Student union orders forensic Audit of its funds

With just weeks to go until a fall term begins, student government at University of Ottawa is in chaos, with police investigating allegations of misuse of funds, and transfer payments to the student union having been frozen by the university.

During a standing-room-only meeting Sunday, the board of administrators of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa voted to call in forensic auditors to look into the funds administered by the student union.

The move came after the university began withholding transfer payments to the student federation until its concerns are addressed. The university had called for the forensic audit.

“Protecting the interests of uOttawa students is of primary concern to the University, which wants to ensure that money collected from students is properly managed,” the school said in a news release.

The university’s decision to freeze transfers followed a report in a school newspaper that outgoing SFUO president Hadi Wess had lodged a complaint with police over his suspicions of misuse of funds by other SFUO executives.

In its release, the university said it “takes these allegations seriously.”

During Sunday’s meeting, the board also moved a motion asking Wess to repay nearly $1,000 to the student federation. The money, according to the board motion, was used for outside legal fees.

A member of the student federation executive said the freeze on funding transfers from the university would not negatively affect 101 week, the annual student orientation week set to begin soon.

But he told the board that the student union might have difficulty operating if the situation is not resolved.

Spectators at the meeting said they were disappointed and depressed to hear of the allegations and wanted them thoroughly investigated.

“As a student leader, it is incredibly heartbreaking, because the student leaders I know do it because they want to make the student experience better,” said Roxanna McVicar.

She said she wants to know what kind of accountability policies exist, how the student government and its board of administrators plan to assist the investigation and how they are going to ensure transparency.

Several people raised concerns that the meeting was chaired by one of the executive members who is a focus of the allegations.

“To what extent are you deciding your own fate?” asked a student attending the meeting.

Marketing student Moe Aburouss said he has started a petition in an attempt to impeach executive members of the student union who are the focus of the allegations. “It is time for us to unite as students and come together and face these allegations head on and impeach them.”

“The SFUO is independent of the University of Ottawa and the University plays no role in its governance,” the university said in a statement. “However … (uOttawa) wants to ensure that money collected from students is properly managed.”

The university collects student fees for services such as student transit passes and activities such as clubs, and transfers the money to the SFUO for administration.

The university will continue to collect the levies and will continue to cover some services, including the U-Pass transit passes.

These measures will continue until a forensic audit establishes that “sound financial practices and controls are in place.”

Student Alec Connor said he is happy to see the university freezing transfers to the student federation because he has little faith in its abilities to handle the money properly.