LISTER FORUM
Forum Summary by Cara Chong
Sam Wright called an emergency forum on March 12 to help explain the sanctions placed on the LHSA. The sanctions were a result of an investigation of Skulk and its cancellation. The Office of Student Judicial Affairs has ruled that the events that occurred were hazing, and therefore the LHSA has breached the Code of Student Behaviour. The sanctions include cancelling all VP and FC elections, as well as making the Presidential one void, cancelling the hiring process for any LHSA employees, and being unable to act as a student group for a period of one year. The sanctions came down because of the events during Skulk that led to its cancellation. To be brief, Skulk was cancelled because there were activities not included in the booklet submmited for approval. Those activities would have been vetoed. In the end, Skulk’s cancellation came down to one individual alone. After hearing of the events, Sam Wright, President of the LHSA, cancelled Skulk and fired the person responsible, who was subsequently evicted by Res Services. Yet, allegations were made towards the LHSA as a whole, and not the individual. Despite everything, the LHSA will continue to keep programming and providing services to the residents of Lister. What can residents do to help? Short answer: Attend the remaining events! The PR committee will be putting on an acoustic show in Dinwoodie Lounge in SUB on April 7 at 6:30, the Monday evening before the end of classes. All proceeds from the show will be donated to charity. On March 29, 36 Lister AllStars will represent Lister in a dodgeball game against the U of A Athletics Board, a team comprised of track, volleyball, rugby, football, and other athletes, some of whom are former LDL AllStars. The winning team will be donating all of their ticket sales to the charity of their choice—the Lister AllStars will be donating to YESS and the UAB will be donat-
ing to ‘Nstep. Tickets are on sale for a five dollar minimum donation, and players will also be collecting pledges. The goal is to raise $20 000 and prove the LHSA should be able to continue providing for the community and for residents’ lives. The following is a summary of the Q&A period: What can specifically residents do? Attend the events! Other than that it’s how residents represent themselves—speak about LHSA with maturity of people that want to be represented well, and want the University to see us well. Be as positive as possible. Will there be assistance from the SU? The SU wants us to get a fair process and we will do whatever it takes, including all the SU sees fit. When we will know when the appeal process goes through? We don’t know, it depends on when the appeal date is set. (This also means that if the appeal is set for after May 1st, there will not be a council at that time, because we are unable to hold elections.) What do you have to say to any students who want to become an FC next year? Don’t lose hope. They are opening the RV process, so apply for that! How will the appeal process work? You go to a board, it’s a hearing without a verdict in mind but to determine a verdict. Fresh look at everything. Will it be public? We don’t know. If it is I encourage every Lister resident to come. What will happen with the LDL next year? Since the forum, the LDL has confirmed that it has been granted permission to carry on as its own student group.