MASU Students’ Administrative Council
Meeting Minutes
November 15, 2020
1. Call to order: 6:05pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
a. This week the land acknowledgement was done by Councillor Bubar.
b. Councillor Bubar explained the new land acknowledgement expectations and protocol.
3. Approval of the Agenda
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Minocha-McKenney, seconded by Councillor Mittal) that the Sunday, November 15th Agenda of the Students’ Administrative Council be approved.
- Motion to move Open Forum ahead of New Business (moved Councillor Minocha-McKenney, seconded Councillor Nolan).
4. Approval of the Minutes
BE IT RESOLVED (moved by Councillor Burke, seconded by Councillor Thorburn) that the Sunday, November 1st Minutes of the Students’ Administrative Council be approved.
5. Reports & Presentations
a. Councillor Minocha-McKenney
i. Councillor Minocha-McKenney was approached by a group of students regarding academic concerns surrounding a particular professor. Councillor Minocha-McKenney directed these students to Councillor Burke and the Dean of Science (Dr. Amanda Cockshutt).
ii. Given updates on external affairs committee, entertainment committee and finance and operations committee.
iii. Gave updates on other projects such as participation in OER campaign, first-year caucus, divestment, etc.
iv. Working alongside Councillor Thorburn for NBSA advocacy season.
b. Councillor Mittal
i. Councillor Mittal gave an update on academic concerns. The two classes that were discussed at the previous council meeting have not changed much and there has been an additional complaint made about another first-year course.
ii. Councillor Mittal met with Christa Maston, Maggie Brewer and Lindsay about counselling services for international students. They are currently searching for alternatives and there will be events and workshops coming up that surround mental health issues. They have also recently partnered with Breelove Counselling Inc.
6. Business Arising from the minutes (no items)
CONTENT WARNING/TRIGGER WARNING: The following part of the council meeting discussed sexual harassment on campus. This conversation is reflected in the minutes.
7. Open Forum
a. Sexual Violence at Mount Allison
i. Councillor Minocha-McKenney & Councillor Nowlan
1. Councillor Minocha-McKenney and Councillor Nowlan have been working together to look into this issue and recommend that it would be beneficial that an ad-hoc committee be formed.
2. They believe that the University is listening right now and there is an opportunity for real change to be made.
3. Made a note that other schools are also facing the same challenges (UNB/STU).
Questions/Comments
- Comment on the composition of the committee
o Councillor Mittal asked if there was a reason why diversity reps were not informed about the committee prior to this meeting and Councillor Nowlan & Councillor Minocha-McKenney explained that the committee was just formed and there will be more discussion had surrounding the make-up of the committee in the future.
o Councillor Minocha-McKenney also reminded the group that the larger the committee, the harder it can be to get work done.
o POINT OF INFORMATION (Councillor Williams): This is a first reading for the committee so no councillors were required to be informed and it will not be voted on today. This is just a first discussion.
o Councillor Nolan reiterates that the purpose of the first reading is to garner feedback before the official plan is presented and voted on.
- Councillor Blakney praises council for being a women-driven group.
- Councillor Blakney agrees with Councillor Mittal that we need diversity representation on the ad-hoc committee and also comments that there should be a Board of Regents representative as well.
o POINT OF PRIVILEGE (Councillor Penney): This conversation has gotten away from the topic of sexual violence at Mount Allison and the formation of this committee.
o Councillor Penney makes a side comment that her and Councillor Thorburn sit on committees within the Board of Regents and that will be just as effective as having someone on the committee who is a Board of Regents representative.
o POINT OF ORDER (Councillor Williams): We are currently discussing composition of committee that will be discussed later in New Business so any more comments regarding this we can pin until we come back to it.
8. New Business
a. Ad-Hoc Sexual Violence Committee First Reading (Councillor Nowlan & councillor Minocha-McKenney)
i. Councillor Minocha-McKenney and Councillor Nowlan presented the first reading of the Ad-Hoc Sexual Violence Committee.
ii. This reading included the committee’s mandate, members involved, goals and a potential duration of the committee.
Questions/Comments
- SHARE representation on committee
o A student-at-large asks how there will be a SHARE representative if SHARE is dismantled and Councillor Penney says she cannot speak to how SHARE will be moving forward but she can confirm that SHARE students will still be employed by the university
- Board of Regents representation on committee
o Councillor Blakney reiterates that a BoR representative needs to be present on the committee and Councillor Ferguson comments that meetings will be set up where he will check-in with the VPSA and VPEA so that he can keep the BoR in the loop.
o Councillor Minocha-McKenney comments that he disagrees that there is a need for BoR representation given that two MASU VPs are already included.
- University Working Group
o Councillor Mittal asks if the university working group on sexual violence has been informed on the formation of this committee and Councillor Minocha-McKenney states that no, they have not been informed as of yet.
o POINT OF INFORMATION (Councillor Williams): Given that this is still a first reading, they are not required to know yet. They will find out after the motion for the committee has passed.
o Councillor Penney points out that there was a rape culture working group in previous years so the formation of this committee will not be surprising to the university.
- University agreeance
o Councillor Mittal asks if we feel the university will be open to the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee and comments that if they are unaware that it is happening, they might be less open to criticism.
o Councillor Ferguson comments that he will be sharing feedback from the committee directly to the university and he is confident that they will listen.
o Councillor Nowlan comments that the main goal of this committee is to form a full report with problems and solutions to be given to the university.
- Student athletes
o Councillor Mittal comments that it is important to involve student athletes in the conversation given that they have been presented as a big part of this problem.
o Councillor Minocha-McKenney thinks it is great feedback and he agrees that student athletes should be included within the conversation.
o Councillor Nowlan agrees, as they are a student athlete and also makes the comment that student athletes play into this in the sense that there needs to be more education and information given to student athletes.
- First-year representation
o Councillor MacLean asks if there will be any first-year representation on the committee. Councillor Minocha-McKenney responds saying that it may be helpful to have this committee collaborate with the first-year caucus.
- Composition of the committee
o Councillor Mittal suggests it may be helpful to have the committee members rotate. Councillor Minocha-McKenney comments that this may disrupt the efficiency of the committee.
- Councillor Burke thanks Councillor Minocha-McKenney and Councillor Nowlan for their hard work and initiative and mentions that there is a MASU policy officer who can be of services if they need any help.
FIRST READING CONCLUDED.
9. Reminders (no items)
10. In Camera
- Motion to go in camera (moved by Councillor Blakney, seconded by Councillor Mittal).
11. Adjournment
- Motion to Adjourn the Students’ Administrative Council until the next meeting on Sunday, November 29th (moved by Councillor Tobin, seconded by Councillor Burke).