The meeting of Monday, July 20th 1998 was called to order at 4:42pm. O’Shea was in the chair by consensus.

CROSS, Margaret University Transfer Representative

KANDOLA, Raj University Transfer Representative

LEE, Clear University Transfer Representative

MacPHAIL, Raven Academic Affairs Co-ordinator

OSACHOFF, James Computer Information Systems Representative
O’SHEA, Anne G.L.O.B.A.L./Closet Liaison

PAUL, Michelle Native Students’ Liaison

ROJAS, Henry University Transfer Representative

SYKES, Dayna University Transfer Representative

WYCKS, Bernadette Fine Arts Representative (arrived at 5:21pm)
ZOLLMANN, Paul Male Education Representative

Lin, Nay Vancouver Burma Roundtable (258-9482)
Than, Win Burmese Democratic Organisation (270-2132)
Thwin, Mya Burmese Democratic Organisation (258-9482)

BIGGERSTAFF, Sandy (minute taker)

KUITENBROUWER, Winnie

ARSENAULT, Tina University Transfer Representative
FERRAO, Savio Internal Affairs Representative

URROZ-AGUIRRE, A. Computer Systems Technology Representative

The minutes for the July 13th meeting will be presented at the July 27th meeting, as Rainford-Cayenne has been on vacation.

Arsenault is unable to attend tonight’s meeting and forwards her regrets.
It was also noted that Rojas would be required to leave the meeting at 6:30pm.

Cross reported that organisers for Under the Volcano are currently looking or volunteers. The festival will be held on August 16^th at Cate’s Park and will feature local musicians and artists.

MacPhail announced that the Students’ Union had been invited to participate in a community forum on proposed bank mergers (see attached). The Forum will be held at the Robson Square Conference Centre on July 30^th, 1998 (10:00am to 12:00pm).

Kandola, Rojas and Biggerstaff expressed interest in attending the conference.

Cross reminded Executive members to register their car and license number with the Students’ Union so that the parking lot can be monitored.

Lee announced that BC CASA would be picking-up garbage on July 26^th to raise money for their upcoming trip to Guatemala and asked individual Executive members to sponsor this endeavour.

Sykes said that the Students’ Union has yet to have an anti-racism workshop for new Executive members and that we need to set a specific date.

Biggerstaff explained that there are too few people in attendance during the summer semester, but that a workshop has been scheduled for the last week in October.

3-g) GLOBAL/Closet Centre Policy

O’Shea informed members that the CLOSET collective passed a motion this afternoon aimed at defining the guidelines for use of the Centre. O’Shea said that within the last few months, individuals not affiliated with the Centre, have been using the space and its resources. As a result, the collective has passed a motion that the centre is open to allies of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgendered and Two-Spirited people only if they are directly involved in solidarity work or are with someone affiliated with the Centre.

Cross explained that within the last few weeks certain Executive members, who shall remain nameless, have been heard making inappropriate comments about certain ethnic groups. Cross wanted to ensure that individuals refrain from making inappropriate generalisations and that the general office should remain a positive and safe space for all persons.

Biggerstaff felt that when these incidents occur, the individuals making the comments should be addressed immediately and that we should try to educate these people as to why these comments are offensive.

O’Shea said that she did not feel that her was her job to constantly educate people and that this should not be her responsibility.

Biggerstaff further clarified her position and said that the office as a whole needs to be responsible for educating individuals and not the individuals who have been targeted by these comments.

Cross said that the Students’ Union had received a request from workers of the Han Young factory in Mexico. Workers are striking over management’s refusal to negotiate a contract for fair working conditions and are planning to speak in Victoria and Vancouver on August 9^th and 10^th respectively. Organisers are asking the Students’ Union for access to the photocopier to make 200 copies of legal size pamphlets.

98/07/5:01 Be it resolved that the Students’ Union allow strike organisers of the Han Young factory to make two hundred legal size copies.

O’Shea explained that she would be away on a Leave of Absence from July 21^st until August 18^th and would not be able to assume her role as Staff Relations officer. She has asked Paul Zollmann to become the interim Staff Relations Officer until her return.

98/07/5:05 Be it resolved that Zollmann be appointed as the interim Staff Relations Office from July 21^st until August 18^th when O’Shea returns.

CARRIED

O’Shea said that a Consensus training workshop would be held in the Students’ Union on Saturday, July 25^th from 10:00am to 2:00pm and that she would be need someone to open and close the building.

Sykes wanted to know if any posters had been made to advertise the workshop.

O’Shea said that she would be making posters after the meeting.

Lee felt that there would be many people who would like to attend the workshop, but that with final exams within the near future, there just wouldn’t be enough time. Lee wanted to know if the event could be rescheduled to a later date when more students could attend.

O’Shea said that she would try to reschedule for workshop for a later date.

98/07/5:06 Be it resolved that the Consensus Training Workshop be rescheduled for the first week in October.
CARRIED

As O’Shea will be away from July 21^st to August 18^th, she would like to request a Leave of Absence.

98/07/5:08 Be it resolved that O’Shea be granted a Leave of Absence from July 21^st to August 18^th.

CARRIED

It was reported that the costs associated with attending the Community Development Institute’s Fourth Annual Conference would be as follows:

Lee and Cross expressed interest in attending the Conference

Nay Lin, Win Than and Mya Thwin from the Burma Roundtable introduced themselves.

Mya Thwin explained:

"The Vancouver Burma Roundtable is a meeting point for groups and individuals in the Lower mainland area of BC who share a common interest in Burma issues and people. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday evening of each month at the Vancouver Unitarian Church at the corner of 49^th and Oak.

The group was set-up in December 1997 as a result of the stimulus provided by the APEC People’s Summit held in November and with the support and encouragement of members of the Seattle Roundtable.

The aims of the Vancouver group can be defined as follows:

Specifically, the Burma Roundtable is asking the Students’ Union to participate in the proposed action plans which include the following initiatives:

After the presentation, the Burma Roundtable members provided the Students’ Union with a great deal of literature regarding the history of Burma and the student uprising.

There was strong support amongst the Executive to support the efforts of the Vancouver Burma Roundtable; although, some Executive members believed that there should be further discussion at next week’s meeting.

Biggerstaff staff thought that in addition to support with resources, the Students’ Union should try to provide a small donation. +

Rojas believed that the Students’ Union should perhaps offer the use of office supplies.

98/07/6:37 Be it resolved that the Students’ Union support the initiatives of the Vancouver Burma Roundtable and participate in their letter writing campaign. Be it further resolved that the
Students’ Union also donate $200 (two hundred dollars) from the Social Issues budget to help with organising costs.

It was also noted that further discussion regarding our participation would occur at next week’s meeting.

98/07/6:38 Be it resolved that the meeting adjourn at 6:38pm.

The next meeting is scheduled at 4:30pm on July 27^th, 1998.