The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council endorsed a statement on the war in Ukraine and voted to hold a survey about anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism on campus during a Nov. 25 council meeting.
At the assembly, CUSA’s board faced questions over its decision to close Haven on Dec. 6.
Significant financial deficits drove the decision to close the café, according to information shared by CUSA president Sarah El Fitori and board chairperson Noah Goodgie at a Nov. 12 CUSA council meeting.
Later in the meeting, CUSA council passed a motion recommending the board stop transitioning Haven into a rental space and instead look into holding a student referendum on a $9 levy fee to fund the café.
However, that motion was a recommendation, so the board was not obligated to comply. On Dec. 1, the CUSA board finalized its decision to shut down Haven, according to Goodgie’s Dec. 3 emailed statement.
CUSA to conduct campus survey on anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian racism
CUSA council voted to develop a survey to collect information from students about instances of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism on campus.
The idea was initially proposed to councillors by the Carleton 4 Palestine Coalition, according to engineering Coun. Dana Sayed Ahmed.
Bessan, a student attendee, shared testimony with the council in support of the survey. Bessan has previously asked the Charlatan that her full name not be used as she desires privacy and fears repercussions.
“In the past year, there have been increasing tensions around the Palestinian movement,” Bessan said.
Bessan said her friends have been called “terrorists” while wearing the keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf. She also said students holding Palestinian flags while crossing the stage during their convocation in June were “cut” from video feeds — a concern raised in a July 19 open letter from the Carleton 4 Palestine Coalition.
The letter alleged that “selective censorship” was undertaken and students displaying other regalia were not cut from the livestream.
In a Dec. 10 email statement to the Charlatan, university media relations officer Steven Reid said regalia guidelines are “communicated directly to students” before convocation.
“In line with Carleton University’s values of inclusivity and respect for all, we kindly ask that no additional regalia such as sashes, stoles, signs, pins, hats, sports team items, flags or any other external affiliations be displayed on the regalia during the convocation ceremony,” the statement reads. “This is to ensure that all participants feel equally represented and respected during this collective celebration of academic accomplishment.”
The statement said exceptions are made for Indigenous graduates, who may instead wear traditional Indigenous attire or regalia, as a part of the university’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
Students are welcome to add personal items to their regalia once the formal convocation ceremony has ended, the statement added.
Responses to CUSA’s survey will be kept anonymous and confidential.
If the survey receives more than 40 responses in the next few months, the CUSA advocacy team and divestment subcommittee will draft a report based on the survey results. The report and its findings would be published before the February 2025 council meeting.
The divestment subcommittee and the vice-president of student issues would also present the report to the university administration with recommendations for addressing the concerns.
The divestment subcommittee would be tasked with following up with the university “to ensure appropriate steps are taken to combat anti-Arab racism on campus.”
Endorsed statement on 1,000 days of Russia-Ukraine war
Nov. 19 marked 1,000 days since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. CUSA council voted unanimously to endorse a statement of solidarity with Ukrainian students on campus impacted by the ongoing conflict.
Valeriia Gusieva, the culture, language and politics director of Carleton’s Ukrainian Students’ Club, spoke to CUSA council regarding the motion.
“A lot of students on campus are directly or indirectly affected by war and trauma,” Gusieva said. She called on CUSA to continue advocating and making space for these students.
“I am deeply aware that we are not the only country that is experiencing genocide, war or conflict,” Gusieva added. “As a collective, we must recognize the impact of these events.”
Aiden Kallioinen, CUSA’s associate vice-president of government affairs, welcomed the statement on behalf of the association’s advocacy team.
“We think it’s wonderful, and we’ll be happy to put it up on the website and support it however we can,” he said.
CUSA’s statement was officially published on its Instagram and website on Nov. 28. Within the statement, CUSA encourages the campus community to stay informed on the Russia-Ukraine war and to foster a supportive space for Ukrainian and other international students affected by conflict.
“Together, we can stand for justice, peace, and unwavering support for Ukraine,” the statement reads.
CUSA’s next council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
