The Annual General Meeting (AGM) held by Brandon University Students’ Union (BUSU) on January 27th, 2009 presented a controversy on campus related to a possible new Men’s Collective.
Will Breen, former Science Commissioner for BUSU council, proposed both the formation of a Men’s Collective as well as a position of Men’s Commissioner on BUSU council.
While speaking as the motivator, Breen addressed the issue of discrimination against men on campus, stating, “We have a case where the male population of students, 30%, is not only under-represented, they are un-represented on campus as a result of motions just passed at the AGM.
Men are the only group that are specifically excluded from a liaison relationship with BUSU council.”
Part of Breen’s original motion was ruled out of order, as the establishment of Collectives is not dealt with at an AGM, but debate continued over the establishment of a Men’s Commissioner on BUSU council.
Lonnie Patterson and Kylie Stasila were among student voices debating against the creation of the position. Paterson stated that while she was not against the idea of a Men’s commissioner, she still had some reservations. “I’m not clear, just based on the motivation and the motion that occurred, what sort of men’s issues this will cover.”
Patterson went on to say,
“We need to see a bit of ground work, first, before a commissioner position is created.” Her comments concluded with support for the notion, but not the motion as it stood before the AGM of January 27th, 2009.
Kylie Stasila, the Women’s Commissioner on BUSU council, as well as an active member of the campus Women’s Collective, added to Paterson’s comments: “If men do feel they are being discriminated against, come talk to BUSU…. Why wasn’t this issue brought forward before today?...Why not make a motion instead to have a Gender Equality Commissioner?”
During her speech against the motion, Stasila also pointed out the imbalance in male as compared to female faculty members and stated that while there may only be 30% male students on campus, male faculty numbers still far outweigh female faculty members.
The final debate for the motion was given by Mitch Obach, who responded to Mike Jack’s, VP Finance assertion that there was no need for a collective as “I have never felt under-represented or discriminated against…. If you guys wanna drink beer and hangout and play poker, we do that all day already.” Obach retorted, “I think this kind of attitude is exactly what a Men’s Commissioner would be against.”
During the debate, a motion to table the issue was brought forward by BUSU president Stephen Montague and was defeated.
I can feel for the guys who feel they're underrepresented. Coming out of highschool I felt like the people handing out scholarships were dead-set against me. In a way I still feel it's true. There are far more scholarship opportunities for aboriginal, immigrant, handi-capped, female, and military associated people. Far more than for white males anyway.
ReplyDeleteBut the thing about the men's union is that in general, especially in Brandon, most guys don't give two shits about school politics, nor they understand or care how it affects them.
I'm not in school anymore, so I don't have a say, but if I did I'd vote against the men's union. It doesn't represent %30 of the male population, it represents the (maybe)%10 of males who care, compared what is probably a proportionately equal amount of females who care about school politics.
I'm baselessly judging BU though.
I totally agree with the scholarship thing. I would counter that by saying that most of the female scholarships are also science related which sucks if you like the humanities.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Brandon apathy. Its rampant, rampant in an apathetic way.
Also BoOOO ACC. *giggles*