““ STUDENT UNION INCORPORATED 1966 UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK BOX 306, STATION A FREDERICTON, N.8. E38 4Y9 TEL. (506)455-4018 «xe INFORMATION BULLETIN .. The Student Union at the University of New Brunswick is fighting for its Life. Student rights en our campus continue to be flagrantly violated, This pamphlet tells the story of our struggle. INTRODUCTION TO THE DISPUTE On April 17th 1986, University of New Brunswick President Jim Downey locked out the incorporated UNB “Student Union government and set up a hand-picked "student governing council" to replace it. Downey had met secretly with opponents of the elected student government to decide "what should be done" with the Student Union. He had been under pressure to comply with a Student Union referendun vote calling for UN8 to divest from South Africa, He was also under attack for his 1984 seizure of the Student Union Building. These, and other issues brought up by Student Union President John Bos. nitch, and Vice Presidents (Academic) Michael Bennett, (Finance) Tony English, and (Services) Hugh Brown, led Downey to respond irrational ly. 1t was common knowledge on campus that Downey strongly disliked his student counterpart. Jim Downey believed that his problems with students were due to dchn Bosnitch, with whom he had a per- sonality conflict dating from Bosnitch's two terms as Student Union President in 1982-3 and 1983-4. Downey had come inte open conflict with Bosnitch over the student president's efforts to press for the installation of Lighting in areas known for sexual assaults, for a student-run convenience store on campus, for student control of the Student Union Building, and for the purchase of an. additicnat dountown ‘residence to alleviate a shortage in student housing. Bosnitch had publicly protested when a child fell to her death froma UNB residence in the sumer of 1984, out of windows the Student Union had condemned as dangerous a month earlier. President Bosnitch had also led @ successful cam paign to refund @ $350,000 compulsory levy that the University had required students to pay to ite fund raising effort. In September 1984 Downey had tried to eliminate student power on campus by taking over the stu: dent Union Building, seizing $200,000 in student fees, closing the student-run convenience store, and blocking the ‘student Union plans for the dountoun residence building. Downey considered Bos: nitch's earlier success in asserting student rights to be a threat to his power as University Presi dent. sim Downey coordinated a campaign to defeat Besnitch in the 1984 Student Union elections by hand-picking @ presidential candidate and timing the takeovers of student operations to reflect neg atively on Bosnitch in the weeks preceding the vote. In addition, the University conducted sn intense media campaign against the Student Union President. After Bosmitch was defeated, Douney accused him of financial inproprieties and the Fredericton City Police were called in to invest! gate. Donney believed that he had eliminated John Bosnitch once and for all. The six month Police investigation concluded in August 1985, and Bosnitch's administration was exonerated and cleared of all wrongdoing. Despite Downey's efforts to destroy his reputation, Bos: nitch resolved to run for a third term. uring the election campaign Downey stated that if Bosnitch kere elected again, the university Mould bankrupt the Student Union by refusing to collect its fees Shortly before the election, Jim Douney suffered @ heart attack. PROGRESSIVE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTED On Novenber 20th, 1985, Bosnitch and his Executive were elected by @ Landslide. In January, 1985 the Student Union started work to create an onbudsman's office, increase student power in university bodies, re-establish student-run services, conduct course evaluations, and to begin public. evatuae tions of adninistrators. The new student goverment also placed a priority on balancing the Unionpage 2 budget and regaining control over the Student Union Building. The campaign for UNB divestment from South Africa continued. All this challenged Jim Downey's one-man rule at UNB. By late March 1986, the Student Union electoral year uas reformed to coincide with the acadenic yeer by providing for’ the seating of new executive officers in June instead of January. A follou-up Feferendun overshelmingly extended the term of the recently elected Executive until June 1st, 1987. Other referendum results further supported the progressive policies of the student governnent. The Student Union continued to host controversial activists such as Dr. Henry Morgentaler, Yussaf Sal- ogee (African National Congress) and Abbie Hoffman. DOWNEY ATTACKS STUDENT ACTIVISM Jim Downey resolved to stop the growing campus activism. We