Chan's Personal Blog

Students overwhelmingly rejected a motion to ban the military from recruiting in the Student Union Building at the UVic Students’ Society (UVSS) annual general meeting on Oct. 25.

According to UVSS records, 525 students packed the SUB’s Michèle Pujol Room to attend the meeting. The meeting started half an hour late as students waited in line to sign in and receive voting cards.

Roughly 25 people voted in favour of the ban. Had the motion passed, the Canadian Forces wouldn’t have been able to recruit at the annual UVic Career Fair in January because it is held in the SUB.

George Robinson, former UVSS chairperson candidate, spoke against the ban. “For students that wish to protest the war, this is the wrong way to do it,” said Robinson. “By banning any organization that we may disagree with, we are acting against the very purpose of this university.”

Student Serina Zapf agreed. “I’m a human rights activist. I totally understand the issues in Afghanistan. I know about the torture. I hear about these things. I campaign on them,” she said. “That being said, as a human rights activist I believe in a dialogue of voices … I’m excited that our UVSS has a voice and is speaking on issues. But at the same time, I don’t think they need to protest for me.”