Vol. CXXXV, No. 12
1 December, 2014
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
GSU referendum did not reach quorum, says CRO
FOR THE
James Flynn NEWS EDITOR
records ’s o t n o To r nd t heir s t ores a t he ci t y n i y r o t his p. 12
The recent vote on the Graduate Students’ Union’s (gsu) continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (cfs) and the CFS-Ontario (cfs-o) did not reach quorum, according to referendum Chief Returning Officer (cro) Stephen Littley. The quorum requirement for the vote was 10 per cent of eligible voters. The referendum question asked: “Are you in favour of continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Student and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario?” According to sources involved in the campaigns, over 66 per cent of voting members voted “No.” “[T]he total number of eligible voters was 16,056 putting quorum at 1,606. The total number of votes cast was 1,599,” reads a message posted on the cro’s website. “The vote, therefore, was not quorate,” the message continues. As of press time, the final results could not be released until administration confirmed double enveloped ballots that will then be counted.
CONTINUED ON PG 8
INSIDE Comment Taking a stance on unpaid internships
UTSU vice-president, university affairs Pierre Harfouche resigns
PG. 10
Harfouche cites lack of communication, power dynamics, procedural disagreements
Arts & Culture
Iris Robin
A call to the university to cease advertising unpaid internships
Gaming like it’s 1993 The Varsity explores the world of retro video game stores
PG. 14
Science Memory loss may occur long after surgery Anesthetics linked to sustained memory deficits
PG. 18
Sports Hockey teams midseason recap Women’s team strong while men’s tried to keep playoffs hopes alive
PG. 23
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
After serving half of his term as vice president, university affairs on the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) Executive Committee, Pierre Harfouche has resigned from office. Harfouche broke the news to the utsu Board of Directors in a resignation letter sent via email on November 26. His letter cited an inability to accomplish his key goals, his deteriorating mental health, and his discomfort with being paid by students who he feels unable to represent. Harfouche was the sole Team Unite executive elected in March 2014. He was the first executive member who did not run on a slate that included incumbents in eight years. Previously, Harfouche served as a director on the utsu board, where he urged the union to recognize the positions of divisions seeking fee diversion.
THE UTSU DIVIDED Asha*, a member of the utsu Board of Directors, notes the rift between what she views as two different sides. “Throughout the summer and continuing into the school year, you could definitely feel the tension and divide between Pierre and — I won’t say all of the [executives] — but a lot of the [executives]... I really almost felt
like I was back in high school and they were two different cliques in the utsu,” Asha says. “I just feel like there’s a difference between socially not getting along and then literally kind of stopping him from doing his job,” Asha says, referring to an incident in which she alleges that Harfouche was intentionally not notified of legal counsel’s presence at a Board of Directors meeting during the summer. “If other [executives] are notified that legal counsel is coming, then he has the right to be as well. I felt that they were trying to make him look stupid and unprepared,” she says. Yolen Bollo-Kamara, utsu president, says that she has always worked to maintain a safe and respectful working environment for all members of the utsu executive, as well as all other staff, volunteers, and board members. She adds that she has made a point of addressing any issues brought to her attention with the individuals involved. “I think it’s unfortunate that Pierre was unable to stay on as an executive, but I support his making a decision that he felt was best, and wish him well,” says Bollo-Kamara, adding, “being an employer and a student representative of a large-scale organization like the utsu can be a difficult adjustment for first-time executives and it certainly becomes more difficult when there are concerns about your behaviour towards others.”
When Asha brought her concerns to other members of the utsu executive, she did not feel that they acknowledged how Harfouche was treated. “I felt so strongly about how they were treating him that I even went to some of the [executives] to talk about it. I said, ‘I’ve heard some other execs talking about this, and even about how the board members [sic] talking about this,’ and I was really taken aback and embarrassed, and [Yolen] was like, ‘oh, I didn’t know that was how you took it,’ and kind of got defensive about it,” Asha recalls. Bollo-Kamara alleges that Harfouche broke the utsu’s bylaws. “Pierre has been made aware that he has broken the bylaws on numerous occasions, from not working the minimum required hours, to failing to pass a budget for the Academic and Student Rights Commission that he chairs,” she says. “Certain roles involve more traditional 9-5 work hours while others involve strategic thinking, reflection, and reading, particularly meeting minutes, budgets, and university policy,” Harfouche says. “It’s very easy for anyone to accuse each other of not accomplishing the required number of work hours.” Harfouche claims that he did pass a budget for the commission and it was approved by the Budget Committee. Harfouche said that it was
CONTINUED ON PG 7