Speak Out: Transparency and SDU
Margo Dunnet, SFSS External Relations Officer
Over the last few weeks, a group of students nobly, though somewhat hypocritically, known as Students for a Democratic University (SDU) have called for the SFSS to become more transparent. Their calls have culminated in several failed attempts to impeach both myself and six other democratically elected SFSS directors.
SDU’s accusations around transparency couldn’t be further from the truth. SFSS directors have been speaking to classes and handing out a Member’s Update, letting students know about some of the internal affairs of the SFSS. At all times, SFSS directors have acted on advice from legal counsel. Now, SDU is criticising us for going out to let you know what’s happening. Perhaps they do not understand what transparency is.
Is SDU itself transparent? Surely if these students want a democratic university, then they would be comfortable letting you know who they are and any political affiliations that they may have. But instead, students have been inundated with media appearances by Bryan Jones, SDU’s spokesperson, while other members of SDU lurk in the shadows.
In an effort to assist SDU in ensuring that the political process at SFU is as transparent as possible, I would like to take this time to introduce you to some of the ringleaders of SDU and their backgrounds. The following list is certainly not comprehensive in nature, but maybe it will encourage other members of SDU to become more transparent.
One of the more high-profile members of SDU is former SFSS President Clement Apaak. Clement is also the one of the primary organisers of Canadian Students for Darfur. Although Canadian Students for Darfur’s funds are now administered by Oxfam, for some time the funds were administered by Clement himself. Perhaps not coincidentally, Gallivan and Associates has donated several thousand dollars to Canadian Students for Darfur. Gallivan’s donations began at approximately the same time he began attempting to have the SFSS sign a five-year contract extension (despite the current contract having more than 18 months left when Gallivan commenced its efforts). Perhaps this is Clement’s way of returning the favour. Or perhaps Clement is simply campaigning early for a second presidency in 2007-2008.
Former SFSS University Relations Officer Titus Gregory is also an active member of SDU. Titus is also a student representative on the SFU Board of Governors and attempted to return to the SFSS Board during the most recent election. Unfortunately for Titus, he was defeated. Although I am sure that it is a coincidence, Titus is now trying to impeach most of the slate that he ran against in that election. Titus also sits on the Board of Directors of The Peak. It seems that electoral politics are simply in Titus’s blood.
Adding to the litany of former SFSS directors now spearheading SDU is former SFSS Internal Relations Officer Jan Gunn. Jan works for CUPE, which as you may know, is the union that represents SFSS employees. Perhaps Jan is simply going above and beyond the call of duty as a good trade unionist. On behalf of the SFSS Executive, I wish Jan well in her career as a trade unionist and hope that the academic difficulties that saw her take an unplanned leave of absence from her studies are behind her now that she is back on campus.
Proving that politics makes strange bedfellows, another active member of SDU is former SFSS University Relations Officer Derrick Harder. Derrick, in addition to writing a column for The Peak, is Jan Gunn’s long-time partner. For those of you not familiar with their relationship, it is somewhat unique. For instance, in the September 11, 2006 issue of The Peak, Derrick wrote a column highly critical of SFSS President Shawn Hunsdale [“Common Sense Revolution”]. In the subsequent issue, Jan wrote a letter to the editor clarifying some of Derrick’s remarks [“Response to Harderline,” September 28, 2006.] I guess she did not have time to proofread Derrick’s article at home. At any rate, Jan and Derrick are well on their way to becoming the ultimate SFU power couple.
Finally, we have Bryan Jones. Bryan has never run for a position on the SFSS Board (at least until the next election). Indeed, outside of involvement on the Graduate Issues Committee of the SFSS, Bryan’s political involvement at the SFSS has been minimal. Which, of course, makes him the ideal spokesperson for SDU. No baggage to criticise and a great way to launch his campaign to be the next president of the SFSS.
Of course, if an object is transparent, then you can see through either side of it. The SFSS is committed to transparency. We would like to encourage Mr. Jones and his slate of former (and possibly future) SFSS directors to make the same commitment.