There was a 69-page agenda for the Carleton University Students’ Association’s (CUSA) first council meeting since the almost five-month legal conflict ended, but council only made it through two motions Jan. 10: announcements and approval of the agenda.
Dozens of students turned out to have their chance to speak on 27 issues ranging from Carleton’s alleged support for the Israeli occupation of Palestine, to U-Pass price increase concerns, to formulating organized opposition to an administration-run sexual assault support centre.
The meeting lasted over four hours and started late in order to finish the Jan. 6 CUSA corporation meeting, which was delayed after vice-president (finance) Karim Khamisa, vice-president (internal) Ariel Norman, and other councillors walked out.
The council meeting made it clear that despite pledges to get council back to work after the Dec. 16 settlement agreement, there’s still a very clear division within the organization.
The chair asked Khamisa to refrain from referring to the plaintiffs as “cronies” and vice-president (student life) David Tapiero was chastised multiple times for using un-parliamentary language.
Instead of speaking about the student issues slated to be discussed, council instead focused on the dismissal of council chair Brent Farrington for over an hour and then spent several hours debating whether to ratify MacAndrew Clarke as the chief electoral officer (CEO) for the 2012 CUSA elections.
Several of the plaintiffs in the court battle asked for Farrington’s removal, claiming he did not properly call the meeting — several other councillors from the defendant’s side said that was unfair.
During the debate over whether or not to ratify Clarke’s position as CEO, which was contested by the plaintiffs, several students repeatedly called for councillors opposed to his appointment to give in purely so they could go ahead and discuss student issues.
“I’m sick and tired of sitting here and listening to people bicker,” said Dillon Black, who came to discuss the issue of a sexual assault support centre.
“These are very pressing issues . . . it is just shameful what is happening today,” Black told council.
Brandon Wallingford, a faculty of arts and social sciences councillor, denied student demands to give in, citing the councillors’ reputations among their constituents as a reason not to.
“Your reputation is already shot by wasting all our time,” a student responded.
Norman echoed students’ concerns, repeatedly calling for council to “stop stalling” and “stop breaching the settlement” agreement.
“Students hate this council,” she said.
Amadouh Gitteh, a first-year engineering student, addressed council on several occasions, speaking intensely and gesturing at councillors.
“You are one of the best teams,” he told the councillors. “But you haven’t done anything . . . as a student, I am ashamed.”
After intense debate, president Obed Okyere took the opportunity to address the room. Although he said he tries to remain out of council conflict, he said he felt the need to speak.
“I feel very ashamed that council couldn’t do anything to help . . . this year,” Okyere said. “We [councillors] are the reason it’s not working this year.”
Several students left the meeting muttering frustrations with the organization. In an interview shortly after he was removed as chair, Farrington expressed his concern about the remaining months of council.
“My real fear is not about myself but that this council won’t do anything for students moving forward and that what we’ll see is in-fighting and turbulence . . . essentially what they’re doing is not putting students first and they’re dividing this campus,” he said.
Khamisa said the problem could be solved by working together and “getting rid of the petty politics.”
Michael De Luca, a public affairs councillor and one of the primary plaintiffs, said he agreed.
“We’re all about working together.”
Norman and De Luca recently traded barbs on the Charlatan’s radio show, airing 11 a.m. Tuesdays on 93.1 CKCU FM.
Listen to the Jan. 10 podcast here.
