The fate of the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) seems destined to go to trial. It was there, in Ontario Superior Court, where I sat to listen to what the future would hold for our student association.
CUSA vice-president (internal) Ariel Norman wasn’t there. She didn’t show up.
Instead, there was CUSA’s lawyer who, on her instructions, asked the judge for one thing: shut CUSA down. It was granted.
How did we get here, to the point where CUSA can no longer have council meetings?
I believe the blame falls on the shoulders of Norman, and her stubbornness and refusal to admit she is wrong. It’s she and her staff who asked for CUSA shut down — they prefer that to having council meetings where they, as a minority, stand to lose all major votes.
It was she who motioned to adjourn, which was granted against court order by her employee, Brent Farrington, at the most recent CUSA council meeting.
The reason we’re here is because Norman and her allies didn’t win enough CUSA council seats to be in charge.
Rather than compromise or work with the councillors who were elected, Norman decided to kick them out (illegally).
Ariel must believe that the votes the 16 CUSA councillors received are somehow less important than the votes that elected her. This is no way to practice democracy.
Ultimately, until Norman learns to compromise, to admit she is wrong, we will be stuck with no student association at all. Here we stand: between a rock and her self-interest.
– David Valentin
fourth-year political science student
