In October 2021, the SFSS had a virtual Annual General Meeting with over 700+ members attending and speaking up on issues that mattered to them. SFSS members voted to prohibit fossil fuel investments within the SFSS and to call on SFU to implement more accessible course practices. In terms of events, SFSS hosted a Halloween celebration. For advocacy, the SFSS Council supported Palestinian week and the Every Child Matters campaign. The SFSS also had a lot of events and community initiatives such as the community fridge being launched, Halloween celebration, and continued to engage the community for the introduction of a Gondola on campus!
Full summary of what happened in October 2021 below:
Governance took front and center stage in October due to the Annual General Meeting that occurred. Council prepared to ensure that the meeting went smoothly and students got their voice! In addition to the AGM, procedural motions were also passed to ensure proper training a and equipping of staff, council and other student leaders were done
Oct. 27th, Governance: 2021 Virtual Annual General Meeting where members voted to:
Bylaw Clean up and Renumbering
Bylaw Fossil Fuel Divestment
Accessible Course Practices Campaign Support
Reviewed the Annual Report, Auditors Report, Financial Report, and Approved Next Year’s Auditor
Oct. 13th, Governance: Council meeting a Sexual violence prevention motion was passed to mandate responding to disclosures training for all staff, councillors and student union execs
Oct. 13th, Operations; Council Approves Spending $90,000 to Purchase Updated Office Equipment for Staff and Council
For advocacy for the month of October, a lot of initiatives from support amidst the tensiton in Afghanistan to SFU Scholars, to supporting Palestinian week or supporting the Every Child Matters campaign at home, or stronger measures at school, the SFSS supported in the best way that we had capacity for in this month:
Oct. 13th, Advocacy: Council Agrees to Spend $4000 to Support a Afghan Student and his Family to at Risk to Come to SFU
As you can tell, October brought a lot of community and collective governance. Council remembered the need to ensure that Students have a collective space to make decisions, come together for events and initiatives such as the community fridge, and stand in solidarity with everyone affected either by threats of being targeted for their views or support amidst tragedies in our membership.
