Elise Rants: Food for thought: SFU leaving the CFS? ~an ongoing debate

The Canadian Federation of Students was formed in 1981 to provide students with a united voice. At the time, students felt their collective interests would be best represented to federal and provincial governments as a united group.

Now in 2008, it is believed that since tuition fees, financial assistance programs and funding for research are set directly or indirectly by both levels of government, it is vital that students collectively organise to ensure that students' rights and concerns are fully represented.

The Canadian Federation of Students claims that members benefit from services and discounts, and advocacy. These discounts include deals on cell phones, travel, food, clothes and more. Current advocacy issues include the 'No Means No' Canadian Federation of Students campaign to end date rape and dating violence (see article www.cfs-fcee.ca/nomeansno/factsheets.html), the '$10 NOW!' campaign (email vs.stephen@gmail.com and/or see www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bytk4Qa1Vs), and the class action suit against Ontario Colleges for illegal ancillary fees (see www.stopunfairfees.ca) and others to be found at (www.iamcfs.ca and/or iva email contact with web@cfs-fcee.ca)

The Federation comprises more than 500,000 students from over 80 university and college students' unions across the country. Members in British Columbia's include Locals 03 (UBC-Okanagan), 75, 05 (Capilano) 73, 18, 33, 76, 26, 61, 13, 72, 66, 53, 86, 04, 23 (SFU), 15, 89 (UVic Grads) and 44 (UVic). Alberta members include both the Alberta College of Art and Design Students' Association and Graduate Students' Association of the University of Calgary. Saskatchewan has five memebers. Manitoba also has five. Ontario boasts over thirty members and two prospective members. Québec's three members include Concordia, Concordia Grads, and McGill University's Post-Grads. The University of New Brunswick Grads are the sole NB members. Nova Scotia has six current member and one perpective. PEI has three members and Newfoundland & Labrador have five. Great...

Many at SFU, however, feel that the CFS's claim on $430,000 of annual student fees is

unnecessary. The SFSS (Simon Fraser Student Society) is working towards independence. In March 2007, 78% of SFU voters said they want out of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as the CFS (Canadian Federation of Students).

The reasons why some students want out may include some are all of the following arguments: (1) The CFS denied our proxy-vote in 2006, despite their own rules allowing for it. Undemocratic. (2) Tuition freezes, caps, and reductions in this province have happened near or around election years. (3) Alberta has a similiar tuition cap as BC, with almost no CFS presence. (4) The British Columbia component of the CFS went three years without audited financial statements, despite spending over $200,000 of our (us student's) money, each year. (5) The BC Component of the CFS has interfered in SFSS elections (as reported at www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2006-3/issue10/op-harder.html). (6) Directors at the SFSS meet with Federal MPs and Provincial MLAS all the time, and lobby for SFU student specific interests. Since last year directors have met with Bill Siksay, Harry Bloy, Coast Mountain Bus Company and Translink. (7) The CFS is against the Millenium Scholarship, despite the fact that it has saved SFU student loan borrower thousands of dollars, each. Including SFSS Member Services Officer Joe Paling, who has proof of saving almost $10,000 thanks to the program targeted to those in need. (8) The folks on the IAMCFS posters are paid actors. Those on the SFSS posters are real SFU students! and finally (9) The University of British Columbia Student Union (the AMS) is not a member of the CFS and they managed to have their own Student Union buidling.

Some students fear the consequnces of leaving the CFS. For example, SFU Students may not want to lose any services by leaving the CFS. However, Non-CFS members still have access to Travel CUTS, Student Phones, housing4students, and other CFS commercial services. SFU students will still be able to get the ISIC card. On the other hand, many believe that the CFS is a democratic body working for student interests. However, SFU (representing almost half of the BC Component's budget and members) has one vote at any CFS meetings while Vancouver Community College has two. CFS-BC has also circumvented both the desire and needs of graduate students.

If you would like to help the 'We Want Out' campaign by postering, writing on chalk board, handing out leaflets, helping organize our carnival, or helping us table, email (mso@sfss.ca).