Forum

Posted by Isaac Leigh in Students

Student members of the Collextion gather to discuss what their mission statement is at the open Fourm. Photo by Jason Stilgebouer.

A March 3 forum held to discuss student grievances and concerns with administration also demonstrated some tension between student groups, but was overall deemed a success as steps are being taken toward a better campus.

Fifty to 60 SFUAD students addressed a diverse panel that included four officials of The ColleXion, a brand new student organization at SFUAD; two ambassadors for Student Voice; and a group of administrative staff including the new Interim President Maria Puzziferro and Assistant Director of Student Affairs Jeremy Hadley.

The majority of student concerns addressed security concerns on campus. As for ColleXion, its agenda includes greater representation of students in positions of power, and to see checks and balances in the form of student evaluations and reviews on existing administrative positions of power. They also demanded sensitivity and respect for students from security staff and faculty, just as they demanded it from students toward security and faculty.

New interim President Puzziferro responded to these saying, “these shouldn’t even need to be demands,” and expressed a commitment to resolve these issues on campus. “I think it’s important we put more systems in place,” she says. “There will be administrative committees for ongoing dialogue about sensitivity and security.”

As a newly formed group, The ColleXion itself was discussed, with some students asking what differentiates it from other student organizations.

“I’m feeling really discredited here,” says Meg Colburn of Student Voice, noting that numerous student advocacy groups, such as the Feminist Collective, Colors, Student Voice and the Black Student Union, already exist and work toward creating a variety of positive initiatives on campus. Nikolai Thomas, also of Student Voice, noted that “We at Student Voice are trying to hear what the students say and it is really jarring to us to realize that people are not coming to us,”

ColleXion members says that the group’s lack of administrative ties makes its group unique from Student Voice and other student organizations. They also stated the group’s agenda to “represent all students that have been undervalued” and work as an “exclamation point” for the student groups that already exist.

“It’s a family really, designed to empower students,” says Tulani Mason, a ColleXion Officer on the forum panel. Marcus Bannafrit, creator of The Collexion, said that “…the way ‘x marks the spot…[The ColleXion] is about finding your ‘X’. Your treasure.”

Administrators joined the student members of the collextion at the Open Forum. Photo by Jason Stilgebouer.

Students in the group were also given an opportunity to tell the forum what The ColleXion has done for them, stating commonly that The ColleXion is a place they can come without judgement and be heard with positivity.

At the end of the night the administrators, having taken copious notes, were optimistic about the forum.

“It was a really productive meeting. I’m really excited about some of the things that were brought forward, and I’m actually saddened by some of the things that were brought forward, but very excited about getting movement on those,” Hadley said. His thoughts were corroborated by Puzziferro, whose presence was repeatedly hailed by students as a major step towards creating a dialogue between the student body and administration.

“I thought it was wonderful. I think this is a positive step in the right direction for us to have more communication and collaboration about building a positive campus community….I think these guys did an awesome job. They really did,” says Puzziferro. “I’m looking forward to working with them…to resolve some of the issues and get some positive momentum towards for the future.”