The Peak

SFSS without a treasurer — for now

By Kendra Wong

Controversy erupted at the Simon Fraser Student Society’s forum meeting last week over Joe Zelezny’s position as treasurer when a report was brought forward concerning his academic standing as a student at SFU.

At the Wednesday forum meeting, Zelezny brought to the board’s attention his lack of “good academic standing” with regards to his registration status as an SFU student. Although no motion was officially moved that forced Zelezny to resign, he temporarily gave up his duties as SFSS treasurer until his grades are raised.

Zelezny blamed his decline of grades on his dedication to the Society, “I’ve been so busy with the Student Society that I forgot to keep my grades decent,” he confessed.

According to the SFSS policy manual, under AP-1, 1.A, during their tenure in office, directors may be subject to “[producing] a report on their registration status in each of the three semesters comprising their tenure of office and to make this information available to the Society’s Financial Coordinators and to any member of the Society upon request.”

If a director of the Society is not a student or not “in good standing,” at the time of forum, he/she shall “cease to be a Director of the Society.”

The July 2009 meeting minutes on the SFSS website, however, show no indication that any such report was submitted by the Society’s financial coordinators on the current board of directors. However, Andrew Fergusson, the internal relations officer, strongly asserted that although the reports were not documented in the minutes, they were completed. The reports were reported but never accepted.

The academic reports were never a problem until recently when Colleen Knox, the SFSS senior organizational advisor, requested the report. Prior to receiving it, Zelezny claimed he spoke with Knox about his less than satisfactory grades.

“SFU isn’t the best at letting you know [when you’re not doing well, academically],” stated Zelezny. He further noted he didn’t receive a letter from SFU about his academic status until the second week of January.

Critics claimed Zelezny took on too heavy of a work load; he was also president of the Political Science Student Union, worked for Elections Canada on a regular basis, and during the spring and fall semesters he was taking two classes both at SFU and BCIT. In an interview with The Peak, he openly acknowledged he “took on too much.”

Zelezny’s grades are not the only thing in question. He also drew attention to the lack of policy reinforcement by the SFSS. “Procedural things [at the SFSS] are not being done,” he argued, regarding the report that Knox requested. “[In the mean time,] violation of policy is selectively treated and often manipulated.”

While the Society continues to question whether Zelezny should be allowed to return, according to Fergusson, the problem isn’t Zelezny resuming his position as treasurer, but the situation may be considered a liability.

“[We have] been running things by the lawyer, but the problem is the treasurer would be precluded from looking at the bylaws,” he stated. “The incumbent, along with the Society, has to protect itself.”

“Joe can come back, I want him to come back,” Fergusson added. “If no one is going to point out policy, how are we going to reinforce it?”

The details of SFSS bylaws have yet to be determined and the Society is set to speak with their lawyer, Susan Coristine, more extensively on Monday, February 1.

Until then, the SFSS is left without a treasurer, forcing greater responsibilities on the remaining directors. “With a vacancy of such importance, we’re put into a situation where [no one] would be able to take over his duties entirely,” said Fergusson. “We could divide the tasks up amongst the directors without many troubles, [but it would be too much work for one person to take on].”

Fergusson explained his experience with budgeting and as chair of the financial and administrative services committee would help him take over certain aspects of the treasurer’s position, if need be.

Last Friday, Zelezny firmly asserted that he spoke with an academic advisor and professor; one of his grades has been raised, thereby putting him into good academic standing with the university, and he is planning on appealing the second grade because of a continued sickness in the fall semester.