January 30, 2020

2020 – 2021 SGPS Election and Referenda Results

Turnout: 974 (25.3%) of 3852 electors voted in this ballot. Do you have confidence that Sam Heimstra can fulfil the duties required as Rector of Queen’s University? Option Votes Yes 590 (90.9%) No 59 (9.1%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 325 (33.4%) Do you agree to the acclamation of Justine Aman to the position of President of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students at Queen’s University? Option Votes Yes 672 (92.1%) No 58 (7.9%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 244 (25.1%) Do you agree to the acclamation of Anthony Lomax to the position of Vice-President Community of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students at Queen’s University? Option Votes Yes 628 (91.8%) No 56 (8.2%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 290 (29.8%) Do you agree to the acclamation of Tamara Mitterer to the position of Vice-President Finance and Services of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students at Queen’s University? Option Votes Yes 678 (94.6%) No 39 (5.4%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 257 (26.4%) Please select the individual you wish to elect as Vice-President Graduate of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students at Queen’s University Option Votes Courtney Bannerman 375 (57.8%) Rohit Shukla 274 (42.2%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 325 (33.4%) Do you agree to the acclamation of John Jeyaratnam to the position of Vice-President Professional of the Society of Graduate and Professional Students at Queen’s University? Option Votes Yes 590 (91.0%) No 58 (9.0%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 326 (33.5%) Do you agree to the acclamation of Ali Saghari to the position of Graduate Student Trustee? Option Votes Yes 588 (88.7%) No 75 (11.3%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 311 (31.9%) Do you agree to the establishment of a mandatory student fee of $3.00 for the SGPS Graduate Peer Support Centre? Option Votes Yes 632 (75.2%) No 208 (24.8%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 134 (13.8%) Do you agree to the continuation of a student fee* of $1.40 for Centre for Teaching & Learning? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 691 (81.1%) No 161 (18.9%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 122 (12.5%) Do you agree to the continuation of a student fee* of $5.00 for Queen’s Legal Aid? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 753 (87.0%) No 113 (13.0%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 108 (11.1%) Do you agree to the continuation of a mandatory student fee of $3.00 for Ban Righ Centre? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 660 (77.5%) No 192 (22.5%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 122 (12.5%) Do you agree to the continuation of a mandatory student fee of $0.50 for Campus Observation Room? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 651 (76.9%) No 196 (23.1%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 127 (13.0%) Do you agree to the continuation of a mandatory student fee of $63.35 for Student Wellness Services? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 722 (83.9%) No 139 (16.1%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 113 (11.6%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $1.00 for Camp Outlook? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 577 (73.6%) No 207 (26.4%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 190 (19.5%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $1.00 for HIV and AIDS Regional Services? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 749 (87.5%) No 107 (12.5%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 118 (12.1%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $1.00 for Queen’s Daycare? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 786 (89.2%) No 95 (10.8%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 93 (9.5%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $1.80 for Reelout Arts Project? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 584 (72.7%) No 219 (27.3%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 171 (17.6%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $1.25 for Sexual Assault Centre Kingston? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 824 (93.0%) No 62 (7.0%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 88 (9.0%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $0.75 for Telephone Aid Line Kingston? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 754 (88.9%) No 94 (11.1%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 126 (12.9%) Do you agree to the continuation of an optional student fee of $3.00 for Union Gallery? This fee is subject to triennial review. Option Votes Yes 578 (71.4%) No 231 (28.6%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 974 Abstain 165 (16.9%) Click here for the certified results PDF.
January 29, 2020

SGPS Divestment

On January 14, 2020, SGPS Council voted to sign onto Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Change’s (“QBACC”) call for Queen’s University to divest from fossil fuels. At the same council meeting, the SGPS council also voted to begin the process to divest the SGPS’s investments from fossil fuels. Both votes were the culmination of months of debate and discussion. These decisions were not taken lightly by the SGPS. It was noted by council members that funding from fossil fuel companies in Canada directly supports students, research and the development of green technology. Nevertheless, the SGPS recognizes that immediate and bold action needs to be taken by all sectors of society to tackle climate change. We hope that by joining QBACC’s petition, Queen’s University will take the appropriate steps moving forward and commit to combating climate change. 2019 – 2020 SGPS Executive
October 11, 2019

SGPS statement on racist note

Principal’s Statement Concerning Racist Note Yesterday morning a racist, homophobic, and threatening poster was discovered attached to the door of a common room in one of Queen’s student residence buildings. The note was immediately removed after it was discovered, police were notified, and Queen’s staff moved quickly to mobilize supports to assist students in the residence impacted by this event. This cowardly act of violence had the sole purpose of attacking the dignity of Indigenous and Queer identified members of the Queen’s community by attempting to fan the flames of hatred. It is our responsibility as members of the Queen’s community to speak out against this disgusting act of bigotry and to support the members of our community who were targeted in this incident. The SGPS condemns this poster as an act of hate that is in contravention of the values of equity, inclusion, and respect held by our community. The SGPS fully supports the Indigenous and LGBTQ+ identified members of our community. Everyone, regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, creed, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity has a place at Queen’s. We must all work together to not only create but foster an environment of diversity and inclusion so our fellow Queen’s community members can thrive. If you feel affected by this incident and require support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the support services available on campus, including our own Graduate Peer Support Centre and Peer Academic Advisors Program. Additionally, the SGPS Equity and Diversity Commissioner is always available to speak with students who have questions or concerns about Equity and Diversity within the SGPS and at Queen’s. Concerned students can also reach out to the Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP) or the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre here at Queen’s. Finally, resources after hours and over the weekend for students include Empower Me,  Good2Talk, and Hope for Wellness Helpline. Sincerely, Jeremy Ambraska, President Uchitta Vashist, Vice-President Community Abel Hazon, Vice-President Finance Leo Erlikhman, Vice-President Graduate Ryan Adlem, Vice-President Professional
September 27, 2019

2019 – 2020 SGPS By-Election Results

SGPS VP Community By-Election 2019 – 2020 Option Votes Uchitta Vashist 346 (51.0%) Lara Aluko 333 (49.0%) VOTER SUMMARY Total 758 Abstain 79 (10.4%) Click here for the certified results PDF.