March 4, 2022

SFSS Council, the new Legal Board of Directors of the Society, worked on many projects, initiatives, passed many motions, and all around had a very busy month to kickstart a lot of what was to be done throughout the year.

The First Meeting of Council happened on June 2, 2021, where Council passed multiple motions and supported a myriad of actions. Some of these were including but not limited to:

  • Endorsing the Access for All campaign and Return to Campus plan – which included the responses to the surveys and notes from various students and organizations. This advocacy led to future wins and compassionate policy development at various senate committees as it relates to return to campus.
  • Striking a number of committees to facilitate the continuous appointment and operation of the Society including the Campaigns and Mobilization Coordinator, the Policy Research and Community Relations Coordinator and many other roles.
  • Filing SFSS x GSS Shared Services Agreement to ensure graduate students who help support our services also share in the benefits of their services as outlined
  • Sharing resources in support of Columbia and the students involved with the right to protest in global solidarity Colombia Protests Resources
  • Presenting and passing a SFU Grading Scheme Change Advocacy Request Motion that asserted SFSS stance to work with Student Senators to move towards more common grading schemes (4.00 GPA) instead of the current scaling, and to appoint VP University to lobby for these efforts at the SFSS Admin JOG meetings. These conversations continued throughout June
  • Celebrating June as the #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth The SFSS Executive Committee is celebrating National Indigenous People(s) Day – Simon Fraser Student Society
  • 5-year extension of the agreement with FIC is now in effect

The second and third meeting of Council in June happened on June 16 and June 30 respectively where other motions and activities were approved and carried out as well as presentations such as the following:

  • The Space Expansion Fund policy was amended to include more accurate language to allow students to have access to funds for space improvements and activities across SFU campuses in support of students
  • Return to campus planning and communication to DSUs and CGs was done, by establishing a working group to ensure there is clear and concise return to campus guidelines for Fall amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
  • The SFSS passed a motion in support of the SFU Climate Emergency Declaration Open letter organized by SFU350 and signed alongside groups such as SOCA SFPIRG GSS TSSU DNA FNSA Embak ChangeSFU and others, and affirmed commitments to address the climate crisis like opposing extractice fossil fuel and resource projects that impact the environment
  • SFSS approved the final draft of the 2021-2022 budget
  • Approve a motion in support of the Indian Residential School Survivors society as well as to amplify Calls to Action from Indigenous communities in all capacities, including letters of supports, sharing resources, donations, and taking individual action to educate ourselves on these ongoing issues, and to donate $6000 to IRSS and their efforts amidst the presence of the unmarked graves discovered in the year. We point folks to the statement here: Simon Fraser Student Society – Posts (facebook.com
  • SFSS Council also endorsed the #CancelCanadaDay campaign and to support, amplify, educate and participate in this campaign led by grassroots activists such as Idle No More who calls for reflection and commitment to reconciliation and to call for all Canadians to stand in support of Indigenous communities and to rethink ceremonial activities that uplift Canada in expense of the welfare and well-being of Indigenous communities
  • Presentations were given over the month by many community partners and stakeholders in relation to housing and developments as well as Health and Dental Presentation. Lastly, the Executive presentations were done where the Executives released and went over their annual plans

In addition to this work at Council meetings, outside of meetings, statements, events and activities were held as organized by Councillors and community members. There was a ”Get Out the Vote” campaign for the Local Burnaby City Council Election done by the VP External Matthew Provost. President Gabe Liosis also made statements on behalf of the society amidst Departments going beyond PHO guidelines in support of student safety and calling on SFU to do the same. The Executive Committee released a statement in support of the Indigenous Peoples Day statement and the Operation Blue Star (1984) statement in support and remembrance of outwardly genocidal policies against Sikhs that impact so many of the members of the SFSS community. Executives also released a statement in support of the vigil amidst the attacks on Muslim communities and amplified the NCCM statement. 

Lastly, the SFSS Council took a stance in support of Palestinian liberation that started amidst members of our Palestinian community on campus being impacted by the attacks by the current state of Israeli. The statement served as a framework for the motion previously passed in support of the creation of a working group to establish an Issues policy on Palestinian liberation. 

SFSS looks forward to continuing to support students at all times and we appreciate all the community support and will forever be indebted to our membership.