Council Meeting Minutes

July 18th at 11am PDT

Zoom link: https://uvic.zoom.us/j/86213272449?pwd=7uiJje0PTdzN0EBaZDMUCVrGC58iWN.1 

  1. Call to Order/Welcome

    1. Chair calls to order at 11:14am PDT

  2. Land Acknowledgement

    1. Chair offers acknowledgement
      1. Decolonization as a centring for our work
      2. Names other geopolitical issues occurring worldwide and the impact they’re having on us – Africa, Middle East, Europe
        1. “None of us all free until all of us are free” – Angelou
          1. Black women imperative to freedom movements throughout history
    2. Co-chair offers acknowledgement

  3. Access Needs Check-In

    1. Meeting finishes promptly at 12pm 

    2. Breakfast will be eaten 

    3. Break at 45 minutes

  4. Adoption of Agenda/Minutes

    1. Adoption of today’s agenda 

      1. Acorn moves, Julia seconds
      2. Approved by consensus

    2. Ratification of 2024 June 19 Council Meeting Minutes

      1. Acorn moves, Julia seconds
      2. Approved by consensus

  5. Reports

  1. Council

    1. Chairpersons

      1. Julia
        1. Not much to report
        2. Non-consensual move
          1. Intense couple of weeks
      2. Hannah
        1. Regular meeting attendance
        2. Providing thoughts, insight as needed
        3. Annual report tidbits
        4. September planning very exciting
        5. SSD programming meeting tomorrow

    2. Treasurer

      1. Grace
        1. Absent

    3. Student Liaison

      1. Acorn
        1. Disability Awareness Day Celebration – volunteered the entire time
          1. Students & public
        2. September planning
          1. SWAG

    4. UVSS’ SSD Representative

      1. Acorn (Interim)
        1. Campaigns committee with Izzy
        2. UVSS also stoked for September
        3. Executive Director of UVSS has left
        4. Next BoDs meeting next Monday

    5. International Student Representative

      1. Kush
        1. Absent

    6. Graduate Student Representative

      1. Alison
        1. Nothing to report

    7. Secretary: 

      1. Anika
        1. Absent

    8. General Members at Large: 

      1. Lola
        1. Absent
      2. Mya
        1. Absent
      3. Vanessa
        1. Absent
      4. Emma
        1. Absent

  2. Staff

    1. Office Coordinator

      1. Adrean Meuser
        1. Human Rights Tribunal Complaints – class representation?
        2. Disability Awareness Day Celebration
        3. Invisible Disabilities Awareness Week
        4. AC is installed – come visit!
        5. Garden Party today
        6. Craft Cafe next week

    2. Research & Communications Coordinator

      1. Diana Viafara
        1. Absent
          1. Tattoo design
          2. Social media increasing
          3. Role booklets for Sept

    3. Education & Administration Coordinator

      1. Marissa Donaldson
        1. Guess who’s back!!
        2. Cooking masterclass this Fall in collab with Residence
        3. Annual report nearly done
          1. Presentation during SGM this Fall 
        4. AiR committee meetings this Monday 2-3
          1. Welcomes Council to sit on committee 
        5. Personally busy life as well

  3. Campaigns

    1. #Access4All

      1. Launched new survey last Friday
        1. Link on the linktree
        2. Updates 
        3. #Access4All Instagram account revival
        4. Send to Faculty Association

  1. Discussion

    1. Accounting for Bursaries & Budget

      1. Bursary nightmare
      2. Fiscal years are silly, that shouldn’t be our fault or unbalance our budget
      3. Many students aren’t able to access these supports without these bursaries
      4. Possible solutions: 
        1. Advo & affiliates to see if they want to donate at next Coordinators meeting
        2. ARC funding – meeting next Thursday
        3. Offloading some LAP students to UVic Library

    2. UVSS Letter to Minister Dix and Nicole Greengoe

      1. UVSS drafted letter re: safer access to drugs to BC Health Minister and Health Athletics at UVic as result of Sidney’s preventable overdose death 
        1. Calling on UVic to install drug testing program at Student Wellness Centre for students
          1. “Substance” available in North Park, similar thought
          2. Important harm reduction measure, especially for folks in Residence
            1. Great support for this, moving to approve
          3. University House 5?

