University of Victoria Students' Society
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| Established | 1963 |
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| Institution | University of Victoria |
| Location | Victoria, British Columbia |
| Members | 18,000 |
| Affiliations | Canadian Federation of Students |
| Homepage | http://uvss.uvic.ca |
The University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS), founded in 1963 is the student society that represents the 18 000 undergraduate students at the University of Victoria[1]. The UVSS advocates on behalf of students on important issues such as increasing accessibility to education, racism, affordable public transportation and environmental sustainability. In addition, UVSS also provides services like the Universal Bus Pass (UPass), administers clubs and course unions, organises on campus events, and operates many of the services and businesses in the Student Union Building (SUB).
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[edit] Governance
Collectively, the Board is the decision making body for the Students’ Society and directs all work of the Society. The board is composed of student representatives elected from the student body and contains 4 executives, 11 directors at large and 5 advocacy group representatives. Board members are elected annually in March.[2]
[edit] Notable Past Chairs
Rob Fleming - Current member of the legislative assembly for British Columbia [3]
[edit] Representation
The UVSS is currently part of the Canadian Federation of Students.
[edit] Controversy
[edit] Fraud
In 2002, a former University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS) Business and Operations Manager was charged with fraud, theft, and causing a person to use a forged document by the Saanich police after an internal audit uncovered a $450,000 misappropriation of the society's funds. The UVSS was left with a $1,000,000 debt at the end of 2002. The University of Victoria loaned $500,000 to the UVSS in order to save it from bankruptcy[4].
[edit] Liquor License Suspensions
On September 23 2006, the UVSS hosted a welcome back party in the Student Union Building (SUB) for 2200 students (capacity). An undercover police constable and an inspector from the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch were also in attendance.
The following are excerpts from the Decision of the General Manager, Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, in the matter of a hearing pursuant to Section 20 of The Liquor Control and Licensing Act RSBC c. 267
They described an environment rife with broken bottles and liquor containers scattered throughout the outdoor red lined areas and beyond the facility. They observed more than a hundred persons in line to get in to the facility, many of them intoxicated, boisterous and staggering. Some of the persons in line were consuming liquor while in the line. The inspector and police constable did not see any licensee staff members or security personnel monitoring the line-up. At the entry gate, nobody was checking for identification, containers or bags. A group of five obviously intoxicated patrons, one of them drinking from an open wine bottle, were provided with wristbands and permitted entry. …The inspector and police constable also observed three female patrons; two inside Felicitas and one just outside the window by their table, who were clearly intoxicated and either passed-out or wavering in and out of consciousness. One of the females inside Felicitas had as many as 25-30 liquor containers on the table in front of her, and she was seen to awake long enough to take a drink and then pass out again. The outside patron fell to the ground "like a limp dead body" on a couple of occasions and each time was picked up and supported by other patrons. The witnesses observed each of these patrons for a significant period of time, during which no staff or security personnel provided assistance or even approached the patrons. …Outside the building, both inside and outside the licensed area, were piles of vomit, at least two unconscious males, and several sick or violently ill patrons - some of which were being tended to by ambulance attendants and uniformed police officers. The unconscious males were observed over a significant period of time. The ground was littered with broken glass and blood and at least one barefooted female was being treated for cuts to her feet. Some patrons were sitting on the ground or leaning against the patio fences, some were climbing the fences and the light standards, and some were on the roof of the building. Prior to the sounding of the fire alarm, the inspector and the police constable decided to retreat for reasons of their own safety. Bottles and glasses were being thrown, glass was smashing around them and the crowd was getting out of control. The contingent of uniformed police officers were advised by their superior officer to back away due to the danger. The undercover officer believed there was the potential for a riot. When the fire department arrived, there remained people on the roof of the building. One male jumped from the building. The witnesses did not know if the jumper was injured as a result. …The constable testified that there were a number of arrests made and "a number of patrons were taken and lodged in police cells until sober, for their own safety."
The Business and Operations Manager of the SUB testified in the hearing that "We had clearance for 2,200 people. We started with 2,200 wristbands but we were running out so we handed out 200 more. 200 people got in who did not have tickets, so we handed out wristbands to another 200 people because they had tickets." [5]
The General Manager of the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch ordered the suspension of the UVSS's liquor license for ten days and also ordered the UVSS to pay a $10,000 fine.
On March 16 2007, a Saanich police officer observed staff at Felicita's allowing an intoxicated person to remain in the pub. The officer observed the student drinking alone and exhibiting signs of drunkenness, such as his head hanging very low. “I watched as the male took a drink from the glass but then appeared to allow some of the drink to dribble back out of his mouth into the glass,” said the officer in his report.
The officer, who is also a former liquor inspector, observed a server clearing the customer’s table without addressing the student or alerting security staff. The student told the officer that he had just consumed six pints of beer in the last 75 minutes at Felicita's.
As a result of this incident, the UVSS received a second 10 day liquor license suspension.[6]
[edit] Canadian Forces Issue
At the Sept. 10, 2007 meeting of the UVSS Board of Directors, a motion was put forward to ban the Canadian Forces(CF) from the upcoming University of Victoria Career Fair.[7] Directors Christine Comrie, Edward Pullman, Caitlin Meggs, Anna Planedin, Veronica Harisson, and Jamie Strachan all voted in favor of banning the CF. Six Directors voted against the motion. UVSS Chairperson, Tracy Ho, broke the 6-6 deadlock by also voting to ban the CF.[8]
This decision outraged some students at UVic, particularly those who were involved with the military or were considering military careers, forcing the Board to rescind its original motion after over 150 students showed up at the Sept. 24 Board meeting to protest the ban. [9]
The Board sent the decision on whether to ban the CF to a vote at the UVSS' Annual General Meeting[10]. An estimated 500 students were present and the ban was defeated at the AGM, with approximately 25 students voting in favor and an overwhelming majority voting against. The pro-military side were accused of allegedly cutting off the debate before both sides had been heard despite campaigning on "freedom of choice" grounds[11].
[edit] References
- ^ UVic Calender: University of Victoria Students' Society. University of Victoria (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-12.
- ^ Student Representation. University of Victoria Students' Society (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ Rob Fleming - Member of Legislative Assembly. Legislative Assembly Of British Columbia (2007). Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
- ^ http://ubyssey.bc.ca/OldWebs/2002/20021126/nationalSUB.htmlf
- ^ www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/lclb/enforcements/pdf/2007/EH06-156-158.pdf
- ^ The Martlet Online
- ^ http://www.uvss.uvic.ca/uploads/file/minutes/2007-08/minutes%202007-09-10.pdf
- ^ Ban on military recruiters irks students
- ^ The Martlet Online
- ^ The Martlet Online
- ^ Cindy E. Harnett "UVic students overturn ban on military recruitment", Victoria Times Colonist, October 26, 2007
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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