[GSA Council] Council’s lack of integrity
nura jabagi
nurajabagi at gmail.com
Thu Apr 11 08:31:38 PDT 2019
Hello
This is a reminder to the Executives. Have you been able to discuss a solution that can be proposed as a motion? (See below).
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 10, 2019, at 5:37 PM, Nura Jabagi <nurajabagi at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Etta
>
> Thanks for taking the time to reply. I am not quite sure how to proceed either; we’re in uncharted territory!
>
> I think the first thing would be for the Executives to address your first point. Namely, do the executives consider a cut in Directors' pays (for the month of April) to be an acceptable "repercussive measure"?
> If the Executives consider this is an acceptable solution, then you (Etta) could put forth a motion for the reduction in Directors' honorariums.
> If the Executives do not consider this to be an acceptable solution, then I would ask the Executives to come to an agreement among themselves as to what would be an acceptable (and quantifiable) solution. As an example: "The Executives would like to be retroactively awarded XX% of their bursary" and/or "The Executives would like for the Directors to be penalized XX% of their bursary". Once we would have this proposal from the Executives, a member of the Council could put forth a motion (with a second) and we can proceed with a vote. If no Director is willing to support such a motion, at that point, we will need to consider the appointment of an interim council. I hope this won't happen.
> So, Executives, can you please discuss the above, and come back to us by tomorrow morning?
>
> Thanks,
> Nura
>
>
>
>
>> On Apr 7, 2019, at 8:37 PM, Etta Sandry <etta.sandry at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Nura, thank you as always for your communication, initiative, and guidance in holding us to task and reminding everyone of our responsibilities and the bylaws.
>>
>> First of all, I'd like to say that I do not accept the resignation by the Executive team (we need you!) but totally hear the frustrations and understand why you are now feeling unmotivated and unsupported. Likewise, I also understand many of the concerns that have been raised by Directors. In the GSA meetings, I have personally continually felt frustrated by the defensive, blaming, and punitive attitudes taken by many. I think it is really unfortunate that, as Nura aptly described, the GSA has become quite toxic and not proactive. Here are some ideas that may attempt to change that:
>>
>> 1. Directors cut their honorariums to 30% (or more) for the month of April to retroactively match the cuts we made to Executive bursaries and acknowledge our responsibility for lack of quorum and negligence in our responsibilities as Directors.
>> 2. We all focus on completing the action plan set out by the Executives, holding elections, and setting up the transition between Executive and Council teams with clear next steps and ways that both Executives and Directors can support these initiatives.
>> 3. Rather than continuing to blame each other and to act out of defensiveness, maybe we can voice some of the things that we feel could be done better, reframe these as solutions/actions (within the bounds of the bylaws), and outline them as advice for next year's team so that the toxic culture might end. -- Part of this may include suggestions for how the bylaws could be changed productively in the future if a GA quorum is met.
>>
>> I'm not sure how to proceed. Do I make a motion to not accept the resignations? I prefer to discuss solutions and would also like to hear from Executives what kinds of repercussive measures they would like to see from Directors.
>>
>> Best,
>> Etta
>>
>>> On Sun, Apr 7, 2019 at 7:33 PM nura jabagi <nurajabagi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi Harish
>>>
>>> Agreed that we shouldn’t go point by point, but at some point, the directors in general did not feel the explanations were productive (beyond what was already presented in the report and the in person presentations of the reports). I would tend to agree that they ultimately weren’t productive due to the seeming subjectivity that enters the decision process (ironic!).
>>>
>>> You’re right, this is the past, the only ones who can come with solutions now are the directors. Hopefully something positive can come between now and Friday.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>> Nura
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Apr 7, 2019, at 7:19 PM, HARISH BABU MULLAPUDI <mullapudiharishbabu at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi nura,
>>>> I am not saying to review all the reports now but we should have given an opportunity to explain themselves before we all council members came to the conclusions. It the the right of the executives to get the opportunity which which we did not given them.
>>>> This is the concern I had from several months which was not addressed.
>>>> All this is past, I would look forward for the solution for the current situation.
>>>>
>>>> Thank you & Regards
>>>> Harish Babu Mullapudi
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>
>>>>> On Apr 7, 2019, at 19:03, nura jabagi <nurajabagi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Harish
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for taking the time to respond.
>>>>>
>>>>> I would like to highlight that it is logistically impossible (and not the point of the reports review and bursary portion of the meeting) to scrutinize every single item in the reports. As you have seen, we already use large portions of the meeting to discuss the reports rather than to address actual gsa business.
