The vast majority of students are probably unaware at the moment that the AMS is in the midst of planning a swath of referenda for the fall. Questions are rumoured to include:
- Significant increases to student fees (both general and targeted)
- Tying AMS fees to inflation (CPI)
- Changing executive turnover date to late March
- Numerous bylaw changes, possibly including student court
Whether or not there is merit to these questions is a separate issue that will no doubt be discussed in great detail over the coming months; the more pressing concern right now is why these activities are being conducted in secret.
At the AMS Council meeting on August 11th, AMS President, Bijan Ahmadian, made reference to upcoming workshops on referendum questions. When members of Council and student media outlets requested more details, Ahmadian said that these would be closed sessions, with only Councillors and staff permitted.
“They were a set of meetings for Councillors to organize their thoughts, get some background and have an opportunity to have a frank discussion about the process for engaging everyone. The process is designed to be open and engaging and starts on Aug 25th,” stated Ahmadian when pressed for details on the closed-door meetings, “The intention was not to be secretive.”
"The intention was not to be secretive [...] They were a set of meetings for Councillors to organize their thoughts, get some background and have an opportunity to have a frank discussion about the process for engaging everyone."Despite Ahmadian’s assurances that Council will conduct an open process, this is only the latest episode in a disturbing trend of closed meetings, which began with cuts to AMS Services in late March. Like previous incidents, this bears the hallmark of the Executive attempting to advance their own initiatives by gaining Council buy-in without any public input or oversight.
While it is reasonable for Executives to suggest issues they feel may affect the AMS, they are responsible for acting as Council directs. Do not be surprised if the referendum questions, which will be discussed openly at tomorrow night’s meeting, are pitched as coming from Council as a whole. Due to the closed nature of these discussions, we will never know the true source of these questions and what, if any, objections were raised by Councillors.
Check back for a more detailed post on the referendum questions themselves when they are announced tomorrow.
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