UOttawa Students Federation vows fight to remain in its offices

The University of Ottawa has a fight on its hands with embattled executives at the students’ federation who say they won’t leave their offices as requested.

uOttawa announced Tuesday that it was terminating its contract with the federation after allegations of financial mismanagement involving members of the executive and a staff member, mismanagement, improper governance, internal conflict and workplace misconduct.

As of Dec. 24, uOttawa will no longer recognize the federation as the organization representing students or collect fees on its behalf, said university vice-president, academic, David Graham in a statement. The federation will have to vacate its offices by that date, according to the university.

However, in a news release Wednesday, federation executives said they have no intention of leaving or ceasing operations. They called themselves “permanent tenants” and accused the university of trying to control and interfere in the organization’s internal affairs.

However, two of the executives at the federation and the executive-director will vacate their offices Thursday and have recused themselves from their duties until a forensic audit is complete, said the release.

That leaves two of the six executives at the federation still at work, since two resigned earlier this month.

An official with the University of Ottawa says the federation has lost the confidence of both the administration and students.

“Our hope is that students will mobilize and they will create a (new) student government,” said Michel Guilbeault, the associate vice-president of student life. “That’s what we want. We want students to be involved here on campus, and we want to work with them.

“That’s a lot of money being flowed (to the federation),” Guilbeault said. “Students work hard for their tuition fees. Parents work hard. We have a moral obligation to make sure they are getting what they deserve.”

Students pay about $1,200 a term for student activities, services and associations.

In its news release, federation executives said they had agreed to the forensic audit requested by the university, and that it was underway.

“We have not been perfect,” said the release, explaining that executives tried to deal with the university’s concerns but “we are not here to please and gain the confidence of the university.”

The release accused the university of “taking an anti-union stance,” and compared the federation to unions representing graduate students and professors.

For now, all services provided by the federation continue, including transit passes, a health plan, a pub, coffee house, convenience store, bookstore, a foot patrol that provides escorts for students walking home at night, a bike repair co-op, and a dozen centres around issues ranging from bilingualism to women’s rights.

The university is paying the bills for those services directly, Guilbeault said. The university froze the transfer of students’ fees to the federation in July after allegations of financial mismanagement surfaced.

Guilbeault said he hopes a new student federation will be in place by Jan. 1. The university will help with elections, he said.

If that doesn’t happen, the university will ensure students receive the services that are “essential and add value to the student experience,” he said. Transit passes won’t be affected, as they are governed by a separate agreement, and the university is negotiating to ensure the health plan continues until current coverage ends in August 2019.

At the student federation office Wednesday morning, a receptionist said president Rizki Rachiq and other executives were too busy to be interviewed, and suggested sending an email. The Citizen sent emails to all executives Tuesday but there had been no response by Wednesday evening.