was not willing to let the students rebuild the powerful 9 student movement that he crushed in 1984. Imediately after the student referendum extended Bosnitch's term of office (from the previous termination date of January 1987 to the new date of June Ist 1987), Doxney announced that unless the Student Union President was immediately removed from office, the University would follow through on his earlier threat not to collect Student Union fees. He improperly blamed Bosnitch for posters (produced by 8 menber of a Student Union commit "free expression" and that they represented political fair ‘Free Speech at UNB* comment honestly made and paid for by an individual student. Douney knew that without funds, the Student Union clubs, entertainment, newspaper and radio sta- tion would collapse. He expected that students faced with the threat of a fee cut-off would attack their on government. Some did - but the majority did not. The same students who had elected John Bosnitch refused to renove him. DOWNEY'S STUDENT COLLABORATORS FAIL TO TAKE POWER On April 2nd, an impeachment motion put forth by @ clique of students was defeated by the stu- dent Union Council even after a threatening letter from Downey was read out at the mecting by Larry Hansen (a student in charge of the University's anti-alcohol campaign). Downey became impatient. He told the students who were collaborating in efforts to bring down the government that their time was running out. Larry Hansen was assisted by Eric Semple (the student whose false complaint had led to the 1985 police investigation), Stephen Smith (Leader of the UNB Progressive Conservative Youth club), and Bill Daisley (Losing candidate in the November 1985 presidential elections). These power- seeking collaborators vere willing to sell out Student Union autonomy in return for funding from the University. Jim Downey used them to achieve his goal of eliminating a criticel and independent stu: dent government. A removal petition failed despite open threats that President Downey would cancel alt student activities unless Bosnitch were deposed. Doyney's collaborators have adnitted under oath that they Were unable to even draft the impeachnent petition and had to get Bosnitch to do it for then. Colla- borator Larry Hansen has also admitted that "the petition was not conducted according to the bylays" and that it was never submitted to the Student Union for validation. STUDENT UNJON PRESIDENT DEFENDS HIS GOVERNMENT Bosnitch placed his opponents on the defensive by offering his resignation directly to Downey in return for a contract securing the Student Union offices in the Student Union Building, and guaran~ teeing continued collection of Student Union fees. The entire ten menber Student Union Executive waspage 3 solidly behind Rosnitch, as were other menbers of the Student Union Council. In addition, the Stu: dent Union Council voted to go into its Sumer Session, which meant that removals could not be con: stitutionally conducted until Septerber when Regular Session was to be re-convened. The Student Union Executive announced that it would resist Downey's interference in its internal affairs, and ordered its solicitors to protect the Student Union. A petition was collected in support of the Stu: dent Union President and various leaders of student groups pledged support for the Union. JIM DOWNEY DIRECTS PLANS FOR ILLEGAL TAKEOVER hen the removal attempts failed, the collaborators held another secret meeting with Jim Downey. Douney decided that if the only way’ to get rid of Bosnitch was to depose the entire student govern: mmert, then all of the Executive officers would have to be removed and be replaced by students approved by the University. Downey instructed Gordon Petrie, the University's solicitor, to advise the colleborators. Despite the fact that a brazen takeover of the Student Union would be illegal, Petrie directed the collaborators to disregard the Student Union corporate bylaws because the Execu’ tive “wouldn't have the balls" to sue. At least three days before the April 17th lockout, Petrie was working on the University retainer (taxpayers' money) to overthrow the student government. Jim Downey's student collaborators met secretly in roons booked through the Progressive Conservative Youth club to prepare to accept the reins of power. Downey committed the University to establishing a “student governing council" to replace the incorporated UNE Student Union. Cam: pus Security, Police, Student Union Building staff and non-unionized locksmiths were placed at the ready. Downey told the public that the student body had lost faith in its government and was demanding a change - everything vas done to give ‘the appearance that he and the University were not ‘the cause of the conflict. "Downey and his student governing