Notes from Council: Presidential reappointment and encampment discussed

“Notes from Council” is The Gateway’s ongoing series of recaps of noteworthy items from Students’ Council meetings.

At the June 25 meeting of the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) Students’ Council, the executive team fielded questions about the reappointment of President and Vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan and a working group between participants in the former Palestine solidarity encampment and university administration.

Student asks Glock about UASU’s stance on Flanagan’s reappointment

Earlier that day, Kate Chisholm, chair of the U of A Board of Governors (BoG), announced the reappointment of Flanagan. UASU President Lisa Glock is a voting member on BoG, along with the undergraduate BoG representative Adrien Lam. In her verbal report, Glock told council that the voting was confidential.

During open forum, student and former arts councillor Haruun Ali asked Glock if she personally supported the reappointment of Flanagan. Glock said answering the question would breach her confidentiality agreement. 

Ali also asked if the UASU has a stance on the reappointment of Flanagan. Glock said she was “uncomfortable speaking to that based on myself voting on this issue.” As of July 15, the UASU has not released a statement on the reappointment of Flanagan.

Ali clarified that he asked Glock the previous questions as multiple student groups have released statements calling for Flanagan’s resignation. This came after the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) removed a Palestine solidarity encampment from Main Quad at the request of the university. Groups that have called for Flanagan’s resignation include the Black Students’ Association (BSA), Indigenous Graduate Students’ Association (IGSA), and the Indigenous Students’ Union (ISU).

“As a former student leader I’m somewhat disappointed. The [UASU] does have a lot of power when it comes to these type of conversations. Especially when they actually work within the community, work within students,” Ali said.

Ali called for the councillors to hold the executive team accountable.

Working group between encampment participants and administration questioned

Student Mikael Schmidtke asked Glock about a working group between the university and encampment participants. He asked if the working group would be composed of U of A affiliated students and faculty protesters. After the encampment was taken down, protests in support of it involving students, faculty, and community members occurred on campus.

Schmidtke said he felt “we should not have decisions being made by a third-party.”

According to Vice-president (student life) Renson Alva and Glock, People’s University for Palestine YEG, which organized the encampment, asked the UASU to take an observer’s role.

“They don’t want anyone stepping on their toes. They do not want us to put our noses in their business,” Alva said.

To Glock’s understanding, the working group will be a “discussion between specifically student protesters and the university.” 

The UASU will continue to advocate and work for students, Alva said.

Later, during question period, Angelina Botros, a science councillor, asked the executives if the UASU should advocate for students, not third-parties, to head the working group.

Alva clarified that it has not been confirmed who will sit on or lead the working group. The university is responsible for assembling the working group, he said.

Nathan Thiessen, an arts councillor, asked Glock what plans the executives have to hold university administration accountable, taking into account undergraduate students’ recent concerns.

Glock noted lack of communication between administration and students as an issue. Examples Glock gave included funding cuts, restructuring, and the recent encampment removal. Communication issues are something she plans to focus on during her term.