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Takhar says no to the local media...
Posted: September 24, 2006
In an e-mail sent out to all members of the Kwantlen Student Association's (KSA) Board of Directors as well as to all staff of the KSA, Executive Advisor Aaron Takhar stated:
"Danish or Jamsheed are the only KSA personnell that are authorized by the KSA to give a statement to ANY kind of media on behalf of the KSA. If you talk, email or communicate in any form to any kind of media, especially the chronicle, you will not be covered by the KSA's director's liability insurance in case of something that you say.
Sending a clear warning that no one in the KSA is to talk to any media. What is curious about this e-mail is the assumption that it makes. When Takhar says that "Danish or Jamsheed are the only KSA personnell that are authorized by the KSA..." he is refering to "RAF-2K5" Bylaw, Article 9 (2)(4), which states that:
The president shall... be the official spokesperson of the society on all matters where the Vice-President External Affairs is unable to attend. The President may also delegate spokesperson authorities at her own discretion if she is also unavailable to attend.
As well as Article 9(4)(1), which states that:
The Vice President External Affairs... be the official spokesperson for the society on every level and may work in conjunction with the President as she sees fit;
But there is just one problem: the Bylaws Takhar is working under no longer exist. Going by the assumption that Danish and Jamsheed are the only ones authorized to speak to the media assumes you are acting upon the September 29, 2005 bylaws. This assumption is in direct violation paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 of the August 21, 2005 Order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia as brought before the Honourable Mr. Justice Bauman which clearly states that the pre-September 29 Bylaws, as passed on February 8, 2000 are the correct Bylaws of the KSA. The Order also clearly states that the Interim-Board of Directors has no hierarchy - no one on this Interim Board has any kind of position. In short, all members are eqaul members and as such, all members should be able to speak to anyone (media or no media) about KSA issues.
What is more interesting is that the e-mail was sent out earlier today to everyone in the KSA except for Interim Board Members Steven Lee and Laura Anderson did not receive a copy of the e-mail. The Society's Ombudsperson, Paul Browning, ended up forwarding the e-mail to Steven and Anderson, stating:
"I received this message today. It was sent to all KSA Council members and staff. However, I noticed that your names were not on the list. As Ombudsperson, I believe that you should know about the message below since you are directors of the society."
In the end, this just appers to be further proof that the KSA is failing to live up to the August 21 Supreme Court Order, and it further shows how the KSA is refusing to be transparent, open and accountable. So if you are from the local media and the KSA won't return your calls - at least you now know why.
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