>>>>>
>>>>> All of the directors have the responsibility to read the reports prior to the meetings and to come with informed questions. The point is not to go through every report point by point. It’s not feasible or possible. That being said, I’m truly at a loss of what is the solution.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> Nura
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Apr 7, 2019, at 5:57 PM, HARISH BABU MULLAPUDI <mullapudiharishbabu at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>> I would respond to the situation, the executives feel that they are not well treated for the work they have done. We need to negotiate with the executive team about their expectation on the council. If there are any changes to the motions which are made, it is only the person who proposed the motions can propose for the changes If necessary.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I would like to tell the council that, I stressed from several meeting that, we need to discuss the every issue in the executive report by call the concerned executive in the closed session. This suggestion was not considered and lead to the situation which we all are facing now.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hope we deal with the situation in a smooth way which is acceptable for both executives and council.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you & Regards
>>>>>> Harish Babu Mullapudi
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Apr 7, 2019, at 16:59, Nura Jabagi <nurajabagi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hello Directors and Executives.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am writing to follow-up on the email from the Executives concerning their possible resignations.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am surprised that no Director has replied to the email from March 30th. With very little time left in this year's mandate, I do hope that we can reach a solution that is mutually acceptable to both Directors and Executives.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does anyone have anything to contribute? Should we do a preliminary online vote (prior to the meeting) to see if Directors are willing to accept resignations? Do Directors prefer to negotiate a solution that fits everyone? Can someone propose a motion?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As Chair, I have no allegiance to either the Directors nor the Executives, but rather to the proper functioning of the GSA's meetings. While I understand that the Directors are dissatisfied with the work conducted by the Executives, I would remind the Directors that per the GSA bylaws (below) you also have responsibilities which, to my knowledge, have not been fulfilled by certain if not all directors at times. For example, per Article VI, Item 1.2, Directors do share certain responsibility in securing Quorum for the GA (a large point of contention last meeting). Moreover, there are a few of you who come to every single meeting, you work on your PC or phone, and do not pay any attention to what is happening.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Despite this, no Directors (again, to my knowledge) have had their bursaries rescinded or cut drastically. It would be very de-motivational if that were the case, right?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Article VI – Roles and Responsibilities of the Council of Directors
>>>>>>> 1. The Directors shall:
>>>>>>> 1.1. Enforce the General By-Laws and Special By-Laws of the G.S.A.
>>>>>>> 1.2. Aid the Executives in the execution of their assigned duties.
>>>>>>> 1.3. Endeavour to improve the general condition of the G.S.A. and of Graduate Students at Concordia University
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Article V – Council of Directors
>>>>>>> 17. Failure to arrive 30 minutes early as required by bylaws without documentation shall result in the withholding or non payment of honorarium for Directors in question
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----------------
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I think that many would agree that the GSA environment has become acrimonious and toxic. What can we do to fix the situation? How can we empower each other to make the last few months of the GSA mandate better?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I am not taking sides, and I am not weighing in on whether the Executives have done their jobs or not, since this is not within the purview of my role. I will say that the bylaws are a bit of an unclear tool to assess Executives work (as I have mentioned in the meetings), particularly as the executives are tasked with many items not falling in the bylaws. For example, they have resolved 3 grievances from prior years that would have cost the GSA 20,000$; this is not a "task" that would be recognized under the bylaws specifically, but would obviously consume a lot of time. Also, if we stick strictly with the bylaws to assess people's right to a bursary, then to be fair/equal, many directors should have their bursaries rescinded also (per above).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hopefully some director(s) can weigh in on the President's email, and propose some solutions, or motions that we can bring for an online vote in order to figure out where we stand before Friday night.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Let's try and make this work for the rest of the semester everyone.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Nura
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sat, Mar 30, 2019 at 1:28 AM President GSA <president at gsaconcordia.ca> wrote:
>>>>>>>> Dear All
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Unfortunately, some of the council members have been unethically attacking the executive committee for the past few months. We have carried out all the tasks passed in the motions and proactively addressed the complaints including but not limited to GA mobilization. However, after the March council meeting, we have no incentive or motivation to keep carrying out our duties without any support or participation in our tasks from the directors. We would like to question the integrity of the council. There is no base on the reasoning of lack of overall performance with regard to individual tasks and team performance.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Pertaining to the GA quorum not being met. Each Director is responsible for 300 graduate students for their respective departments. How can one expect the student to turn up for the General Assembly when most of the directors were not present themselves in the General Assembly. This not only shows the incompetence of the directors rather it also shows the sheer negligence of the said directors. Out of a total of 20 directors, only 4 turned up, that is an embarrassing 20% attendance amongst the directors. If this is not negligence, then we do not know what is. It must also be noted that expecting only five students to mobilize the whole graduate student body which roughly speaking 7800 students is not only an astronomical expectation but also playing “Hot Potato” with one’s own responsibilities.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We demand repercussive measures be taken by next week and the negligence to be rectified. Otherwise, all of us will submit our resignations in the April council meeting.
>>>>>>>> We are glad that our work is at least recognised and appreciated by DOS and Graduate studies.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best regards,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Amir Molaei
>>>>>>>> President
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Graduate Students' Association
>>>>>>>> Concordia University, 2030 Mackay · Montreal · QC · H3N 1J1
>>>>>>>> tel 514.848.2424.x7903 · fax 514.848.7904
>>>>>>>> Privacy Notice
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> This message is reserved for the exclusive use to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged or confidential information. Unauthorized disclosure and/or utilization are strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately. Next, destroy this message and any attachments.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Avis de confidentialité
>>>>>>>> Ce message est réservé à l'usage exclusif du destinataire; il peut contenir de l'information protégée ou confidentielle. Toute divulgation et/ou utilisation non autorisée est strictement interdite. Si vous avez reçu ce message par erreur, veuillez nous aviser immédiatement. Veuillez par la suite détruire le message ainsi que toute pièce jointe.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Gsaconcordia mailing list
>>>>>>>> Gsaconcordia at lists.resist.ca
>>>>>>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gsaconcordia
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Nura Jabagi, MBA
>>>>>>> PhD Candidate | Business Technology Management
>>>>>>> John Molson School of Business
>>>>>>> Concordia Public Scholar
>>>>>>> linkedin.com/in/nurajabagi
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Gsaconcordia mailing list
>>>>>>> Gsaconcordia at lists.resist.ca
>>>>>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gsaconcordia
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Gsaconcordia mailing list
>>> Gsaconcordia at lists.resist.ca
>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gsaconcordia
>>
>>
>> --
>> Etta Sandry
>> ettasandry.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/gsaconcordia/attachments/20190411/80d19703/attachment-0001.html>
More information about the Gsaconcordia
mailing list