  2. Business

    1. Motions

      1. Not enough members present to reach quorum
        1. Chair suggests Executive approve smaller amounts on Teams
        2. Prioritize & send out email motions over next couple of weeks with motivation paragraph

2024/07/18: 01 (To pass at August’s Council meeting)

WHEREAS the SSD has facilitated an accessible cooking program in previous semesters; and, 

WHEREAS the students who attended the classes are interested in a single masterclass being offered in the Fall 2024 semester; therefore,

BIRT the SSD approves an up-to $500 budget for the single accessible cooking class that will be held in the Fall semester. 

2024/07/18: 02 (Sent for e-vote)

WHEREAS the SSD seeks to grow our community through marketing tactics and other incentivised engagement strategies; and,

WHEREAS the SSD was invited to contribute to the Student Welcome Packages gifted to new students in residence; and,

WHEREAS these Welcome Packages require 3000 items; therefore,

BIRT the SSD approves up to $800 to cover the cost of 5000 temporary tattoos with SSD branding to promote our community in the Student Welcome Packages and during Campus Kick-Off tabling opportunities. 

2024/07/18: 03 (Sent for e-vote)

WHEREAS the SSD purchases SWAG and marketing goods through 4imprint for the past two years in the summer for September tabling to spread awareness about our community; and, 

WHEREAS the SSD has applied for 4imprint’s $500 grant and has been a successful recipient for the past two years; and,

WHEREAS the SSD would like to purchase 500 additional pop-it balls for the new school year; therefore,

BIRT the SSD approves up to $1500 for the purchase of SSD branded merchandise.

2024/07/18: 04 (Executive approval in Teams)

WHEREAS the SSD has previously approved $200 towards funding a Porta potty for the People’s Park encampment; and,

WHEREAS the People’s Park has decided it’s in their best interest and safety to not go forward with acquiring a Porta potty; therefore, 

BIRT $200 previously designated for a portapotty be reallocated to a luncheon for the People’s Park. 

2024/07/18: 05 (Executive approval in Teams)

WHEREAS the SSD regularly provides light refreshments for students on campus; and,

WHEREAS the SSD’s juice supply for the summer is running low; and,

WHEREAS the SSD wanted to host a hybrid juice tasting party event; therefore,

BIRT the SSD approves a $150 budget for juice for the space and tasting event; and,

BIFRT the SSD approves an additional $100 for juice reimbursement for those who cannot attend the event on campus.

2024/07/18: 06 (Executive approval in Teams)

WHEREAS the SSD supports the greater population in wearing face masks; and,

WHEREAS wearing earloop masks can be quite painful for longer periods of wear; and,

WHEREAS the SSD, GEM, and UVSP seek to create strong community care bonds and support the wearing of face masks through a creative mask accessory and ear savers workshop on July 25th 2024; therefore, 

BIRT the SSD approves a $100 budget for additional supplies to be bought at SUPPLY Victoria. 

2024/07/18: 07 (Executive approval in Teams)

WHEREAS the SSD requires web support to run our website (https://uvicssd.ca); and,

WHEREAS the previous maintenance plan with Caorda Solutions Inc. has been fully used; and, 

WHEREAS the SSD requires a new support plan for our website; therefore, 

BIRT the SSD approves a $315.00 for the new Caorda support plan for uvicssd.ca for three months. 

2024/07/18: 08 (Sent for e-vote)

WHEREAS the SSD recognizes safe and accurate drug testing is a vital public health measure; and,

WHEREAS the preventable death of UVic student Sidney McIntyre-Starko necessitates action by UVic administration; and, 

WHEREAS the SSD understands that substance use and disability can be interconnected; therefore, 

BIRT the SSD approves the endorsement of this draft letter to Minister Adrian Dix and Nicole Greengoe, Executive Director of Wellness, Recreation, and Athletics Department at UVic, calling on UVic to install an on-campus drug testing program in response to the toxic drug crisis and Sidney’s death.

  1. Future Meeting Times

    1. Council Meetings

      1. Please fill out the poll for August’s meeting

    2. Weekly Staff/Exec (Thrive) Meetings 

      1. Next meeting is Wednesday July 24th at 11am PDT
      2. Email Adrean for the agenda/invite – uvicssd@uvic.ca 

    3. #Access4All Meetings 

      1. Next meeting is tomorrow at 10am, and again next Friday at 10am

  2. In-Camera

  3. Adjournment at 11:59am PDT

Thank you for coming!