To the Editor,
Re: VIU, Radio Mal settle differences, Sept. 17.
As a Radio Malaspina society member for the last eight years, I am glad the ban is lifted and that the referendum went well with the student levy.
I was disheartened to read of the whole affair in the paper last Febuary and the damage to the reputation of the society and the students in general by a few.
However, I disagree with a few of the statements made.
First, that “the ban would jeopardize the society’s licence to broadcast with the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission. The society’s bylaws require it to have 60 per cent student representation on the board of directors and with limited access to students, the group was worried it would not be able to fulfill this requirement.”
But the society has been operating for 10 years off campus and with less than 60 per cent and the CRTC has never made any notice.
Why would CHLY staff make this into a crisis this year? It seems to be an alarm to raise public sympathy.
Perhaps student involvement increased because they became concerned of the recent incidents and direction some community members were taking the campus radio station.
One thing that was not mentioned in the article, Vancouver Island University was allowing the society back on campus with a reminder to follow VIU’s commitment to safety of staff from harrasment, and noted VIU’s policy guidelines about harassment.
This reminder came out of the two incidents of RMS leadership allegedly harassing VIU staff at CHLY’s events on campus.
Seems to me, neither the actions of students, nor the glamourized word – debauchery – were the issue, but the actions of RMS community organizers toward VIU staff and VIU policy.
Kenneth Brault
Nanaimo