By Stephanie Cesca
A marketing student group worries about selling itself short withdrew its application for official group status because it feels Ryerson’s student government wouldn’t fully represent its members interests’.
The one-year-old Ryerson Marketing Association, which is currently supported by the faculty of business, decided not to join RyeSAC last Friday even though it was about to be granted official course union status.
“We tend to think of ourselves as more of a professional association as opposed to a political association,” said Shahzad Goraya, president of the RMA. “When you become a member of RyeSAC, they tend to dictate some of the things that you do.”
The RMA applied to become a RyeSAC group in September. Campus groups administrator Leatrice Spevack said it would have been granted official group status because RyeSAC approves most applications related to a program.
“They do great things and really address the individual needs of the students in the program,” Spevack said.
Becoming a sanctioned course union would have forced the RMA to operate under the umbrella of RyeSAC, which provides support and funding for group events.
But, Goraya said, becoming an official group would have stripped the RMA of its right to operate and make decisions independently.
“We want to focus on what our objectives are and don’t want to get caught up in secondary duties,” he said.
RyeSAC president Cory Wright said he was disappointed the RMA decided not to become a sanctioned group because RyeSAC tried to represent everyone as best as possible.
“The major benefit is you’re working in the student administrative support and information,” Wright said. “That’s what we’re here for — student involvement.”
Lee Maguire, the associate dean of business, said he has faith in the RMA’s ability to remain separate from RyeSAC.
“It’s really up to them,” Maguire said. “This is their thing. This is what they do and they know best.”
He said the RMA is already supported by money from the faculty of business and doesn’t need RyeSAC’s help.
“They do a lot of good work for our students that I believe central administration couldn’t do,” he said.
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