CAMPAIGNS:
CAMPAIGN FOR SPACE
9 MAR 2020 — After two years of fighting eviction, SOCA is happy to announce that we are in the final stages of our efforts to have a safe space for Black folks on campus.
Thank you to all members and allies supporting our cause.
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“It is a relief for SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry that the two-year battle to save Black space on campus has ended. Securing operational space is an assurance of our longevity, allowing us to continue building a sense of community on and off campus. Black space is vital for connecting students navigating experiences unique to Black students.”
“While Configuration 3 is a compromise for all parties involved, we are grateful that this is still collective growth in square footage for both of SOCA and Embark.
“We truly appreciate our members and allies who have advocated with us since 2018, or joined to support in the activism along the way.”
Afia Poku
SOCA President 2019/20
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Dec 2019
Hello SOCA Followers and Supporters,
We have some positive news regarding our current space campaign. After many lengthy months of advocacy and campaigning against SFSS’ intentional, targeted and harmful decision to evict us on December 14, 2018, we have successfully delayed the eviction to the end of the lease agreement for the current space. This means that we will continue to be housed in the Rotunda space at the leisure of the SFSS, on a month-to-month basis, until the new Student Union Building (SUB) is completed. While this is a temporary solution it is a positive outcome and is a direct result of your campaigning, support and activism.
Thank you!
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However, the work is not over! We have continuously asked the SFSS to meet with the groups from the Rotunda space regarding long term, allocated space in the new SUB. The SFSS previously committed to being more transparent with the groups in the Rotunda space and have admitted that the current model is not workable, however, the SFSS has rejected our invitation to meet and has doubled down on their decision that will inexplicably block us from having a continuing space in campus. This action by the SFSS to continuously say one thing while acting in an oppositional and adversarial manner without having us at the table perpetuates the negative and adverse effects on our membership and is a direct attack to our advocacy efforts towards creating a long-term space for anti-racism, education and healing.
What does this mean for you? We need support from our members and community at large to continue advocating our campaign for a long term, dedicated space on campus, as was initially understood when the consultations for the SUB started in June 2014.
In this effort, we would love for you to attend the SFSS Board of Directors meetings and call on them to, in the very least, meet with the Rotunda Community. Please sign and share our petition and continue to write letters of support on behalf of the SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry outlining the importance of having a safe space for black students on campus at SFU. We are only asking the SFSS to continue the practice of equity and diversity that has been in place for SOCA since 1997.
#BlackSpacesMatter #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #SAVESOCA
In Solidarity and Rage,
The Executive Team
Thank you to all members and allies supporting our cause.
--------
“It is a relief for SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry that the two-year battle to save Black space on campus has ended. Securing operational space is an assurance of our longevity, allowing us to continue building a sense of community on and off campus. Black space is vital for connecting students navigating experiences unique to Black students.”
“While Configuration 3 is a compromise for all parties involved, we are grateful that this is still collective growth in square footage for both of SOCA and Embark.
“We truly appreciate our members and allies who have advocated with us since 2018, or joined to support in the activism along the way.”
Afia Poku
SOCA President 2019/20
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec 2019
Hello SOCA Followers and Supporters,
We have some positive news regarding our current space campaign. After many lengthy months of advocacy and campaigning against SFSS’ intentional, targeted and harmful decision to evict us on December 14, 2018, we have successfully delayed the eviction to the end of the lease agreement for the current space. This means that we will continue to be housed in the Rotunda space at the leisure of the SFSS, on a month-to-month basis, until the new Student Union Building (SUB) is completed. While this is a temporary solution it is a positive outcome and is a direct result of your campaigning, support and activism.
Thank you!
---------------------------------------------------------
However, the work is not over! We have continuously asked the SFSS to meet with the groups from the Rotunda space regarding long term, allocated space in the new SUB. The SFSS previously committed to being more transparent with the groups in the Rotunda space and have admitted that the current model is not workable, however, the SFSS has rejected our invitation to meet and has doubled down on their decision that will inexplicably block us from having a continuing space in campus. This action by the SFSS to continuously say one thing while acting in an oppositional and adversarial manner without having us at the table perpetuates the negative and adverse effects on our membership and is a direct attack to our advocacy efforts towards creating a long-term space for anti-racism, education and healing.
What does this mean for you? We need support from our members and community at large to continue advocating our campaign for a long term, dedicated space on campus, as was initially understood when the consultations for the SUB started in June 2014.
In this effort, we would love for you to attend the SFSS Board of Directors meetings and call on them to, in the very least, meet with the Rotunda Community. Please sign and share our petition and continue to write letters of support on behalf of the SFU Students of Caribbean and African Ancestry outlining the importance of having a safe space for black students on campus at SFU. We are only asking the SFSS to continue the practice of equity and diversity that has been in place for SOCA since 1997.
#BlackSpacesMatter #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #SAVESOCA
In Solidarity and Rage,
The Executive Team
Updates
- August 24 : SOCA Email to SFSS - PDF
- Sep 2 : SOCA Letter to SFU Administration - PDF
- FNSA Statement to the Public - Link
- Sep 14: SOCA AND SFPIRG JOINT STATEMENT - PDF
- SYNOPSIS OF SOCA AND SITUATION - PDF
- Global News Article - https://globalnews.ca/news/4430261/sfu-student-clubs/
- SOCA Message to Followers - Message
- SUB Architectural Report - PDF
- Timeline - LINK
- Problematic April 5th Meeting- Link
- Overarching Problems - LINK
- #SAVESOCA Banner - PDF
- SFSS Email to SOCA: November 23 - Link
- SOCA Space Update December 13 - Link
- SOCA Pamphlet Synopsis - PDF
- Jan 13 SOCA Email to SFSS - PDF
- See Students Plan for the SUB - PDF
- SOCA Flyer Primer - PDF