May 11, 2021

The SFSS has made significant changes and additions to the policy, student life, and more in the last month of their board term.

April 9, 2021

  • Motion passed to approve the WUSC x SFSS Scholarship that will award one domestic student with a refugee background and one domestic black student per term with a total of $20,000 annually.
  • Motion carried to allocate space for a prayer room in the Student Union Building as there was a demonstrated need from students of faith since their current space on Burnaby Campus is inadequate and inaccessible.
  • Motion carried to the spending of $500 from the Advocacy line item 820/18 for the TMX Panel event by Students Against TMX, in solidarity with Indigenous land and water defender fighting against the expansion project. The approval is also aligned with the Society’s firm opposition to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) and commitment to educating students on the safety risk of the Burnaby Mountain Tank Farm.
  • SFU Esports Memorandum of Understanding was discussed with more need for consultation and clarification needed.
  • External and Community Affairs, Samad Raza, has met with several Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly and lobbied on safety regarding Burnaby Mountain Tank Farm, international students’ rights (fees), immigration, food insecurity and subsidization, housing, sexual violence and prevention supports.
  • Arising from the Student Wellness Working Group, SFSS wants to prioritize student safety. In support of what Health & Counselling is doing, SFSS wants to encourage students to get the vaccine. The Board of Directors feels they have the responsibility to find reliable sources to educate students and combat misinformation on the vaccine.
  • Update provided from the SFSS BIPOC Committee and the Feedback on Scarborough National Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion.

April 23, 2021

  • Motion carried regarding Council, Administrative Policies Repeal and Replace to repeal the current SFSS Board Policies, Accessibility Policy, and all other Administrative Policies, including the Communications Policies, Corporate Records and Information Policies, Finance Policies, Investment Policy, IT Policies, Member Services & Groups Policies, Office Administration Policies, Orientation and Retention Policies, Personnel Policies, Privacy and Information Management Policies, Property Management Policies, and Retail Services Policies and replace these repealed policies with the SFSS Policy Manual, Council Policies, Accessibility Policy, and new Administrative Policies, which includes the Communications Policies, Corporate Records and Information Policies, Finance Policies, Investment Policy, IT Policies, Member Services & Groups Policies, Office Administration Policies, Orientation and Retention Policies, Personnel Policies, Privacy and Information Management Policies, Property Management Policies, and Retail Services Policies to come into effect on May 1st, 2021.
  • Motion carried regarding SFSS Issues Policies where the SFSS approved a development plan to create more SFSS Issues Policies on a variety of social, economic and political issues, and to repeal and replace them with new Issues Policies: IP-3: Tuition Affordability, IP-4: Disability Justice, IP-5: Living Wage and Union Rights, IP-6: Climate Justice and Sustainability, IP-7: Indigenous Inclusion and Reconciliation, IP-8: Anti-Racism, and IP-9: Police and Militarization.
  • Motion carried to approve the “2021-22 Budget – 4th Draft” as a preliminary budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. This new budget has increased the Women’s Centre budget by $10,000 (increased demand for menstrual products/supplies). Preliminary budget to be finalized by the next Executives.

April 30, 2021

  • SFSS Board Year-End Review Presentation from President Osob Mohamed that showcased the accomplishments of the 2020/2021 Board of Directors.
  • Motion carried to adopt the Living Wage Model as outlined in the SFSS Council Remuneration Proposal.
  • Motion carried to receive and file SUB Space Allocation Proposal of SUB Sublease – CJSF, SUB Sublease – Embark, SUB Sublease – SFPIRG, Letter of Agreement – First Nations Student Association, and Letter of Agreement – Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry.
  • Motion carried to approve the signing of the MOU, which will inform the responsibilities of SFSS and SFU Esports in the Gamer’s Lounge.
  • Motion carried to continue the service sharing agreement with Fraser International College (FIC) for a term of five years, where SFSS continues to provide a broad range of services and support for FIC students.
  • Motion carried for the Board to allocate $24,921.30 from the Build SFU line item or another relevant line item for the SUB Activism Project, which will preserve and showcase the history of activism, student power, and nature of the radical SFU campus.
  • Honour Song by VP Student Services, Matthew Provost to acknowledge the hard work and honour and uphold the work of the 2020/2021 Board Term as they worked remotely during a pandemic.

Committee Works

  • SFSS Events Committee wrapped up their events, including educational workshops, and did some exam season giveaways. Funding for the Mandatory Anti-Racism Education Working Group was also provided. A year-end report was presented, highlighting many fun events and social media campaigns, collaborations with various SFU Programs and SFSS Clubs.
  • University and Academic Affairs Committee Chair and VP University Relations, Gabe Liosis, presented his year-end report with main highlights of the Food Hub program (led by VP External Samad Raza), Mandatory Anti-Racism Education workshops (led by Environment Representative, Anuki Karunajeewa and Health Sciences Representative, Nafoni Modi), COVID-19 Town Hall with C19 Coalition, stopping exam invigilation, Open Education Resources (led by Education Representative Emerly Liu), and more.
  • Governance Committee Chair Gabe Liosis presented his year-end report with main highlights of the establishment of SFSS BIPOC Committee (led by VP Student Services Matthew Provost and At-Large Representative Balqees Jama), administrative and governance restructuring, SFSS Annual General Meeting (AGM), and more.
  • Accessibility Committee Chair Jennifer Chou presented her year-end report highlighting the hiring of an Accessibility Designated Assistance, Psycho-educational Assessments (led by Education Representative Emerly Liu), and various other ongoing projects.