by David Weatherall

“I’ve been a very controversial president, and that’s been a conscientious decision on my behalf,” said CSU president Rob Green in his office last Monday. “But whether they love me or hate me, at least they’re talking about issues that the CSU feels are important.”

By creating such controversy Green feels he has contributed to raising awareness among students about school politics.

“Most students two years ago didn’t know that the CSU existed. I’d say you’d be hard pressed to find a student these days that doesn’t have an opinion on something we’ve done. I’m very encouraged by that, and I hope it continues.”

The current president, who has decided not to run in this spring’s annual CSU elections, took a moment to talk about his past two years as president and what direction he’d like the CSU to continue in.

“I think accreditation is the biggest legacy that I’ll leave behind. Raising the BioChem [Pharma] issue, kicking Zoom Media out of the school and programs like the People’s Potato are all accomplishments I’m very proud of. It’s certainly more than any other past president of the CSU has been able to do.”

Green has been involved with the CSU for the past three years, but after two years at the helm, Green feels it’s time to return to his studies. He has a degree in religion and has taken a course at a time to keep his student status. “It’s time to move on — not that it hasn’t been fun.”

He steps down from a position that holds a lot more power at the moment than it did when he took over as president in 1999. After gaining accreditation in a referendum held this fall, the CSU now legally represents all students at Concordia and as such, has an immense responsibility to fulfill to its 25,000 constituents.

That’s not the only change facing presidential hopefuls this spring. Students running in this year’s election will do so under a revised electoral process that raised some initial concerns for Green. Under the old system, students would vote for a presidential candidate who, once elected, could then recommend a council. Under the new bylaws, those wishing to run for president will do so on a slate that contains a minimum of three other members running for positions on council.

“I was concerned that because of the new slate system and the need for candidates to be more organized in their preparation, there could be a decline in competition, but I’m very optimistic about the new system so far.”

Voting will take place over March 26, 27 and 28.

Student referendum questions

To date, there are 15 referendum questions on the ballot. One calls on the university administration “to refuse any application for the position of Rector by current Vice-Rector Research and Provost Jack Lightstone due to his role in cutting programs and supporting the privatization of education at Concordia University.”

Another demands that the university “either stop collecting the $2-per-credit fee for the capital campaign. . . or turn all fees collected from students [over to] a committee appointed by the CSU Council with proportional representation of the Faculties and independent students.”

Another referendum question attacks the way the student organizations operate. The student newspapers retaliated this week by jointly denouncing the proposed Students Bill of Democratic Rights.

There is a referendum question calling on the Canadian government “to immediately withdraw from FTAA negotiations until [the government’s] negotiating position is made public, and that a binding nation-wide referendum be held” to determine Canada’s stance on free trade, and another condemning Israel.

Yet another proposal, if passed, would assure the survival of programs such as the popular People’s Potato. Students would pay 25 cents per credit to the CSU for the next six years to support the project and would “demand that the Vice-Rector Services allocate additional kitchen, cooking equipment, serving space and seating space on the seventh floor [of the Hall Building].”

CSU Elections 2001-2002

The candidates for this year’s election follow. The election will be held March 26, 27 and 28.

Slate number 1
President: Hammad Baig
VP Internal: Emmanuel Moreira
VP Internal: Luma Abu Judom
VP Communications: Mat Siemaszkiewicz
VP Clubs Commissioner: Pavan Magon

Slate Number 2
President: Sabrina Stea
VP Internal: Laith Marouf
VP External: Genevieve Page
VP Finance: Patrice Blais
VP Outreach: Benoit Desgreniers
VP Resources: Marina Tarantini

Slate Number 3
President: Chris Schultz
VP Internal: Avigail Aronoff
VP Communications: Sean Farrell
VP Finance: David Harrison
VP Academic: Laura Zapotichny

Slate Number 4
President: Paul Backman
VP: François-Marc Dionne
VP: Matthew Cresthol
VP External/Academic: Denis Robichaud

Slate Number 5
President: Ralph A. Lee
VP Internal: David M. Adams
VP External & Academic: Erin Matheson
VP Communications: Aisha Saintiche
VP Finance: David Penta