io Vat {SS A Colourful History of the DSU, Where Did Things Go Wrong? Travis Paterson, Features Editor My favourite union in the whole world is the DSU, and as an OP staffer, I’ve taken it upon myself to have a better understanding about the constant hubbubbery coming from the DSU. I wanted to learn more about how the process works, and about the DSU’s history on campus; good, bad, and awesome. To pre- pare for the coming SGM, I took in the Nov. 22nd psu meeting at the New Westminster campus. I’ve never been one for bureaucracy, and until this fall, it pained me to hear the words: motion, second, impeachment, or election. I always thought that a student union’s primary responsibility was to build a community on the campus. They would prob- ably disagree, as they’re so infused with union legislated constraints (or rights, as they would call it) that they’re incapable’of remembering what their job was in the first place; to band together on behalf of Douglas College stu- dents to protect our rights. During the hour I sat in on the meeting, it looked like protecting their own rights came first before anybody else’s. In my 45 minutes spent in the DSU boardroom, I learned that the DSU resembles a self-perpetuating bureaucracy better more than it resembles a board trying to resolve the imperative issues students are talking about. On my own front, I wanted to see at least a mention of an upcoming pub night. The other reason I went was to get a heads up on the coming SGM, which came up as a bottom item on the agen- da behind a motion to boot the treasurer (Heidi Taylor) off the board (which failed, again.) Just when progress was being made on the agenda the board went én camera to talk over a number of items. In camera meant I was shuffled out into the hallway to wait until they were finished making more motions and seconds, at which point I was able to return. Tired of waiting, I salvaged my evening at Scruffy’s over a come-back Canucks win. Returning to the OP office later in the week, I discussed the history of the DSU with some fellow OPers. They tipped me off that the DSU has been the topic of many good stories in the OP since the start of things, way back in the early 1980's. I dug through our archives and found some interesting sto- ries. THE GOOD Oct. 20, 1980 - OP News Students complain the price of beer at pub nights is too high. Kevin Hallgate, the student society chairperson, responded by lowering the price per beer from $1.00 to $0.90 each. Rock on Kevin Hallgate, where are you now? 4 @ THE OTHER PRESS NOVEMBER 30 2006 Ui THE BAD Jan. 2294, 1987 — OP News Student society president Scott Nelson was facing impeachment at the Feb. 5‘ SGM. Not to go down without a fight, he slandered the OP calling the petition that led to the SGM “the coup of the OP.” Nelson was accused of constitutional abrogation, and cited the Other Press and their constant “negative coverage” as having contributed to his impeachment. THE AWESOME February 2"4, 1987 — OP News The Douglas College Ski Club threatened to impeach the student society’s Executive Secretary, Rick Shepherd, and the student society’s Nursing Representative, Julian Smit, who was put in charge of that year’s Ski Club social. Scott Nelson, the Vice President of the Ski Club (and impeached student society president) said during a heated exchange with Shepherd and Smit, “We don’t want you in. The Ski Club wanted your resignation when you were giving them a hard time last time.” The story goes on to explain a motion put forth by Shepherd and Smit to revoke the Ski Club’s charter after the previous yeat’s Ski Club social led to $592 in damages to the washrooms, coupled with five incidents of fighting (security was brought in to expel patty goers.) It’s nice to know a real party actually took place at Douglas College. And there was a club? THE MISSING AWESOMNESS OF OUR GENERATION Mar. 24th, 1987 — Aierol Alderking Impeached and upset, Scott Nelson return to run at the April 7“ AGM in 1987, The proud leader of the Ski Club, Nelson was forced into disciniplary action after a post DCSS meeting in which Nelson was drink: Also noted at the party was: “dancing on tables,” “beer bottles smashed on the floo: “and security (personnel) met with animosity.” Nelson was also alleged to have been drinl before and after a Feb. 25; 1987 SGM, a was accused to have assaulted a (pub night bar manager. ‘ Here lies the evidence of a gloried past. T! known as the DCSS, it seems things haven really changed, but for all the hubbubbery that happens around the DSU, we should ; least be privy to some of the wild on-cam) shenanigans from the 1980’s that made ou school a campus.