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Nonpartisan

Expires April 30, 2026

1. Preamble

​The University of Alberta Students Union (UASU) represents all undergraduate students regardless of their political opinions. Similarly, the UASU represents undergraduate students to all levels of government (municipal, provincial, and federal) regardless of the political party in power. For these reasons, it is imperative that the UASU is a non-partisan organization and is perceived as nonpartisan in order to effectively work for all undergraduate students and with government stakeholders. Non-partisanship is not analogous to being apolitical. The work of the UASU is inherently political. As an organization, the UASU is committed to fight for students, and represent their needs in a non-partisan manner.
Definitions:
Nonpartisan - “free from party affiliation, bias, or designation”

2. Definitions

Nonpartisan - “free from party affiliation, bias, or designation”

3. Facts

  1. Undergraduate students at the University of Alberta have diverse political views and ideologies.
  2. The Students’ Union represents all undergraduate students at the University of Alberta.
  3. The Students’ Union would not be representing the perspectives of all students by endorsing political parties or candidates.
  4. Student associations are legislated corporations under the Post-Secondary Learning Act (2003) of the Government of Alberta.
  5. Opposing or supporting policies is not a partisan decision, as long as it is done in a nonpartisan manner.
  6. Opposing comments or actions that are harmful to undergraduate students is not a partisan decision as long as the opposition is done in a non-partisan manner.
  7. Representatives from, or within, the Students’ Union should not use their role for partisan purposes.

4. Resolutions

  1. The Studentsʼ Union is ​and will continue to be a nonpartisan organization.
  2. The Students’ Union will actively work to avoid partisan bias, and work to not be seen as partisan.
  3. The Students’ Union will not support or oppose candidates​ ​or political parties​ in Canada
  4. The Students’ Union may advocate to ​all necessary parties and candidates on Students’ Council’s political policies, ​and all issues deemed to affect students​.
  5. The Students’ Union ​will​ engage in efforts to educate members on policies, platforms, and political statements made by parties and candidates that may affect the student experience.
  6. The Students’ Union will engage its members to be active ​in​ political discourse within our municipalities, our province, and our country without bias​.
  7. The Students’ Union will ​actively engage​ members about opportunities to vote and ​make efforts to improve the accessibility of voting in municipal, provincial and federal elections​.​
  8. The Students’ Union supports the right to free speech within a reasonable limit as defined in Section 1 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
  9. The Student’ Union reserves the right to stand in solidarity with organizations and other unions when it advances our mandate in a non-partisan manner.
  10. The UASU Executive, being the public representatives of the organization, shall1:

    1. recuse themselves from their role should they seek to run for public office at the municipal, provincial, or federal level during their term;

    2. not endorse any candidates for office at the municipal, provincial, or federal level, or engage in activities that could be perceived as endorsing a candidate or party during their time on the UASU Executive;

    3. not volunteer for or provide resources to political parties or candidates during their time on the UASU Executive;

    4. not attempt to influence students to vote for one political party or another during their executive tenure.

  11. Student Union Executives will not be held accountable to this policy for partisan positions they held prior to taking office. 

  12. Students' Union Councillors must behave in a non-partisan manner when acting in their capacity as Councillors. However, they are free to engage in partisan activities separate from their role on Students’ Council.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonpartisan

1https://static1.squarespace.com/static/577568c6be6594886501c932/t/5786813ed482e9c3a902ae59/146 8432703314/Non-Partisan-Policy.pdf

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