council' APRIL 7th, 1986 UNB_STUDENT UNJOW IS LOCKED OUT Without ony notice, at 6:30 pm on April 17th, Jim Downey's Security Police changed the Locks of the Student Union offices, and body searched and éjected the Student Union executives. Doxney's stu: dent collaborators (thirteen people) Later held @ press conference to announce that they were taking charge of the student government as a result of a "palace revolt". In a fifteen minute session, to hich none of the Executive nor any of their Student Union Council supporters were invited, a feso- lution was made that "the Executive do now resign" to be replaced with an appointed "student govern- ing councit* including Stephen Smith (President), Eric Semple (Comptroller), and Mark Lutes (Vice President). Guards were posted at the Student Union offices to bar the Student Union President, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Chairman, Recording Secretary, and other councillors from entering. ‘The Student Union's funds were frozen and Jim Downey publicly recognized his col labora~ tors as a puppet "student governing council LAWSUITS BEGIN AGAINST JIM DOWNEY'S APPOINTEES The Student Union Council went into exile and set up offices off-campus. When the "student gov- erning council" collaborators occupied the Student Union offices using the name UN3 Student Union Incorporated as their oun, there was no viable alternative but legal action. In May 1986, the UND Student Union Incorporated and its Vice Presidents started a lawsuit in the Court of Queen's Bench against the appointed executives of Jim Dokney's "student governing councii", and against Kim Norris the University employee sho supervised the lockout of the Student Union. A second action was later launched against the rest of the thirteen collaborators who participated in the April 17th takeover. The University is using taxpayers money and seized student fees to defend the collaborators who a5s- isted the illegal lockout. The Student Union's costs are being paid personally out of the pockets of Student Union Council menders and supporters. We are appealing to other student unions and civil rights organizations for financial assistance in this precedent setting legal battle.page 4 {LIM DOWNEY CONVENES EXPULSION HEARINGS To silence opposition, University President Jim Downey convened @ tribunal of three administrators to expel Student Union President John Bosnitch. He accused Bosnitch (who as ‘one course away from graduation) of being responsible for the so-called "Downey's Monkeys" posters. As his defense, Bos itch produced the written confession and apology of the stu- dent responsible for the prank. Nevertheless, the trial con tinued, with University employees and student governing council" members testifying that while Bosnitch may not have produced the posters, he was still responsible for the ideas they contained. Bosnitch was now being tried for "thought ‘Guilty until proven innocent?! crimes. [STUDENT UNION PRESIDENT FORCED TO SIGN “GAG PAC In an effort to end the hearings which were continuing for as long as sixteen hours @ day, Bos nitch and Downey met in late May. Downey dictated the terms under which he would allow Bosnitch to graduate. He indicated that the only alternative was expulsion. Under duress, Bosnitch consented to @ written "gag pact" after consulting with the Union Executive and counsel, all of whom agreed that the contract was unconstitutional and could not be Legally enforced. The contract, signed by Downey, is docunentery evidence of the way the UNB administration operates. The terns stated that Bosnitch must cease acting as Student Union President, terminate involvenent in Student Union government, not support candidates in student elections, not participate in the lawsuits against the collaborators, not run in any elections, and end his involvenent in the University Soard of Governors and Senati here he had frequently challenged the policies of Jim Downey. Executive Assistant Lane Grimes was acting President while Bosnitch adhered to the contract terms to ensure his October 1986 graduation. DOWEY PROPS UP PUPPET REGIME WITH $150,000 LOAN After the lockout, Jim Downey's "student governing council" closed student-run services end replaced all the student employees (whom they did not trust) with Brian Walsh, an adninistrator and retired military officer. To prop up his puppet regime, Jim Douney did collect Student Union fees. in Septenber, 1986 as collateral for a loan of $150,000 to the "student governing council". He did not get Board’ of Governors’ approval for the loan until five months later. The funds received by Dow ney's collaborators were in fact diverted from public monies earmarked for post-secondary education. Some $60,000 of those funds were immediately diverted by the "student governing council" executives