The University of Ottawa (U of O) administration announced that they will be ending their agreement with the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO).
By Dec. 24, the university will no longer recognize the SFUO as the main association representing undergraduate students, according to a Sept. 24 press release from David Graham, U of O’s provost and vice-president (academic affairs).
Graham said in the release that they have decided to end the agreement because the university “has lost confidence in the SFUO’s ability to represent [their] students and to supply the services that students pay for.”
This announcement follows an ongoing investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement by members of the SFUO executive and a SFUO employee.
“The University takes these allegations seriously because its primary concern is to protect the interests of uOttawa students,” Graham said. “The SFUO is independent of the University of Ottawa and the University plays no role in its governance or internal management.”
The SFUO released a statement on Sept. 26 saying the executive team is “disappointed and disheartened at the steps that the University of Ottawa Administration has taken in attempts to control and interfere [with] the way in which we govern and deal with our internal matters as a separate entity governed under the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act.”
As of Sept. 27, Rizki Rachiq (SFUO president), Axel Gaga (SFUO vice-president, operations), and Vanessa Dorimain (SFUO executive director) will be vacating their offices and have recused themselves of their mandated duties until the the external audit conducted by the PricewaterhouseCoopers is concluded.
As a result of this decision, U of O will no longer collect fees from students on behalf of SFUO come Dec. 24. This current fall term, undergraduate students paid a fee of $104.64 to the SFUO as part of their tuition.
Currently, the SFUO is responsible for 12 U of O service centres, four on-campus businesses, the management of over 250 clubs, a student health insurance program, and negotiating U of O’s U-Pass program.
A representative from the SFUO’s Pride Centre, and an employee of the union’s Human Rights Centre said they can’t comment on the decision considering it’s an ongoing proceeding.
Graham added that U of O is not involved in the process of establishing or recognizing student associations and clubs, as they fall under the governance of the SFUO.
The release said the school “already provides many student services similar to those provided by the Federation.”
The school’s termination of its agreement with the SFUO does not affect students’ U-Pass, which is governed by a separate agreement with the City of Ottawa, according to Graham.
This decision may result in the formation of a new undergraduate student government, Graham said, which “the University encourages students to take steps in this direction.”
Moe Abou Rouss, a U of O student and the leader of Un-Tied, the campaign to impeach SFUO executives, said there’s currently a movement being mobilized to start a new student government.
He said he was proud of the university’s decision to cut ties with the student federation.
Abou Rouss said while some students may see this as an interference in student affairs, “the university realized how undemocratic the institution was and that they had to do something for the students.”
He said while the Un-Tied campaign has gained some signatures, it’s currently on hold following the university’s decision and the SFUO’s statement.
“Un-Tied is going to remain as a third-party organization that ensures there’s no corruption on campus, whether it’s from the student federation, whether it’s from the new student union that’s forming, whether it’s from any federated body, from any little clubs, Un-Tied will remain for that purpose,” Abou Rouss said.
The SFUO said they are not planning on vacating their offices or halting any of the services or programs they provide to students. They said while they’re very open to working with the university on a new agreement, they’ll prepare themselves to operate with or without one.
“We fight everyday to keep our student movement strong and we will continue to fight for students,” the statement said.
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