The SGM is lawful
Titus Gregory
Three weeks ago, I had the honour of presiding over what I can only describe as history in the making. Over 50 students, representing departmental student unions and graduate caucuses from every part of the university, crowded into Forum Chambers for a meeting of Forum, even though Member Services Officer Glyn Lewis claimed to “cancel” the meeting. Members of Forum heard how the president of the SFSS had refused to call a Special General Meeting of the Society upon receiving a petition containing over 2,400 signatures, in violation of the by-laws. Forum heard how SFSS executives had been spreading slanderous propaganda about Hattie Aitken, potentially exposing the society to legal liability. Forum noted that the Board of Directors had moved to prevent any graduate students from sitting on the hiring committee to replace her. Forum noted that all the members of the “G7” were absent from the meeting in a failed attempt to prevent Forum from achieving a quorum. After hearing about all these tactics that the G7 had employed, Forum voted unanimously to hold a Special General Meeting of the SFSS for Wednesday, October 25, at 2:30 p.m. in Convocation Mall.
Unfortunately, the G7, instead of encouraging members to vote against impeachment at the Special General Meeting (SGM), have attempted to prevent the SGM from taking place at all. The Board of Directors voted to hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the exact same date and time as Forum voted to hold the SGM, forcing SFU students to choose which general meeting to attend. They have also threatened to file an injunction before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, forcing the cancellation of the SGM.
In his letter in last week’s Peak [“SDU thwarts democracy,” October 10, 2006], Lewis made several false claims about the SGM. First, Lewis claims that “calling for the removal of elected representatives without providing the opportunity for those representatives to present their side is anything but allowing students to ‘decide for themselves.’” But Forum did nothing to deny the G7 an opportunity to present their side. At the SGM, all students — pro and con — will be given the opportunity to speak to the motions to impeach the G7.
Second, Lewis claims that Students for a Democratic University (SDU) has rejected an attempt at compromise: holding the AGM and the SGM in the same location. But it was Forum, not the SDU, that called the Special General Meeting; SDU representatives could not possibly purport to speak on behalf of Forum. Furthermore, this whole talk of ‘compromise’ ignores the simple obvious fact — that the Board of Directors deliberately scheduled their Annual General Meeting for the same date and time that Forum had scheduled their Special General Meeting, for the sole purpose of confusing students.
Third, Lewis claims that at the Annual General Meeting, students will have the opportunity to “ask questions and hold their elected representatives accountable, should the need arise.” But he must know that a motion to impeach a director, just like a motion to amend the society’s by-laws, is considered to be a “special resolution” under provincial law. Special resolutions are only valid if previous notice has been given in the call of the meeting. But the notice for the Annual General Meeting does not include any notice of motion to impeach the G7! Given the fact that the G7 have ample access to legal counsel, I can only conclude that they are trying to lead SFU students up the garden path, falsely leading students to believe that they can attend the Annual General Meeting and impeach the G7 should they find it necessary to do so.
Do not be deceived. The Special General Meeting called for October 25 in Convocation Mall was called in a perfectly lawful manner, in response to the president’s decision to ignore a petition of over 2,500 students. The Annual General Meeting is nothing more than a desperate attempt at obstruction on the part of Lewis and his allies. If you genuinely care about democracy and accountability within your student society, then I hope to see you next Wednesday in Convocation Mall.