By Julia Berkman
On a dark and foggy Thursday morning, the AS board met to discuss a number of pressing issues. Simrun Chhabra, AS President, arrived late so AS VP For Business and Operations Alex LaVallee began the meeting in her stead at 8:06 a.m.
Action Items
First up on the table were action items: things that could be voted and implemented within the coming year.
Sustainable Action Fund Outreach Coordinator
Lavalle, VP of Business and Operations, proposed a change to the position of Sustainable Action Fund Outreach Coordinator. Along with guest Johnathan Riopelle, the Program Advisor for the Sustainable Action Fund, they discussed the transfer of the duties of the Outreach Coordinator from the Environmental and Sustainability Programs (ESP) office to the Office of Sustainability.
The Office of Sustainability Projects Coordinator and the ESP Education Coordinator do similar jobs, but are not equal in pay or training. Because the ESP is under the AS umbrella, they go through certain types of training that are unnecessary for an employee of the Office of Sustainability. Riopelle wants to separate the position from the AS in terms of hiring and training in order to be trained by the Office of Sustainability. This motion was passed unanimously.
…But how will this affect me?
In layman’s terms, unless you want to work for either the ESP or the Office of Sustainability, it won’t. If you do, you will still be a student employee if you work for the Office of Sustainability. You just won’t go through AS hiring or training.
Reapplication of Portion of Non Academic Building Fee
A non-academic building fee is part of our tuition. This money goes towards the funding of the VU as well as a bond debt. The refinancing of that bond debt will save us $110,000 a year. The goal is to take these savings and use them for the Multicultural Center.
“In order to utilize the $110,000 per year savings for the Multicultural Center as well as continue the Non-Academic Building Fee for continuing needs of the union and activities spaces into the future, the AS Board needs to take this action to redirect and reaffirm the fee,” according to the summary page for the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.
The rest of the bonds will be payed off by 2026 and then the fee will go away.
…But how will this affect me?
If you already pay tuition, it won’t affect you financially. If you’re super hyped for the new Multicultural Center, then you’ll be glad to know we’re saving money from refinancing a bond and are starting to put that money towards MC construction.
Redistribution of Unspent Salary Funds to ESC and REP
Since she is still not registered with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), VP for Governmental Affairs Ana Ramirez cannot be compensated for her work with the AS. Ramirez is proposing to give the salary she was supposed to receive for the work she has already done to the ESC and REP until her position is filled.
“I propose that the unpaid portion of money that was allocated for the AS Vice President for Governmental Affairs position’s salary from June 19th, 2017 totaling $2,937 be given to the Ethnic Student Center and Representation and Engagement Programs in equal parts,” Ramirez wrote in her summary of the motion.
…But how will this affect me?
On one hand, more funding is being given to two great AS programs. On the other Ramirez is the rightfully elected candidate for this position. The fact that they are unable to fulfill their role as VP is said to be due to a lack of creative thinking on the part of Western officials. This may not directly affect you, but it should make you a little bitter that the candidate a majority of us voted for is not allowed to represent us.
If you think that’s unfair, you can donate to her gofundme at https://goo.gl/mR1yiY.
Charges and Charters
After going though a lot of propositions, the board moved to talk about charters and committees that would be renewed on campus. Many of these charters require members known as “students-at-large,” meaning regular Western students. If any of these charters interest you, there’s a good chance you can submit a request to be part of it!
Student Enhancement Fund Committee Charge & Charter
The Student Enhancement Fund (SEF) Committee is in charge of approving student petitions for extra funding. The committee includes a Chair, the AS Business Director (Vice Chair), two students at-large and one ESC Representative (appointed by ESC President’s Council).
Yanzon asked, “Why does the ESC need to be represented when they can’t request money from the SEF?“
The SEF is for use of individual students and coalitions outside of the AS. Therefore, the ESC can’t access funds because they’re part of the AS.
“This probably has to do with… some problematic diversity requirement,” LaValle said after a pause.
…But how will it affect me?
If you’re looking for a grant to pursue enrichment or academic affairs, this committee, in theory, will help. However, current board members are unsure of how the committee is best run due to a lack of instructions.