to pay the bills for their personal legal defenses. A Court Examination for Discovery took place on the 23rd and 24th of September. By October, the "student governing counci\™ believed the battle was ‘over. They thought the Student Union Incorporated could not raise the money to go to court; they Presumed that with Bosnitch on forced Leave, his Executive would collapse; the student newspaper Kas Silenced; and more than anything else, they knew they had the personal protection of Jim Douney. TIONS = LEADING STUDENT UNION CAD sANNED To legitimize the takeover, Donney's appointed student president, Stephon Smith, called an elec tion. Smith then amended the constitution of the "student governing "council" to prohibit Student Union President John Bosnitch from running. Smith also eliminated Student Union plaintiffs Michael Bennett and Teny English by requiring them to recognize the legitimacy of the "student governing council" in order to become candidates. Smith and Larry Hansen, another collaborator, ran against each other for president to give the impression that students had’a choice of what kind’ of govern: mment they would get. These sham elections became interesting when Barry White and Tony Tracy, Assistant Vice Presi- dents (Academic) and (Services) respectively of the UNB Student Union at the time of the lockout, independently announced their candidacies as a means of protest. The UNB Student Union declared that Downey's illegal “elections could not legitimize the April 17th lockout. The Student Union. Execu: tive then called the regularly scheduled Student Union mid-term faculty seat elections for Novenber but Downey announced that the Student Union wouldn't be allowed to set up polls.page 5 ‘STUDENT BODY SHOWS ITS Disa OVAL, In the lowest turnout since the creation of UNS student government in 1921, only 12% voted in Downey's "student governing council" elections - dow from nearly 40% when John Bosnitch was first elected President of the Student Union. Most importantly, students voted solidly against Smith (Oow- ney's well-known appointee president), leaving a surprised Larry Hansen as president of the "student governing council by default. Pre- Lockout Student Union executive Barry White was elected to the University Senate and the Board of Governors for two year terms. Tony Tracy won the post of comptroller of the "student gov: erning council" on a campaign based on the promise to cut off funding for the personal legal defenses of the collaborators responsible for the April 17th "palace revolt". Few other seats were contested. In a single act, the students of the University of New Brunswick repudiated Stephen Smith, the most visible student collaborator, and demonstrated their continuing disapproval of Dow: ney's'"student governing council". In Novenber, the Student Union itself filled several vacancies by acclamation but did not violate Downey's ban on Student Union polls for fear of expulsions. FALSE REPORTS RELEASED BY PUPPET GOVERNMENT To divert attention fron the failure of their elections, the "student governing counci(" released the results of audits showing the UNB Student Union Inc.’ with a 1985-6 debt of sone $174,000. The collaborators dishonestly attributed the debt to the exiled government and suppressed the fact that they themselves had incurred $150,000 of the debt through the secret loan of Univer= sity funds made by Jim Downey. The remaining $24,000 of the 1985-6 debt had been incurred prior to the seating of the Bosnitch government. Bosnitch's previous terms in 1982-3, and 1983-4 had seen the two largest surpluses in Student Union history. ‘STUDENT UNION EXECUTIVES START LIBEL PROCEEDINGS. In response to the false reports, menbers of the UNB Student Union Incorporated Executive gave notice of Libel actions against the president, solicitor, chairman and administrator of the "student governing council". The false reports were later refuted in the student newspaper the Brunswickan which published a detailed list of expenditures and stated that Bosnitch's government was in office for only four months out of the twelve month audited period and could not have been responsible for expenditures before or after that time. The effort by Downey's collaborators to malign the character of the Student Union leadership had failed. The collaborators have since refused to discuss the matter. CONTROL OF STUDENT FINANCES GIVEN TO UNIVERSITY In Decenber 1986, the "student governing counei(" created ‘the "Foundation for’ students Incorporated" to stop conptrol- ler-elect Tony Tracy from fulfilling his promise to cut off student funding for the personal Legal defenses of Douney's collaborators. the Foundation was given conplete control over all funds - rendering the conptroller's post obsolete. The Foundation is @ non-elected five menber committee