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Frequently Asked Questions about SFPIRG

Does SFPIRG audit its financial statements?
SFPIRG will be auditing its financial statements at the end of this fiscal year (August 31, 2010). Under the BC Societies Act, SFPIRG is not required to audit its financial statements. We have never had any charges, complaints or concerns from members about our financial systems or management. These factors, in addition to advice from our accountant and because audits are more expensive, previous boards chose to have  financial statements compiled at the year end, without an audit.  Based on requests from members, SFPIRG has chosen to have its next round of financial statements prepared with an audit.

How are SFPIRG board members elected?
Under our current bylaws, cross-campus board elections occur only when there are more people interested than there are positions. This has not occurred in several years. When board positions become available at other times of the year (which is often the case with student schedules), a committee is formed to provide recommendations for appointment of interim members by the board. SFPIRG has been working for the past 18 months on proposals to change our bylaws to address concerns about our elections. SFPIRG put together a package of proposals to amend our bylaws at our February 2010 AGM. These proposals would guarantee annual board elections during Annual General Meetings, create a nominations committee and process (as well as update other bylaws related to membership, notice, staff and meetings). The proposals did not pass due to disruption organized by a small group of students. We will be reviewing these proposals for future consideration for presentation to the membership. The next nominations round for the SFPIRG board is planned for the summer.

Are SFPIRG board members paid?
No. SFPIRG board members are volunteers. As in most non-profit organizations, it is seen as a conflict of interest for board members to receive remuneration for their work. SFPIRG’s by-laws stipulate that board members cannot receive remuneration for their work.

Why does SFPIRG have paid staff?
SFPIRG has three part-time staff to coordinate resources, services and programs; provide organizational continuity; and to support and mentor student organizers, staff, board and volunteers. A large part of SFPIRG’s work is to provide training for students, so we hire people with the necessary skills and experience to do that. In addition, we have 5-7 paid student positions (creative media, outreach, administration, research) in any given semester. All SFPIRG employees are paid fair and living wages. SFPIRG is similar to almost all other non-profit organizations, in having paid staff to run day-to-day operations of running the organization.

How does SFPIRG make decisions?
SFPIRG board and staff make decisions by consensus, a practice that requires everyone’s active voice and consent in the decision-making process and outcome. That is, consensus goes beyond simple majority-based decisions. Talk to us if you’re interested in accessing our regular consensus training workshops. We also produce a twelve-page booklet on running meetings on consensus that is available as a public resource.

Why does SFPIRG donate to community groups?
SFPIRG donates to both on-campus and community groups working on issues of poverty, racism, homophobia, war and occupation, sustainability, and other social and environmental justice issues. Priority is given to on-campus work, and to community groups with limited resources in the Lower Mainland and working within their own communities. We support these initiatives in line with our mandate to advocate for broader social and environmental justice, and because we understand the campus as part of a broader context. Students’ lives are affected and shaped as much by what is happening in our neighbourhoods and cities as by campus policy. For a list of groups and projects that we funded in 2008-9, see our annual report. Our donations policy is always open for feedback, review and new ideas.

Is SFPIRG only for people who believe in a particular ideology?
Absolutely not. SFPIRG values human rights, dignity, justice and sustainability. We stand for equity and a world without poverty, war, environmental destruction and oppression. We support students developing skills and leadership to achieve and defend those goals. Students involved with SFPIRG come from all walks of life. What they all share is a common interest in social and environmental issues.

Does SFPIRG support a particular political party?
Never. We are non-partisan, meaning we don’t advocate for, or ally with, any political party of any stripe.

A group of students have accused SFPIRG of being undemocratic and lacking in transparency. What does SFPIRG have to say about that?
SFPIRG believes in meaningful and participatory democracy. This is why we use consensus as a regular decision-making practice. We seek out and share knowledge about issues that are often marginalized or under-represented because we understand that democracy requires a commitment to critical thought and ongoing learning. It requires that we are constantly making new connections and expanding our horizons of understanding, rather than defending narrow, reactionary positions.

SFPIRG has consistently provided information about our work to the campus community through classroom speaking, electronic media (website, Twitter, Facebook, mySFU), campus e-mail networks, CJSF radio, the Peak, annual reports and our AGM. Our proposed bylaw changes were posted on our website for three weeks prior to our AGM. Our annual report and financial documents can be downloaded on our website. Students can also drop in anytime Monday to Friday between 10:30-4:30 to talk to our staff, board members or volunteers.

Why should students continue to fund SFPIRG?
Students have the right to access a wide range of ideas, perspectives and possibilities. SFPIRG has programs that all students can benefit from, including the Social Justice Lending Library with 5000+ alternative resources, skills trainings (creative media, facilitation, conflict resolution, consensus, anti-oppression), a bike tool co-op, action group support and funding, student lounge and the Action Research eXchange program that allows students to apply their research skills through partnerships with community organizations. Experience as an SFPIRG board member, student worker or volunteer is a valuable asset in the job market. A student member can access all of this and more for just $3.00 per semester (only $1.50 for part-time students).

What if I don’t want to support SFPIRG?
We offer students the option of opting-out of their SFPIRG membership. In the fourth week of each term students can come by for a refund of their fee ($3.00 for full-time students, $1.50 for part-time students). The information is available on our website, and we publicize this option across campus at the start of each term.

How is SFPIRG accountable to students?
SFPIRG welcomes open and constructive dialogue with all our members. Come talk to us with your ideas, concerns or questions; we are eager to listen and respond. We are also accountable to students because student involvement is integral to SFPIRG’s operation. We have students as board members, staff, volunteers and service users. It was students who started many of the programs at SFPIRG including Letters for the Inside, the Bike Tool Co-op and the Action Research eXchange (ARX) program. Students who do not support our work can request a refund of their student levy in the fourth week of each term.

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