November 2021 was a very busy month for the SFSS Council – from events, policy work, and advocacy, a lot was accomplished on behalf of students and our members. Examples include more SFU Gondola advocacy, donating to those affected by the BC Floods, and an open letter campaign for more accessible course practices.
Full summary of what happened in November 2021 below:
Governance work for the month of November was at a Peak as the SFSS instituted a myriad of policies such as leave, coop and events booking policies. On top of that some agreements and MOUs were solidified such as the common Room and the Stadium contribution schedules. This alongside the preparation work for the referenda and elections:
Nov. 3rd, Governance: Council Approves New Council Leave of Absence Policies
Nov. 3rd, Governance: Council Signs the SFU-SFSS Executive Officer Coop Memorandum Of Understanding
Nov. 3rd, Governance: Council Agrees to the Amended SFU Stadium Contribution Schedule
Nov. 10th, Governance: Council Approves SUS and SASS SUB Common Room Memorandum Of Understanding
Nov. 10th, Governance: Council Signs a Space Lease for the Patio Space Outside the SUB
Nov. 10th, Governance: Council Approves Changes to the COVID-19 In-Person Events Guidelines to Allow Student Groups to Book Events in SFU Spaces
Nov. 24th, Governance: Council Spring 2022 Executive Committee General Elections and Referendum Dates Set
Nov. 24th, Governance: Council Approved Two Referendum Questions,
Increase Health and Dental Plan Fee,
Renew Council’s Power to Raise/Lower the Health and Plan Fee by 5% a Year
Advocacy wins and activism were front and center with SFU finally agreeing to divest, cancelled event after Indigenous student outcry, President and VP External lobbying trip to Victoria, open letters and wins with SFU singing on to the National Charter against Anti-Black racism after feedback from BIPOC committee and many others:
Programming, Community and Events were reflected in the month of November through the allowance of Room bookings, support for BC flood victims, on-campus pop up clinics as well as continuing community engagement for the Burnaby mountain gondola!:
Policy and Operations were importantly executed in the month through the hiring of accessibility coordinator and building coordinators, committee work and ensuring proper training for leaders and staff, as well as policy changes to reflect the current practice
Nov. 12th, Operations: Hiring an Accessibility Coordinator and two Building Coordinators
Nov. 24th, Policy: Council Creates the Space Oversight Committee
Nov. 24th, Policy: Council Adds Requirement for Council and Staff to Receive Sexual Violence Disclosure Training
Nov. 24th, Policy: Council Adds Reduced Council Hours Contribution During Finals Period
SFSS Council closed off November with a lot of governance work and things to prepare for the upcoming elections There were also big wins after months of labour that served the community well, and the SFSS is happy to have been a part of it at every step of the way!
