Council Briefs

The Students Association of Mount Royal University Council meeting took place on Sept. 30 in the council chambers of Wyckham House.

During a discussion about the various committees within the Students’ Association that students could join, Robert’s Rules — the recognized, albeit meticulous and repetitive rules of order for assemblies—were briefly suspended.

The Council Engagement Committee (CEC) chaired by Addison Asuchak, the Vice President of University Student Affairs, was described as a committee to engage the student body, and a group where students will have “serious fun” – offering opportunities for a lot of entertainment while attaining professional skills and taking on important responsibilities. Asuchak added that his committee is the most fun out of all of them.

Sadiq Valliani, President of SAMRU, is the chair of the Elections Policy Review Committee — which is in charge of setting up and arranging the election policies. Valliani reminded students that there is an election coming up on Nov. 27 this year.

The Governance Committee and the Governor Personnel Committee are both chaired by the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tristan Smyth. Unlike Asuchak, Smyth told students that “[he] will break them” – meaning he would quickly whip students into shape and make them the proper members of council that they ought to be.

Moderator Derek Havens is the chair for the Executive Committee Personal Policy Committee (ECPPC), changed after a couple of tries of different names including ICPP, added Asuchak. Havens described the committee as one to maintain the accountability framework and, although students would require training, that everything discussed within the committee would be in-camera (in private),where media and public have no access – the making of “top secret spy stuff”.

Robert’s Rules were reinstated as Valliani made a handful of announcements before the meeting went in-camera which included: the debate of Ward 11 help at MRU for that night; a thank you to VP Smyth who cleaned out the cupboards from last year; a reminder that there are perks at The Hub for council folk — free coffee, tea and juice — along with the gentle suggestion that they should not take advantage by choosing the “fancy-more-expensive-juices.”