LSU increases wages amid declining events

By MAJENTA BRAUMBERGER

The Langara Students’ Union shares less financial information publicly compared to other post-secondary student unions, a survey of their websites shows.

The student unions at Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and Douglas College publish their financial statements on their websites.

The LSU does not publish financial statements on its website. The Societies Act – the legislation governing B.C. student unions – does not require such disclosures.

“Comparing all the different websites of all the different ones and the level of transparency, and it’s like night and day,” said Stanley Tromp, a journalist and Langara alumni who specializes in freedom of information policy. “They want to be as secret as possible.”

He said other student societies put everything online. “All the minutes and financials and agendas and notices. It’s all public and wide open,” Tromp said.

Spencer Dane, an instructor at Langara’s school of management, said he is concerned that students need to fill in a request through a form on website to access LSU financial statements.

“The money that is raised within the student union comes from students. So, why would you not want to be transparent, so that students know what happens with the money they’ve contributed?” Dane said.

SFU’s take

Simon Fraser Student Society president Emmanuel Adegboyega said that if his student union made its financial records private, the response would be “very bad.”

“You would lose the trust of the student body,” Adegboyega said.

He said his student union’s policy prevents this behaviour, and said there are internal checks and balances to ensure accountability and transparency.

In email to the Voice, the LSU said it “engages in discussions with other student unions regarding best practices in financial management.”

It said it participates “in informal discussions and collaborations with neighbouring student unions to exchange insights on budgeting processes, auditing practices and transparency initiatives.”

In 2020, $111,478 was paid to the six full-time staff members. By 2024, that figure reached $224,188. From 2023 to 2024, LSU staff salaries increased from $673,753 to $694,414; VP external increased from $8,476 to $17,540 and VP internal rose from $21,884 to $43,912.

Events not happening

Comparisons with other student unions also show that the LSU holds fewer events than its counterparts.

In its most recent audited financial statements, the LSU reported spending $130,418 on “campus life and events.”

Over that period, the LSU has six events listed on its calendar. If the total campus life and events budget was allocated equally to these six events, each would have cost the LSU an average of $21,736.

At the time of publication, the LSU has three upcoming events listed on its events calendar for fall 2024, with a recently completed Halloween party on Oct. 31.

The party included pizza, candies and pumpkins for students to carve. Event organizers also encouraged students to participate in dance-based games.

BCIT’s Student Association held an event on Oct. 30 that included arcade games, exotic animals, cookie decorating and a group video game competition.

BCIT staff reported hosting more than two dozen events so far this semester.

SFU’s society has 123 student union-led events listed on its calendar for the fall 2024 semester.

Langara student Lei Kazemi, who was part of an LSU election protest on Oct. 15, said she has a history of frustration with LSU’s practices. “I’ve seen very little action on their part, and I find that every time they do attempt to do something it’s very performative,” she said.

Not “apples to apples”

Vancouver lawyer David Kandestin, whose practice includes advising non-profits societies, said that, when comparing student unions, “it’s rarely apples to apples” but that “the overall goal is to be transparent and accountable.”

“I would encourage student union leaders to meet with their equivalents at other institutions to learn more about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to accountability,” he said

VIDEO: This video compares an event organized by the BCIT student union with one led by the LSU.