While the Central Student Association’s (CSA) board of directors held their final official meeting of the semester on Nov. 18, 2015, the CSA’s executive committee—comprised of Sonia Chwalek, Peter Miller, Asia Barclay, Scarlett Raczycki, and an away-on-leave Matthew Campbell—remain hard at work. While this column typically takes a closer look at the CSA’s board of directors—and their meetings—it’s important for students at the University of Guelph to hear from their CSA in less formal capacities than weekly newsletters.
“I think the work of the CSA this year has shown a true dedication from all of those who have gotten involved in our services, advocacy and campaigns work, and board of directors,” explained Chwalek, the corporate affairs and communications commissioner, in an email.
Looking back at the CSA’s work for students this year, one notices that the student governmental body is active in maintaining solidarity with a number of on-campus pro-student and pro-community initiatives. For instance, at the final board meeting of the semester, the CSA board unanimously voted to combat food insecurity on campus by supporting the CSA FoodBank.
Chwalek mentioned this in her email, explaining that “some board accomplishments to be proud of so far this term [include the] unanimous vote in favour of seeking additional funding and support for our CSA Student FoodBank, which serves over 500 students, many of whom are parents, and has seen a concerning increase in usage this year.”
More than just advocating for increased funding to the university’s on-campus food bank, however, the CSA board pledged support to the 15 and Fairness campaign. According to Chwalek, the campaign “advocates for a living $15 minimum wage.”
The board also passed motions “for an additional Aboriginal student seat on the board, and a revamping of our Awareness of Sexual Assault Prevention Committee to ensure students’ voices are represented on campus, as we develop a university policy on sexual violence and sexual assault.”
In addition to explaining how the CSA executive committee worked with the board of directors, Chwalek also noted many of the committee’s accomplishments in regards to on-campus social justice.
“We led a strong federal elections campaign to help engage and inform students on how and why to participate, [we] brought great bands and performances to campus…[we] helped with lobby efforts to have City Council pass a motion against the sale of Hydro One, [we] represented students voices in the Employment Standard Act review process, influencing the Ministry of Labour to since reach out to the CFS-O to schedule a meeting to discuss students concerns further,” explained Chwalek.
Asia Barclay, the CSA’s external affairs commissioner also organized a number of extensive anti-oppression workshops in order to “cultivate in-depth and honest conversations with…volunteers, staff, board members, and more, about what anti-oppression is, what active listening looks like, what can do to be better allies, and more.”
Though the CSA has accomplished a number of objectives and goals, their work continues throughout the remainder of the semester, and the rest of the year.
For example, students walking through the University Centre during exam period were greeted by the CSA’s Exam Stress Busters.
As 2016 approches, the CSA looks forward to a new semester, and a new opportunity to engage with students at the university. The new term, for example, will kick off with the CSA’s Frost Week.
“The CSA annual general meeting is Jan. 20, 2016, and hiring [of over 30 student positions] and general elections will also take place in that month,” said Chwalek.
The CSA also plans on continuing its support of Black student organizers on-campus, “as they seek to bring forward their demands for change and justice to combat anti-Black racism on campus and in wider society.”
“[We are also] gearing up for Intercultural Awareness Week, which brings together groups such as ARC, OIA at Student Life, GRCGED, C.J. Munford Centre, and more, to host a variety of events with discussions around multiculturalism, diversity, peace, solidarity, and more on our campus,” explained Chwalek.
Students looking to learn more about the CSA are advised to attend board meetings in the new year, and to also stay in contact with members of their respective college governments.