The recent Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA) election saw candidates emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the association, but these incoming executives alone are not enough to save RRRA.
Last year, RRRA did not present a budget. The year prior, its budget was presented months late. The association also repeatedly did not meet quorum to pass motions or hold meetings throughout the 2019-20 academic year.
Even when they did hold meetings, only one of the council meeting minutes from last year are currently available for students to view on the association’s website. Mandatory committees were also formed months late.
It’s not a secret that RRRA has major accountability problems—those running for executive positions built the lack of transparency into their campaigns—but the association’s issues run much deeper into the university at large.
Carleton administration did not reprimand RRRA even when it broke at least five bylaws last year. The association also didn’t face any consequences for presenting a budget late the previous year.
The RRRA budget is no small amount of money, as it totals about a million dollars. Each student in residence pays around $35 into RRRA each semester. When the association isn’t being held accountable, students’ money isn’t being protected.
Experts say repercussions would be fairly easy for the university to implement, such as withholding the funding from tuition fees—protecting student money—until the association proves it can manage funds effectively.
However, previous articles from the Charlatan show that the university has little interest in reprimanding the association or holding it accountable to the students the association is supposed to serve.
“Carleton University continues to work with RRRA in order to resolve the organization’s issues,” reads an emailed university statement from mid-March. No specific actions being taken, no mention of students’ best interests.
Experts even agreed that they doubted Carleton administration would take any action.
But, maybe the pros outweigh the cons? What does RRRA do in residence exactly? Last year, the association hosted programming events including the annual residence formal and remodeled RRRA-run convenience store Abstentions’ doors.
While RRRA does provide some resources and events for students, Housing and Residence Life Services at Carleton provides many of the same resources including programming, events, and promoting a sense of residence community.
Until RRRA undergoes an infrastructural overhaul to include watchdogs and university supervision, RRRA will continue to prove it is unworthy of students’ trust or money.
An earlier version of this article cited the amount each student in residence pays in RRRA fees as $35 per year, rather than per semester. The Charlatan regrets the error.
