|
|
|
|
|
21 March 2003
uwRyan.com This website is meant to provide value to UW student by delivering information. It shares its name with the column that I write for Imprint. Please provide feedback on what I write as well as give me suggestions of topics to cover. You can send e-mail to me to ryan[at]uwryan[dot]com.
uwstudent.org
Federation of Students 
|
Building respect between Feds and UW admin
My first bad run-in with the university administration occurred in the dying days of my first year. I was living in Village One, and was accused by both my don and the residence life co-ordinator of "disturbing the peace of other students." Without being told about what the meeting entailed, I was required to meet with both these parties in the RLC's office. A discussion ensued about the concerns they had about my alleged behaviour, but when I asked for evidence, and it was provided, I was able to successfully explain that I was not involved in many of the disruptive frosh antics that they described. Coming out of that meeting, I was quite disconcerted that a resolution to the issue could have been solved informally had my don or RLC actually sat down to hear my side of the story, instead of prejudging my guilt. Unfortunately, that did not occur, and the situation turned into a controversy when it merely needed to be a conversation. This story is instructive, and I ironically see patterns in the way that situation was handled compared with the way the university administration deals with many of its relations with individual students and their representative bodies. My experience this year has exacerbated that belief. The bars The Feds has commented about the bars ad nauseum; I don't intend to rehash the situation anymore than it needs to be. However, it is interesting to note the similarities between my preamble and the current situation. We know that the university at some point discovered that it was in violation of the Liquor Licence Act because of its practice of "contracting out" the sale of alcohol. The New Year's Eve incident was the catalyst for action by the university to deal with this and other perceived issues it had about the operation of the establishments. Much of the current situation may have been resolved if the university came to the table with their issues and attempted to seek a solution amenable to both parties without resorting to the pressure under which they placed us on January 6. Agreements made but not kept On occasion, the university signs agreements with the Federation. However, these contracts have not always been honoured by the university, as one can witness with the present situation with the bars. Another agreement, governing the students' fee contribution to the CECS Building, was signed in March 2001. However, until recently, the university did not adhere to some clauses in the agreement. Although the concerns centred around issues such as the failure of the university to provide an annual report on the building's fundraising activities, it does illustrate a lack of concern in fulfilling the conditions of an agreement which has had a tremendous impact on students in more than a financial way. Despite these incidents, the Federation is also at fault for the state of their relationship with the administration. I very firmly believe that the university occasionally acts in the way it does with the Feds because a climate of mutual respect has not been created. In the past, the administration has regarded Feds as its mouthpiece rather than its partner. I need only point to the saga of the Waterloo Campaign. Once the university began to propose an initiative to create expansions to the SLC and athletic facilities, to be paid for by students, the Federation jumped aboard. This is not necessarily negative, as the improvements needed to be made, but once the Feds agreed to support the proposal the only acceptable conclusion that it saw was the passing of a referendum and the subsequent renovations to the buildings, irrespective of the process involved and the fact that the proposal was not finalized when it was put to the vote. The Feds rushed into a referendum in November 2001 despite what I believe was paltry consultation with students because it was committed to the proposal rather than to its mandate to serve students. The university (sometimes rightly) does not respect that the Feds is an equal partner because in the past we haven't shown that we are. No climate of mutual respect will be fostered if the Federation is nothing more than a pushover ready to do the administration's bidding whenever asked. What to do? Despite my sombre and bitter tone, much can be done to improve the relationship between the university and its students. Both sides must understand that for the university to properly function, and for students to be satisfied with their experience, a conciliatory rather than adversarial relationship must be built. This will take time and goodwill from both groups -- and an understanding that before this can be done some have to acknowledge their past mistakes and endeavour not to repeat them. I hope that both Needles Hall and any future occupants of the offices across from Ground Zero are listening. Ryan O'Connor is the outgoing Feds vice president education and, in addition to Ryan Chen-Wing, is also a Ryan. |