July 16, 2020

A Collective Response to the PR4 Draft

The levy-funded organizations at York University come together with concerns on the administration’s attempts at drafting edits for Presidential Regulation 4.

Dear VP Students Lucy Fromowitz,

A year ago, there were ongoing “consultations” with many student organizations regarding proposed amendments to Presidential Regulation 4. Many raised their concerns about the University administration's encroachment on student autonomy and independence. The current proposed draft of Presidential Regulation 4 neglects to include and removes any mention of this autonomy or independence. Our organizations have our own bylaws, constitutions, and mandates, yet the University has decided to make attempts to supersede them. This is deeply concerning as it takes away the agency of student-led organizations and their capacity to govern and serve their respective memberships. We are even more troubled, as this move comes not too long after the University’s tacit acceptance of the Provincial Government’s targeted attack on student autonomy via the introduction of the Student Choice Initiative.

The proposed draft of Presidential Regulation 4 affects the mandate and operations of autonomous levy-funded organizations in a multitude of ways. Student organizations such as the York Federation of Students, York University’s Graduate Student Association, Glendon College Student Union, Regenesis York, and Winters College Council have collective agreements with components addressing unionized staff including language concerning employee privacy concerns, union rights, and can further be in direct violation of collective agreements. Beyond this, there are additional sections set on dictating the democratic processes of these autonomous organizations. This draft attempts to outline exactly how elections must be run and this is a direct infringement on student autonomy. Student organizations have their own respective democratic processes which take lead and direction from their respective members. This attempt at election interference by the university administration, as a way to control dissent on campus, is a dangerous precedent to accept. The new draft of Presidential Regulation 4 proposed by your office, also attempts to force student leaders into signed agreements dictating that student leaders and the corresponding organizations must comply with University legislation, policies, and procedures. This serves as an attempt to undermine the advocacy and self-governance capability of student leaders, and directly contradicts the mandates of many levy-funded organizations.

Further sections of the most recent draft of Presidential Regulation #4 that were of concern to our student levy-organizations are as follows. Section 13.6 states that the President may conduct a personal review or a review through an independent organization due to complaints or speculation of any breaches of this regulation. This section is extremely alarming as there may be no real grounds or reasoning provided to us prior to an investigation. Another example is Section 11, specifically 11.2, where it discusses noncompliance and the actions that may take place thereafter. In addition to sections 10-f, g and h being vague and restricting the financial operations of organizations. There are countless other examples in this draft of Presidential Regulation #4 that threaten our autonomy as student-run organizations, that opens the possibility for arbitrary decisions by the University which can lead to unjust consequences and is additionally very vague in the parameters outlined in the draft. The language is intentionally vague and restrictive which suggests that the University would rather create legislation that limits student leadership, rather than empowers the student-led organizations that greatly contribute to the York University community.

There is a great reckoning happening across the globe, in which public institutions are being brought to account for their histories of oppression, discrimination and active participation in colonial violence. Structures and statues symbolic of this oppression are being taken down both physically and figuratively. In this context, it is unfortunate that this York University administration has chosen not to be part of the progressive movement taking place on university campuses across the world. Instead, through this draft of Presidential Regulation #4, this administration is actively seeking to maintain its status quo immersed in institutional hegemonic white supremacy, by attempting to police, intimidate, and silence a largely racialized and marginalized student body. The safer and anti-oppressive spaces painstakingly created by progressive student organizations over generations will cease to exist by the excessive force of this draft policy.

We, as levy-funded organizations, recognize the impact we have at this University and the value we bring. The consultations that occurred with our respective organizations and the University administration were not meaningful in nature and input was strategically ignored. This in and of itself directly contradicts the collegial governance that the University prides itself on. We have made our feedback on Presidential Regulation 4 clear both in your initial consultations, and within this submission. We strongly urge the University to reconsider these changes put forth for Presidential Regulation #4 and that we continue to abide by the current version in order to maintain fairness and respect for all students. As levied organizations, we do not approve of nor will we recognize this draft should you choose to move forward and disregard our concerns once again.

Sincerely,

Bethune College Council, Calumet College Council, Environmental and Urban Change Students’ Association, Glendon College Student Union, Lassonde Engineering Society, McLaughlin College Council, New College Council, Regenesis York, Stong College Student Government, Undergraduate Business Society, Vanier College Council, Winters College Council, York Federation of Students, York University Graduate Students Association