Democratic for the People

Letters — Published January 24, 2012

The Arts and Science Federation of Associations Special General Meeting in November was indeed problematic—but the Timbits were not the problem.

When students are gathered into a room in order to rubber stamp decisions made by their executives, it is not democracy. However, there are examples from across Quebec of student unions holding general meetings or assemblies on a regular basis where students can discuss and bring motions to the floor.

The Concordia Student Union is such a big entity that it is difficult to imagine half of the members getting together in a room and discussing all together.

At most universities in Quebec, a lot of departmental student associations are active and politically engaged. Since they are smaller, they can hold regular general meetings and take positions that reflect the interests and politics of their members. Plus, the smaller size of these meetings allows for more discussions and debates.

If you think the CSU general meeting is not democratic, then stop whining about it and a) get the most people you can at such meetings so it will reflect the opinions of a maximum of students b) organize a general meeting with your departmental association.

This is already happening, as some student associations of the Arts and Science faculty are planning to hold general meetings in the upcoming weeks.

Democracy cannot come from a top-down approach. It needs to start from the bottom up. It starts with the students.

—Hugo Bonin