Draft:University of Ottawa Students' Union
Syndicat étudiant de l'Université d'Ottawa | |
 | |
| Abbreviation | UOSU (EN) SÉUO (FR) |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation |
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| Formation | 2019 |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | Student association |
| Headquarters | 7-85 University Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5 |
| Location | |
| Services | |
Membership (2022) |  38,000 |
President | Armaan Singh |
Executive Director | Manon Méthot |
Chair of the Board of Directors | Paige Holland |
Key people | Nouria Sawadogo (Operations Commissioner) Erin Atkinson (Student Life Commissioner) Zachary Flahaut (Clubs and Services Commissioner) |
| Website | www |
The University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) (French: Syndicat étudiant de l'Université d'Ottawa, SÉUO) is the students' association representing undergraduate students of the University of Ottawa. The organization succeeded the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), which was dissolved in 2019 following a referendum.[1]
History
The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) represented undergraduate students of the University of Ottawa from 1969 to 2018. In August 2018, fraud and embezzlement allegations surfaced online regarding student executives and senior managers.[2] Following these allegations, the University of Ottawa announced that it was withholding the transfer of student funds until a forensic audit was completed.[3] However, in September 2018, the University announced that it was terminating the agreement with the Student Federation due to new allegations of improper governance, mismanagement, internal conflict, and workplace misconduct.[4]
The University organized a student referendum from February 8-11, 2019, to select a student group to gain recognition as the exclusive association representing undergraduate students. 4,205 students voted for the UOSU, while 1,423 voted for the SFUO.[5] The UOSU had campaigned on restoring good governance, transparency, and accountability to the student union while maintaining previously offered SFUO services.
Following the referendum, the UOSU and the University signed a new agreement. The UOSU held its first elections and a student fee referendum in the spring of 2019, with new directors and executives taking office in June.
Governance
The UOSU is a not-for-profit corporation registered under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.
The Union's highest governing body is the bi-annual General Assembly (GA), which is open to all members of the Union. The GA receives motions from members and votes to ratify or reject constitutional changes and financial documents such as audited financial statements.[6] The second highest governing body is the Board of Directors (BoD), composed of 30 members: the seven Executive members, 22 faculty representatives, and one Indigenous student representative. Except for the Indigenous student representative, all positions are directly elected. The BoD meets monthly.
The Executive members, led by the President, oversee the organization's day-to-day operations. They also direct the organization's Executive Director, the manager of the UOSU's staff. Executive members are students and recent graduates who receive a salary to lead the Union for a one-year term.
The UOSU employs over 90 staff who operate the UOSU's services and businesses and implement the decisions and directives of the GA, the BoD, and the Executive. A majority of employees are students.
Services
The UOSU provides 14 different services to students. Most of the services' programming is free to union members.[7]
Bike Co-op
The Bike Co-op is a do-it-yourself space for cycling enthusiasts to repair or build a bicycle. The Co-op also offers educational workshops and programming.
Bilingualism Centre
The Bilingualism Centre offers translation and tutoring services to students and advocates for language rights on campus.
Centre for Students with Disabilities
The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) advocates for the rights of students with disabilities on campus, providing ASL/LSQ classes, free loans of wheelchairs and crutches, and a braille printer.
Foot Patrol
The Foot Patrol is a walk-safe program where volunteers help students travel home safely at night.
International House
The International House provides social and cultural programming for international students at the University of Ottawa.
Multi-Faith Centre
The Multi-Faith Centre allows faith-based groups to interact and practice their beliefs in a safe and inclusive environment.
Peer Help Centre
The Peer Help Centre offers active listening sessions online, by phone, and in person.
Pride Centre
The Pride Centre provides a respectful community for 2SLGBTQ+ students and their allies.
Racialized and Indigenous Student Experience (RISE) Centre
The RISE Centre provides a space for racialized and Indigenous students at the University to celebrate their cultures and advocate for an anti-racist and decolonized campus.
Student Rights Centre
The Student Rights Centre supports students navigating administrative issues with the University, including allegations of academic fraud and complaints of harassment and/or discrimination with a professor, student, or University employee.
Sustainability Centre
The Sustainability Centre advocates for a more environmentally-conscientious campus.
Women's Resource Centre
The Women's Resource Centre (WRC) is a resource for women and gender-diverse people seeking support on sexual health and women's rights issues.
Zoom Productions
Zoom Productions is UOSU's video production house, offering tutorials and workshops to students.
Club Administration Service (CAS)
Formerly known as Campus Vibez uOttawa (CVUO), CAS is the central hub for the union’s 360+[8] clubs, offering funding, training, workshops, and support.
Controversies
uOttawa Students for Life
In 2019, uOttawa Students for Life (UOSFL), a club that advocated against abortion rights on campus, received provisional club status. This entitled them to receive funding from the Union and the right to book spaces on campus. This sparked online controversy.[9][10] In December 2019, an emergency General Assembly was called by a requisition signed by 500 students, calling on the Union to remove club status from the club and adopt a pro-choice stance. This General Assembly failed to meet quorum, and the matter was referred to the Board of Directors.[11] In January 2020, the Board of Directors stripped UOSFL of club status.[12] Their decision was decried by the National Campus Life Network (NCLN), an organization offering support and training to anti-abortion university clubs in Canada.
See also
References
- ^ Miller, Jacquie (February 12, 2019). "uOttawa students vote out student federation accused of mismanagement". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Sharma, Anchal; Awde, Savannah (August 10, 2018). "SFUO president, executive coordinator, face allegations of fraud". The Fulcrum. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "uOttawa halts transfer payments to student union, demands audit after misuse claims". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ Gillis, Megan (September 25, 2018). "uOttawa to terminate agreement with student federation". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Davison, Erin (February 12, 2019). "UOSU defeats SFUO in referendum". The Fulcrum. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Vautour, Colin (2021-09-20). "General Assembly". SÉUO | UOSU. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ "What is a student union and what does it do?". Campus Activities. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ https://www.cvuo.ca/clubs-list
- ^ Riccio, Stephen (2019-11-07). "Free speech, student funding for controversial club in question at uOttawa". Glue Magazine. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ Charley (2019-10-28). "Anti-abortion group regains club status, sparking petition to reverse decision". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ Jackson, Emma (2020-01-14). "Pro-life group loses status at uOttawa". The Charlatan, Carleton's independent newspaper. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
- ^ Casalino, Meagan (2020-01-17). "UOSU revokes club status of anti-abortion group". The Fulcrum. Retrieved 2022-12-27.