If the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council freeze continues, administration may withhold the student funds they collect on CUSA’s behalf for the second straight year, according to the defendants’ factum filed in court Sept. 29.
Carleton, CUSA and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) signed an administrative agreement last November, stipulating that CUSA must provide an auditor’s report to administration by Oct. 15, 2011 in order to receive the funds. With the council conflict and injunctive freeze ongoing, administration wouldn’t comment directly about whether or not they’d accept the report.
“We are hopeful that the parties can come to an immediate resolution for the sake of all undergraduate students and the university community,” said Carleton’s media relations coordinator Christopher Cline via email. “In doing so, CUSA will be in a position to address the issues concerning financial management and disclosure as outlined under the terms of the administrative agreement.”
An injunctive freeze placed on CUSA council prevents them from conducting any business. However, in the meantime, president Obed Okyere, vice-president (internal) Ariel Norman, and vice-president (finance) Karim Khamisa can make decisions as CUSA’s trustees.
The audit in question was passed last week, according to Norman. Norman said the audit was conducted to standard and she’s confident the administration will accept it.
“We did an audit with our third-party auditors which were approved by the entire board of directors of CUSA Inc. and the trustees have also approved that [it] was finished and done properly,” Norman said. “I don’t think [the administration] wants to go through another ‘free the fees’ thing again.”
Last November, administration withheld a portion of student funds from CUSA and the GSA, claiming the student unions refused to provide Carleton’s Board of Governors with their financial audits.
Student clubs and services provided by CUSA were affected until the university agreed to release the fees in late November.
The university declined to comment directly on the legitimacy of the audit passed by CUSA’s trustees, which under normal circumstances would have been passed by council as well.
“[Administration] has repeatedly offered to provide mediation services to the two parties and continues to do so, as time is of the essence,” Cline said on behalf of the university.
A fee freeze would affect a wide variety of campus services and clubs. CUSA also runs a number of student-owned businesses, including Oliver’s Pub, Rooster’s, Haven Books and Henry’s Convenience store.
The university will review the audit and make funding decisions following the submission of the audit, Oct. 15.
Related coverage:
No quick fix for CUSA court battle
CUSA trustees calling the shots
Timeline: CUSA council controversy
Unions and admin reach fee agreement
