No Voice for SFU Graduate Students on Key Hiring Committee
The Board of Directors of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) has made its latest political mistake. The Board struck a hiring committee to replace former Graduate Issues and University Relations Coordinator (GIURC) Hattie Aitken, whose firing has sparked the latest controversy at SFU. Three directors applied for positions on this committee: undergraduate executives Andrea Sandau (the University Relations Officer) and Margo Dunnet (the External Relations Officer), and Graduate Issues Officer Joel Blok. But the Board, in its infinitewisdom stupidity, decided to reject Mr. Blok in favour of the two undergraduate executives.
As the job title implies, the "Graduate Issues and University Relations Coordinator" has two responsibilities: to assist in the university relations' work of the Society, and to serve as the chief resource person for graduate student issues. The SFSS is unusual in that it represents both undergraduate and graduate students. The GIURC regularly meets with the Dean of Graduate Studies, does research on the graduate health and dental plan, and generally supports the work of the Graduate Issues Committee. By rejecting Joel Blok, the Board of Directors (or at least the dominant majority) has ensured that SFU graduate students will have absolutely no voice in determining their chief resource person.
Current speculation is that the Board majority rejected Joel because of his alleged support for an independent graduate students' union at SFU. It is ironic, then, that their latest action may simply serve to build support for such a move.
The Board of Directors of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) has made its latest political mistake. The Board struck a hiring committee to replace former Graduate Issues and University Relations Coordinator (GIURC) Hattie Aitken, whose firing has sparked the latest controversy at SFU. Three directors applied for positions on this committee: undergraduate executives Andrea Sandau (the University Relations Officer) and Margo Dunnet (the External Relations Officer), and Graduate Issues Officer Joel Blok. But the Board, in its infinite
As the job title implies, the "Graduate Issues and University Relations Coordinator" has two responsibilities: to assist in the university relations' work of the Society, and to serve as the chief resource person for graduate student issues. The SFSS is unusual in that it represents both undergraduate and graduate students. The GIURC regularly meets with the Dean of Graduate Studies, does research on the graduate health and dental plan, and generally supports the work of the Graduate Issues Committee. By rejecting Joel Blok, the Board of Directors (or at least the dominant majority) has ensured that SFU graduate students will have absolutely no voice in determining their chief resource person.
Current speculation is that the Board majority rejected Joel because of his alleged support for an independent graduate students' union at SFU. It is ironic, then, that their latest action may simply serve to build support for such a move.
Labels: sfu
6 Comments:
Wow, That is amazing in how blatant the SFSS is on this issue. Of course, they probably have some CFS-hack they have already decided to hire into the position and I think the Grad Rep may have had the idea of finding someone qualified?
the giurc coord doesn't do research on the grad health plan, i think that would be the job of the health plan coordinater.
the giurc would be working with the gio so the decision to exclude him makes no sense. i wish minutes were posted online.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
My post was pulled (wah!) so I will try again with a post that doesn't name particular CFS friendly candidates!
It is idiotic to hire someone who works on gradaute student issues without the input of graduate students. We would freak out at a university who did this!
Perhaps the SFSS can hire HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED! Or perhaps Joey Coleman would be a good candidate. He loves controversy and so is apparently a good fit for SFSS.
Joey, don't sue Titus for my recommendation.
Sorry, not interested in the position. Never been one for making decisions against the wishes of my fellow students, you will have to find someone else. Plus, I think it may be the lack of oxygen on top of the mountain. I am definitely not equiped for that. Why would I sue?? That makes no sense whatsoever.
This is classic CFS tactics. Only hire your own - people who think differently just complicate matters. Self-perpetuating autocracies are definitely the way to go.
It's not just at SFSS that this stuff happens. Go take a look at CFS head office and where previous Chairs have ended up. Two of the last three have ended up as unionized salaried employees of CFS in their post-chair lives (I bet CUPE *loves* negotiating against people whose career ambition is to be on the other side of the table). And how many "friendly" execs have received golden parachute placements at Travel CUTS over the years? Travel CUTS jobs are like Senate appointments for the CFS crew.
SFSS is just the tip of the iceberg...this stuff happens all over the country. SF grad students are just a rare bunch who stand up to it.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home