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By: Alexandra Holyk

Ryerson students will have a say in determining the structure of their new student government beginning next month, according to an email sent on Jan. 29 to all full-time Ryerson students from vice-provost, students Jen McMillen.

“Strong, independent student government is important to Ryerson University,” the email read.

This comes after the RSU filed a legal claim of over $2.7 million against the university after Ryerson terminated their 1986 Operating Agreement with the RSU on Friday.

In March 2020, students will have the opportunity to vote for the structure of their representative government.

McMillen also mentioned that Ryerson will appoint an external chief process officer (CPO) to establish the rules of the selection process and determine the eligibility of candidates.

In an online statement on Feb. 3, McMillen said that the university will announce the name of the CPO shortly.

The Student Government Selection Committee—which determines which groups are eligible to run for student government—was announced in an online statement by McMillen on Feb. 3.

“The committee members represent a diversity of perspectives from across the Ryerson campus community and have all demonstrated a strong commitment to student leadership,” the statement read.

Four current Ryerson students are part of the committee—Daniel Lis, Julia Spagnuolo, Katey Park, and Zainab Bokhari, and recent Ryerson graduate, Michelle Park.

Lianne Newman, manager of student engagement and development in the Faculty of Communication and Design, will serve as the process manager in a non-voting role.

“We encourage full-time undergraduate and all graduate students to give thought to how their representative body could be structured,” McMillen stated.

The email sent on Jan. 31 also lists the requirements for groups who wish to run for student government, which includes signed consent forms stating that student representatives will adhere to guidelines that are established by the CPO and the committee.

The groups must also run general elections for the appointment of elected executives or officers—which will be held in March 2020—according to McMillen’s email.

“We remain firmly committed to working in good faith with a student government that demonstrates a commitment to financial accountability, transparency, and good governance,” the email read.

Nominations must be submitted to the CPO by Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. Criteria for the nominations can be found online.

“This is an important opportunity for Ryerson students to have their voices heard and to shape the future of student government on campus,” McMillen stated in the email.