composed of ‘two UNB employees, to lstudent governing council" appointees approved by the University and a fifth menber chosen by con- sensus of the other four. Both University employees on the Foundation have the right to veto any decision of the Founda: tion. Jim Douney retains the right to approve all expend tures, The February issue of Perspectives, the University's public relations magazine, described the importance of this new body: "From now on the Student activity fees, which are : collected by the university at registration, will be dis: S bursed to recognized student organizations not by the Student oS Union council but by the foundation... which... renoves the considerable discretionary powers the Student Union council ‘Hey kids! Thanks for the cash Previously hed in financial matters.page 6 COMPTROLLER REFUSED RIGHT TO TAKE OFFICE - SEEKS JUDICIAL REVIEW Using the audits as a pretext to falsely accuse conptroller-elect Tony Tracy of having received unauthorized payments, the "student governing council" permanently refused to seat him as conptrot- ler. Tracy started a’ Lawsuit of his own to be seated on the "student governing council". In January 1987, three months after the October election, Downey's "student governing council" seated Tracy. This’ was done in an attempt to stop Tracy's Legal claim to the powers that had been transferred to the Foundation. When the collaborators realized that Tracy would not give up his claim, he was seated, innediately suspended as comptroller, and then impeached the following week. Tony Tracy accused Jim Downey and Larry Hansen of deliberately subverting the students! will and requested e Judicial Review. Justice David Dickson, ruling on a stay of proceedings, declared that NTracy was improperly deprived of his office and improperly deprived of his seat on’ the Council, and yroperly suspended and improperly expelled from the Council ". Downey's "student governing coun ("then reseated him as comptroller just before his term expired. Tracy was never allowed access to the files nor was he permitted to fulfill his promise to stop the diversion of student funds to personal legal defenses. Tracy's case shows how far Douney's collaborators will go to stay in power. PUPPET STUDENT GOVERNING COUNCIL ATTACKS 09POSITION Throughout the dispute, efforts to purge student leaders who were not Loyal to the "student gov erning council continued, Clubs which did not recognize the "student governing council" received no budgets. Foreign student groups whe had voted strongly for Bosnitch had their funding slashed by 80% end groups whose leadership included pro-Student Union students were not given budgets merely credits, for fear that they might use their funds to help the Student Union, The elected editor of the Up the HILL annual yearbook was dismissed and replaced with an appointee. The staff of the Brunswickan newspaper, responded to "student governing council" pressure by deposing their Editor in a meeting to which he wasn't even invited. A similar coup in the student radio organization failed but Andre Faust, the Station Director of CHSR-FM, was then told that the "student governing counci\" itself had dismissed him, barring him from entering the station by using UNB Security Police. STUDENT UNION PRESIDENT EXPELLED ~ CONTINUES FIGHT John Bosnitch was forced by Downey's gag con tract to take a leave from his duties as Student Union President for Fall 1986 but his continued participation in other student affairs led him to be expelled by Downey, who, in December 1986, refused Bosnitch the right to register for further courses. Since Student Union bylaus require Execu: tive officers to be UNB students only at the time of their election, Bosnitch was able to actively continue his Student Union presidency. He enrolled in the Master of Arts program in political science at_MeGill University in Montreal, returning peri- odically to Fredericton to continue his duties. ACTION CONTINUES - CRIMINAL BUGGING DISCOVER: wS on January 7-8, 1987 9 second Court Examination for Discovery of Downey's collaborators resulted in startling. admissions. The defendants, who hed themselves left or been purged from the "student governing council", abandoned their loyalty to the University Line. While still claiming personal innocence, they adnitted under oath that they had been "dunbfounded" by the University solicitor's proposal that they seize power. they also revealed that Jim Downey had been meeting with them to plan the removal petition against Bosnitch wecks before the lock-out. They further testified that Downey himself ordered the lock-out and the seizure of the Student Union offices before his puppet mstudent governing council" had even met to depose the Student Union goverment. Downey's original claim thet he had acted "in loco