Steven Dollansky, VP External of the University of Alberta Students’ Union, posts that the UASU is joining the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.
I predicted this back in the fall and predict that the McMaster Students Union will be joining sometime this year.
Unbelievable. It makes you wonder whether they’re even aware of the document that their predecessors at U of A wrote. CASA was founded based on a document written by Carleton, McGill and U of A called ‘The Winds are Changing’. In 2001, Alex Usher of McGill and the VP External of U of A authored another document; ‘The Winds are Changing Again’ (very creative, I know) that outlined their concerns with the organization.
It was based on that document that I presented the motion that took SSMU out of CASA three years ago – as far as I can tell, CASA still hasn’t made the changes demanded in ‘The Winds are Changing Again’. It blows me away that U of A is prepared to just put all that aside.
Absolutely, CASA needs to make reforms. There is an opportunity in Canada right now for a truly student-run national lobbying organization which put together the best of CFS and CASA to finally represent students in Ottawa. The problem is that CFS is defined by its staff and the need to support that well-paid staff. CASA is defined as the opposite of CFS. While CASA has moved over the pass few years to define itself, it still has a ways to go. At least, CASA’s much smaller budget means its not getting itself into the situations that are currently plaguing the CFS.
Joey, again I have to challenge your assumption that the main problem at CFS is somehow related to the staff. I can speak at least from seeing the national CFS and the Ontario component run. However if you have concrete proof to support your prejudices I’m eager to hear it.
The Ontario component has been well-run this past year and it has been clear to me that the chair is in charge there.
Nationally, you had a large “advance or loan or whatever you want to call it” paid to the health and dental plan provider or broker (details have not been release) which was done by a staff member without proper authorization. (Authorization later granted) When I was at the national CFS meeting, it appeared to me that the staff were the ones making decisions. Presently, it is the staff that are planning the CFS NO campaigns in BC. To me, this is not the role of staff in the “student movement.” The CFS needs to return to its founding ideals and have students back truly in charge.
I’ll begin by wondering how CFS even got into this comment thread, as our organization was not even contacted by any CFS staff member or delegate to the best of my knowledge since we took office in May. After careful consideration of a number of factors it became clear that CASA was the federal organization that I should investigate, on behalf of the UASU.
I am well aware of the “Winds are Changing Again” document, (you’re right, it’s a terrible title) but was more concerned about the document that was provided as justification for our departure, entitled “Towards Effective Political Representation”. The latter document focuses on building our internal advocacy department and strengthening our provincial lobby group, CAUS, and the UASU has accomplished both tasks to a level far beyond the criteria that were suggested.
I agree CASA is not a perfect organization, but it is headed in the right direction, and I am excited about our organization’s opportunity to contribute to that process. The recent governance review is a perfect example of how member schools continue to work to improve the organization, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
CASA’s priorities are very much in line with those of the UASU and the Members of Parliament in the Edmonton area have had nothing but favourable things to say about CASA’s reputation and their approach to government relations in Ottawa. In addition, ensuring that all three major Alberta universities are sitting at the federal table together will only further strengthen our provincial efforts. These are just a few of the many reasons why our organization has conditionally approved full membership in CASA.
When it comes down to it, there is no reasonable explanation for an organization as large as the UASU not to be an active and effective advocate to all levels of government. CASA will provide an avenue for us to make that happen.
“When I was at the national CFS meeting, it appeared to me that the staff were the ones making decisions.”
I was at some of the same meetings, I can presume, as a delegate, and I did not get that. Nevertheless, maybe your hypothesis works, so instead of keeping to critcize it, I will propose an alternative focus.
My hypothesis about the possible “disconnectedness” of CFS with individual members is not related to staff. I rather think that solving this problems “starts at home”, i.e. if we at the local student union level start having a better two-way communication with our members, then the delegates at CFS meetings will be less disconnected and it won’t take much more time before the CFS as a whole will be less disconnected.
