Response to Recent Radix Article (GHSA and HSF)

I am writing to correct the public record. I must take issue with the article, “Is GHSA nearing its end?” which appeared on the front page of the April 11^th issue of the Radix.  My conversation with the reporter, Cameron Switzer, was not accurately portrayed in the article, leading to an overall tone that misrepresents the nature of the relationship between the Humber Students’ Federation (HSF) and the Guelph-Humber Students’ Association (GHSA). While I understand and respect the fact that the Radix is published by student reporters who are in the process of learning the ropes of their future career, the record still needs to be set straight on a number of points.

Creating a more accountable form of representation for Guelph-Humber students has been a high priority of the HSF for several years.  My primary concern is that the inaccuracies and negative tone of the article will be harmful to the work we plan to continue this summer with regards to revamping GH representation within the HSF.  At no point did I say that the GHSA has “overstepped its boundaries and forgotten where its place is”, nor do I believe that to be true.  To be clear, HSF staff and executives (many of whom are current and former GH students) do not believe GH students should have a limited role in HSF’s decision-making process. The working group was in fact created to improve GH student representation on the HSF Board of Directors.

The article also quotes me questioning the fairness of having “one person sitting on the HSF Board of Directors, who oversees a $28,000 budget” having equal weight to “three who sit on HSF’s Board of Directors who are responsible for an administration of $8.7 million.” The comment attributed to me is completely wrong and nonsensical. Currently, one representative of the GHSA sits on HSF’s Board of Directors. One of the recommendations coming out of the working group was to have three GH students sit on HSF’s Board minus the affiliation to the GHSA. In light of the fact that the GHSA structure has no current president and therefore no HSF representation, how can it adequately represent and speak on behalf of Guelph-Humber students?

To be clear, the working group was created, by students, in an attempt to find a better way to advocate for every student that attends Humber ITAL and the University of Guelph-Humber.  The working group did not achieve a solution on its first try. HSF is looking forward to a second working group, which will be composed of a more representative cross-section of students and administration to fairly represent all student interests, including but not limited to GH students.

If you have any questions or require any further clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Ercole Perrone
Executive Director
Humber Students’ Federation
eperrone@hsfweb.com