The Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) Carleton received the first instalment of their levy Dec. 9 from the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) for the 2013-14 school year.
OPIRG-Carleton, a student-funded organization normally receiving their levy in November, this year was asked for financial information by CUSA beforehand.
Undergraduate students pay $6.89 in levy fees to OPIRG-Carleton. The university’s Board of Governors takes the levy from overall tuition fees, and passes on the money to CUSA to forward to OPIRG-Carleton.
Before CUSA vice-president (finance) Folarin Odunayo forwarded the levy, he requested financial statements.
“CUSA operates under an understanding with the university that we are dispersing the monies collected from students to groups that are operating in a financially responsible manner,” Odunayo said in November.
OPIRG-Carleton refused to provide the documents. Board member Sam Heaton said CUSA’s request to the independent organization was an “extraordinary demand.”
Odunayo said CUSA is “aware” of an agreement between OPIRG and the university where OPIRG must provide CUSA with the financial documents before the next student levy cycle.
“Recognizing this agreement and acting in good faith towards OPIRG, we released the first instalment of the student levy to OPIRG,” Odunayo said via email.
OPIRG-Carleton board member Benjamin Diaz said they are unaware of this agreement.
“He released the OPIRG levy because he realized he was in an untenable legal situation and could no longer withhold it. Now he’s attempting to cover his tracks, ” he said via email.
Emma Slaney Gose, OPIRG-Carleton’s assistant co-ordinator, said she thinks there are political reasons behind CUSA’s actions.
“They’re just not being up front about that,” she said.
Slaney Gose said OPIRG-Carleton sought legal counsel and their lawyer made attempts to contact CUSA.
Slaney Gose said CUSA’s request was “not typical.”
“This is the second year in a row this has happened, but this is not the norm,” she said. “We’ve existed harmoniously since 1980.”
The Carleton Food Collective, the group that runs the Garden Spot, has not received their levy.
CUSA has requested financial documents from the collective as well.