Unbelievable. It makes you wonder whether they’re even aware of the document that their predecessors at U of A wrote. CASA was founded based on a document written by Carleton, McGill and U of A called ‘The Winds are Changing’. In 2001, Alex Usher of McGill and the VP External of U of A authored another document; ‘The Winds are Changing Again’ (very creative, I know) that outlined their concerns with the organization.
It was based on that document that I presented the motion that took SSMU out of CASA three years ago – as far as I can tell, CASA still hasn’t made the changes demanded in ‘The Winds are Changing Again’. It blows me away that U of A is prepared to just put all that aside.
So much for institutional memory…
(I wonder what Soundwave would have done….)
Corey,
Absolutely, CASA needs to make reforms. There is an opportunity in Canada right now for a truly student-run national lobbying organization which put together the best of CFS and CASA to finally represent students in Ottawa. The problem is that CFS is defined by its staff and the need to support that well-paid staff. CASA is defined as the opposite of CFS. While CASA has moved over the pass few years to define itself, it still has a ways to go. At least, CASA’s much smaller budget means its not getting itself into the situations that are currently plaguing the CFS.
Joey, again I have to challenge your assumption that the main problem at CFS is somehow related to the staff. I can speak at least from seeing the national CFS and the Ontario component run. However if you have concrete proof to support your prejudices I’m eager to hear it.
Hey Philippe,
The Ontario component has been well-run this past year and it has been clear to me that the chair is in charge there.
Nationally, you had a large “advance or loan or whatever you want to call it” paid to the health and dental plan provider or broker (details have not been release) which was done by a staff member without proper authorization. (Authorization later granted) When I was at the national CFS meeting, it appeared to me that the staff were the ones making decisions. Presently, it is the staff that are planning the CFS NO campaigns in BC. To me, this is not the role of staff in the “student movement.” The CFS needs to return to its founding ideals and have students back truly in charge.
I’ll begin by wondering how CFS even got into this comment thread, as our organization was not even contacted by any CFS staff member or delegate to the best of my knowledge since we took office in May. After careful consideration of a number of factors it became clear that CASA was the federal organization that I should investigate, on behalf of the UASU.
I am well aware of the “Winds are Changing Again” document, (you’re right, it’s a terrible title) but was more concerned about the document that was provided as justification for our departure, entitled “Towards Effective Political Representation”. The latter document focuses on building our internal advocacy department and strengthening our provincial lobby group, CAUS, and the UASU has accomplished both tasks to a level far beyond the criteria that were suggested.
I agree CASA is not a perfect organization, but it is headed in the right direction, and I am excited about our organization’s opportunity to contribute to that process. The recent governance review is a perfect example of how member schools continue to work to improve the organization, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
CASA’s priorities are very much in line with those of the UASU and the Members of Parliament in the Edmonton area have had nothing but favourable things to say about CASA’s reputation and their approach to government relations in Ottawa. In addition, ensuring that all three major Alberta universities are sitting at the federal table together will only further strengthen our provincial efforts. These are just a few of the many reasons why our organization has conditionally approved full membership in CASA.
When it comes down to it, there is no reasonable explanation for an organization as large as the UASU not to be an active and effective advocate to all levels of government. CASA will provide an avenue for us to make that happen.
“When I was at the national CFS meeting, it appeared to me that the staff were the ones making decisions.”
I was at some of the same meetings, I can presume, as a delegate, and I did not get that. Nevertheless, maybe your hypothesis works, so instead of keeping to critcize it, I will propose an alternative focus.
My hypothesis about the possible “disconnectedness” of CFS with individual members is not related to staff. I rather think that solving this problems “starts at home”, i.e. if we at the local student union level start having a better two-way communication with our members, then the delegates at CFS meetings will be less disconnected and it won’t take much more time before the CFS as a whole will be less disconnected.
As an aside, Towards Effective Political Representation can be read at http://www.cdjj.org/SU/SU_Lobbying_Plan.pdf.
Erm, subtract that last period: http://www.cdjj.org/SU/SU_Lobbying_Plan.pdf