MONTREAL/January 25, 2002—
In its action this week to impose a Concordia Student Union (CSU) executive in defiance of the expressed wishes of a majority of voting students, the CSU council has thwarted the democratic process. The University administration considers this action an abuse of power by the CSU council. Therefore, the administration does not recognize the imposed interim CSU Executive, which it considers illegitimate.
Rector Frederick H. Lowy calls the latest developments ìtotally unacceptable and undemocratic and the administration of Concordia University has a moral responsibility to act in the best interests of the institution.î
Consequently, until the University can deal with a legitimate, duly elected CSU executive it will refuse to transfer any further funds to the CSU. Student dues collected by the University on behalf of the CSU will be held in trust. Further, the University will suspend all discussions and negotiations with CSU representatives.
The November 2001 election was precipitated by an unprecedented expression of non-confidence in the CSU leadership and its practices by a sizeable representation of the undergraduate student body. The election, organized by the CSU and conducted by a chief electoral officer appointed by the CSU, was declared flawed by a 3-1 decision of the CSU's own judicial board.
Although the judicial board found that the election process was biased against the Representative Union slate, headed by Mr. Chris Schulz, this slate nevertheless obtained the majority of the votes. This week, following the judicial board decision, the CSU council voted against installing the Schulz slate as the interim CSU government.
This latest election debacle and the imposing of a non-elected executive only add to the frustration of students who find themselves misrepresented and disenfranchised. In the interests of the students and the institution, the University will not accept this situation.
A CHRONOLOGY OF THE CSU SITUATION IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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