loans were granted to the Douglas College Students’ Union — a time when their funds were being withheld from the school’s administration, citing financial irregularities and lack of proper bookkeeping. Some also question the effectiveness of the lobbying of the CFS. As applied sciences representative Bryan Ottho put it, “You can’t gauge the efficiency of lobbying unless the premier brings someone out.”

Payne, as well as Shamus Reid, B.C. representative for the national CFS, appeared briefly at the meeting to make a case for CFS. They handed out binders filled with glossy presentations of CFS benefits to forum members and gave a brief presentation. They pointed to the “historic involvement” that SFU has had in the CFS. They also said they would be more than happy to address questions about the CFS posed by forum members or regular students. However, soon after their presentation, the two left without answering questions from forum. Payne stated that it was impossible to have a valid debate if the CFS representatives just reacted to and debunked accusations.
Some suggested that SFU could, if separated from the CFS, create a B.C. coalition to focus on issues specific to the region. SFSS internal relations officer Sean Magee suggested that “$400,000 goes a long way,” and that SFU could go out and “connect with unions all across the country.” SFSS president Derrick Harder said that the SFSS could continue “working with them collaboratively on issues of mutual concern.” Ultimately an appeal was made to simply let students decide, and the vote eventually carried with 30 votes for, five against, and four abstentions.

There was, however, some opposition to the motion. Geography representative Tommy Thomson said he detected an “anti-CFS” atmosphere at the meeting, and that the society should find a more reasoned way of dealing with grievances, insisting that they should not give up the student society’s primary provincial and federal lobbying apparatus.

It is unclear how the non-binding referendum could be used to separate from the CFS. Their process for separation includes a petition signed by 10 per cent of the student body, a six-month waiting period, followed by an official referendum requiring a five per cent turnout. There is some concern that attempts to use this referendum as a tool for separation will result in a lawsuit.