parentis! after the fact was shown to be ridiculous. After eight months of legal proceedings, the Student Union Incorporated had finally proved that the University hhad ordered the lock-out and was directly responsible for the ensuing "palace revoltpage 7 Most damaging to Jim Downey was the stunning revelation thet his student collaborators had engaged in criminal activity. Under questioning, the defendants adnitted that Andrew MeAL Lister, a member of the "student governing council" had bugged a meeting of the Student Union Council. Smith and Semple both gave evidence that their fellow collaborator had tampered with the public address system of the church where the Student Union Council met soon after the lockout. A tape recording fof the meeting was then secretly made fron the main control panel. MeALlister himself adnitted his role in the affair in a unsuccessful effort to get amenber of the Student Union government to retroactively sign @ Mconsent. to intercept" form. Neither Dosney nor his new "student governing council" president Larry Hansen would tell how much they knew about the bugging or what role they had in it, In late February the Fredericton City Police commenced an investigation into the affair and the Croun Prosecutor's office has been forwarded docunentary evidence of the bugging. STUDENT RADIO STATION RESISTS TAKEOVER BY JIM DOWNEY The Board of Directors of CSR Broadcasting Incorporated was Legally Linked to the UNB Student Union Incorporated. Student Union Vice President (Academic) Michael Bennett was the Board Chairman, Barry White the Secretary-Treasurer, and Tony Tracy the Vice Chairman. The other UNG student on the Board was the elected Station Director Andre Faust uho continued to hold office even though unlaw. fully barred from his station. The non-student menbers of the Board supported Jim Downey but could not Legally remove the Student Union representatives on the Board. Nevertheless, from April 1986 until January 1987, seven attempts were made to remove the Student Union representatives from the CHSR Board of Directors. Jim Doxney then changed his tactics, instructing his employees to do whatever was neaded to take control of the radio station. Univer: sity employees and their supporters on the Board followed Downey's directions and net secretly. at 10 am on Friday, January 16th. They proceeded to declare that they no longer recognized the Stu- dent Union Incorporated representatives, appointing "student governing council" representatives to the Board instead. Student Union officials who found out about the meeting were ejected from the room by Campus Police when they tried to claim their seats as directors. STUDENT RADIO STATION DIRECTORS 1SSUE WARNING CHSR Broadcasting Board monbers Michael Bennett and Barry White issued @ formal notice of Legal action against the individuals who had acted as Downey's agents in the unlawful takeover of the CHSR Broadcasting Board of Directors. The two were supported in their efforts by other student reps on the Board. Board monbers Wayne Lockhart (City councilior), Armand Paul (CBC preducer), and Susan Nontegue and Eric Garland (University employees), realized that the tape recorded transcripts of the Board meetings would reveal the legitimacy of the student claims and turned to Jim Downey to defend their takeover of the radio station. DOWNEY EXPOSED IN ATTEMPTED COVER-UP During the radio station dispute, student represent- atives sought other opportunities to expose Downey's behav- for. Michael Bennett (a University Senator and Student Union q Vice President Academic), and Barry White (recently elected University Senator and Governor), discovered that Downey had concealed the existence of an acadenic appeal to the Visitor of the University - the provincial Lieutenant Governor. Dow " ney had net reported to the Senate or Boerd of Governors es that the appeal had been heard and upheld by the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick. The precedent setting Decision ruled that Downey himself had acted improperly by disrupting the doctoral evaluation of an ethnic Chinese student. Ben= ett and White independently mailed copies of the Decision to menbers of the Board and Senate, and Dokney skipped the ext Senate meeting while his administrators attenpted dan- age control. "ALL trails lead to Douney!page 8 DOWNEY SUSPENDS STUDENT LEADERS Embarrassed in the Senete and Board, confronted with discovery of the busging, and facing legal action from the radio station, Jim Downey believed he could destroy his student opposition by disci- plinary action. Citing unecceptable political activity, on January 23rd 1987, he suspended Barry White and Michael Bennett from University. They were refused the right to attend lectures, use can pus facilities or continue their academics. The suspensions