A motion for increased financial transparency was brought forward at the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) Incorporated meeting May 2.
The motion would change the corporation’s bylaws so that CUSA Council would oversee the Board of Trustees of CUSA Inc.
The proposal was brought forward by CUSA Arts and Social Sciences Councillor Charissa Feres and seconded by Ruth Lau MacDonald.
“The main change was that all financial partnerships affecting CUSA as a corporation would require a two-thirds approval majority,” Feres said. “Increasing financial transparency is needed especially since there is a false distinction between the corporation and the association.”
The motion was debated at the CUSA Inc. meeting, with the executive and other councillors raising concerns about tying up timely, important decisions with bureaucracy.
In an interview, CUSA president Fahd Alhattab gave the example of Rooster’s Coffee House, which needed a new coffee machine last year that cost $15,000. One went on sale for $9,000, and so the CUSA Inc. Board of Trustees, who are traditionally the CUSA president, vice-president (finance) and vice-president (internal), bought the coffee maker, according to Alhattab. There would not have been time in this instance to call an emergency CUSA meeting, which needs 48 hours notice.
Lau MacDonald said she is open to amendments, as the point was to increase transparency, not to impede the CUSA service centres or businesses from running.
“It’s important to have financial transparency with the new student life building . . . the consultation process needs to include the voices of the students who are going to be using it,” she said. “Currently it can happen that way, but the bylaws do not mandate it.”
Alhattab said he supports the spirit of the motion.
“There’s obviously a great intention behind the motion . . . ensuring that council has the opportunity to have a look at the numbers. We have already reported our numbers through our financial review committee, where we’ve done consistent updates of any large purchases . . . [or] money that is being spent beyond the budget,” he said. “This is something that has always been done.”
In terms of the Student Life building, Alhattab said much of the planning will be included in the budget, and therefore is not expected to interact with the proposed motion.
“So far, the consultations for the Student Life building have been all through the university. CUSA has not paid any money to the consultants,” he said. “As we get closer to the actual building . . . there will be larger downpayments that the student union will have to put down. That would be brought up to council . . . hopefully we’ll be able to project a lot of that in our budget.”
As the newly-elected councillors had not yet received training before the CUSA Inc. meeting, the motion was moved to be discussed at the next meeting on May 24, however, the later meeting was delayed due to the council meeting running over time, with Alhattab opening the CUSA Inc. meeting and then voting to adjourn it.
The next CUSA Inc. meeting is expected to be called within a month, with the motion likely to be passed before the July 31 release of the CUSA budget.
