On Jan. 29, the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) announced it was taking Ryerson University to court over administration’s announcement on Jan. 24 that it would no longer recognize the RSU, cutting off their funding.
Ryerson’s decision to disown the RSU came after allegations of financial mismanagement against the 2018-19 union council. The Eyeopener reported RSU executives spent thousands of dollars on food, clothing and alcohol on union credit cards.
The RSU says Ryerson is breaking their agreement by withholding funds. Ryerson says the RSU failed to meet the conditions it set following the allegations, including sharing the results of a forensic audit.
Ryerson’s decision to terminate their contract with the RSU and no longer recognize them as the governing student body is a decision which poses a threat to other student unions across Canada.
The decision could have lasting ramifications on Ryerson and its relationship with both the student union and the student body.
With the university’s funds, the RSU operates the student health and dental plan, over 200 clubs and societies, and other essential services such as campus equity. Ryerson said in a statement that it would run the student health and dental plan itself until the student body elected another council.
Cutting off the union’s funding harms Ryerson’s student body most of all. The university is punishing the current executive council of the RSU for the alleged actions of the past one.
The decision in this case could set a precedent which will affect other student associations and unions across the country. There is a reason student associations exist: so students can administer the campus services which exist for them, by themselves.
File photo.