were issued without warning or refer fence to any University disciplinary regulations. Barry White was also renoved from the Board of Gov- ernors at its January 29th meeting despite the objections of student Governors. Downey accused white of having allowed his defense of student interests to enbarrass the University. White was directed to leave and the University solicitor Gordon Petrie concluded the three hour debate without allowing Unite to rebut the charges made against him. Barely half of the Board merbers voted on the motion. Student Union President John Bosnitch returned to Fredericton and accused Downey of having "gone berserk". He gave Douney until February 15th to Lift the suspensions or face an initiative to renove him as University President. The Student Union government also resolved to seek the assistance of other student associations, realizing that the conflict had finally reached the stage where the stu- dents of UNB needed the help of students from the rest of Canada. Within @ week, Downey succumbed to Public pressure and Lifted the suspensions. Downey's retreat on the suspensions was a victory for the Student Union. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) then ini tiated an inquiry into the University takeover of the radio station, and the police publicized the criminal investigation into the bugging of Student Union Council meetings by Downey's "student gov- erning council". In March, the Student Union advised the University to turn over $200,000 in student fees collected in Septenber 1966 or face further Legal action. The UNB Student Union also denon= strated {ts commitment to student democracy by calling its generai elections for March 25th 1987, to elect @ new Executive to take office on June ist. The ballot included referendum quest ions about Downey's claim that he can recognize whatever student government he choses, and the University plan to double student fees and turn them all over to its appointed Foundation for Students Incorporated. UNS PRESIDENT JIM DOWNEY USES POLICE TO STOP FREE ELECTIONS The night before the voting wes to begin, UNB Security Police served @ notice on Student Union President Jchn Bosnitch that he would be subject to up to six months imprisonment (under the New Brunswick Trespass Act) if he set foot on UN® property to act as Chief Returning Officer. Douney then set up his on polling stations the next day. Uniformed Security Police at each staticn renoved any students who realized and protested the fact that the polls were being used for an "election for Downey's "student governing council". The referendun questions and names of Student Union candi= dates were not on the ballot. When the Student Union tried to set up an independent poll in the Stu- dent Union Building, poll workers Were ordered off canpus under threat of imprisonment (under the Trespass Act). City Police were called in by the University to close the polls, physically dismant= Ling them and evicting the students. The students involved in the election polls are. now banned under threat of fine and imprisonment from reentering the Student Union Building. The three day effort to conduct free elections ended after all the poll workers were notified by the University that they Would be arrested and subject to imprisonment if polling continued. The students who dared to vote in the Student Union election all asked if they would be arrested or expelled for voting. Students stayed away in large numbers from the Downey's "student governing counci(™ polls. Many voters complained that they had been deceived by signs saying they were voting in the Legal student Union elections. Alt but one of the seats in Downey's "student governing council" were acclaimed ond for that seat, scrutineers were not allowed and claims of election fraud plagued the procedure. The University denied Barry Unite the right to run for re-election to the Board of Governors and he” hed no time to campaign after he won an appeal for the right to run. Susan Forestell then teok up the banner of the exiled Student Union and won the University supervised elections for both the Board of Governors and Senate. Two days later, on March 27th, Governor Forestell was expelled from the Board meeting (as White had been) because of her association with the Student Union. The battle continues. This struggle is setting a Legal precedent for the rest of the country. If we lose, all indepen: dent student governments are in danger. We mist defend student freedom and democracy. We need your help to fight on. For copies of Court pleadings, supporting docunentation for statenents in this Bulletin, videotapes of Police action and interviews of UNB student leaders, please contact us at: UNB_Stucient Union Inc./ 80x 306 Stn.A/ Fredericton/ New Brunswick/ £38 4Y9/'2ahr Tel, (506) 455-4018