Nyamat Singh, Petition to Dissolve PIPS at KPU
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/10/31
Nyamat Singh is the Managing Editor of The Runner. Singh discussed the initial shock, invalid signatures, and the broader implications for freedom of expression of the petition. She emphasized the importance of student journalism and urged students to understand petitions fully before signing, citing concerns about censorship.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we are here to discuss the petition status you have been reporting on. You are managing it as a key person. How did this story first come to your attention?
Nyamat Singh: This happened in late September, though I am still determining the exact date. I was at the office when someone dropped off the petition, which was in a large, chunky orange folder.
At that time, Claudia was on vacation in Ireland, so it was just Devaki. We also received an email with the petition, but I had the physical copy. My initial reaction was to panic a bit, so I immediately called Devaki, and she saw it as well.
One of the messages she wrote in our group chat said, “Everyone, a huge storm is coming. They are trying to stop us.” I do not remember her exact words, but it was something along those lines. We were all trying to figure out what to do, and Suneet was also present.
We were brainstorming ideas because this was the first time this had ever happened. Devaki took the lead, and we decided to reach out to KPU. Our first step was to verify the student IDs to confirm whether the signatures were valid. KPU responded almost immediately, and we discovered that many signatures were invalid.
That is how it all began. When you discovered this, what was the reaction from the staff and your colleagues? How did everyone feel?
Initially, only the editorial staff knew—me, Claudia, Suneet, and Devaki. We kept it within our group. Claudia, even though she took time off, handled it efficiently. Despite the time difference, she was responsive, which was very helpful.
At first, it was just the four of us. When Claudia returned, we decided to consult journalism instructors for their perspectives. We also reached out to our legal team. Initially, we were all shocked.
Jacobsen: As the situation developed, what has happened with the petition? Has it changed how you operate internally?
Singh: It has mostly stayed the same operations. We are still reporting on the same topics. The petition called for a special general meeting (SGM), but we decided not to hold one because a significant portion of the signatures were invalid.
We have heard another petition might be in the works, but we cannot confirm it until we receive it—whether by email or physical delivery. For now, we have decided not to hold the SGM. I do not know. We’ll see what happens if there’s another petition.
Jacobsen: One of the requests was to remove any reference—current or future—of the KSA in The Runner’s reportage. From your perspective as a journalist, what does this do to freedom of expression and the press within an institution of higher learning? Asking to erase years of hard work that’s quite significant.
Singh: Yes, whoever sent this petition asks us to erase years of work. The Runner has been reporting on the KSA for a long time. This is not just our work now; it is years of work since 2008 we were formed. That is terrible for the people who have spent so much time and hard work on these stories, bringing them to the students. It also concerns freedom of expression. One of their new bylaw demands is to allow minimal media presence, only five minutes, in their meetings.
I usually attend these council meetings to report on them. It’s been quite a process, and things have been different recently.
Jacobsen: Another request was to limit the time someone could attend and record the Kwantlen Student Association’s regular meetings. So, what was the immediate interpretation of this request in the petition?
Singh: Yes, this was one of the bylaw changes. When we attend meetings, we usually record the whole thing, so we have a record of what was said. If we are allowed to record, there is a way to prove what happened in those meetings. People could ask us, “What proof do you have that this happened?” That is why we always record.
Having that recording as backup is crucial. If someone questions us, we can say, “Here is the recording.” It is not like we are making things up. Limiting our ability to record would hinder our work. How would we report on these meetings if we could not record them?
Jacobsen: I was informed–and it was confirmed–that the cost for PIPS, The Runner, and PULP Mag for each student at Kwantlen Polytechnic is 75¢ per credit. However, almost none—or virtually none—of the students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University have requested an opt-out option for this particular benefit. Given how low the cost is and how few students seem to disagree with the publications’ existence, this petition seems to go against the general opinion of the student body. What feedback have you received from students or staff about this petition, especially as more details emerged about the demand for no reportage on the KSA?
Singh: Yes, as more information about the petition’s demands, including no reportage on the KSA, emerged, it became clear that this request went against the interests of many students and staff.
Jacobsen: Issues included the need for valid student IDs for some of the names listed or mismatches between student IDs and names, and some students even thought this had something to do with a Cultus Lake trip. How did this information, as it surfaced, reach the staff—whether through personal conversations, walking around campus, or informal feedback to the publication?
Singh: Online feedback was significant. When we wrote a story about this, Claudia’s editorial received much attention on Twitter and other platforms. That is where most of our feedback came from. Eventually, students started finding out what was happening.
All of them were quite shocked and questioned what was going on. Some of the students told us they did not know what it was for. A few even thought it was for the Cultus Lake trip, while others thought it had something to do with the student association.
That doesn’t look good because this is a petition to dissolve the student publication, and I do not think the student association should be involved. Those were some of the initial reactions. Staff members also found out, and conversations started happening in classes. Instructors brought it up and distributed copies of our issues, telling students to remember what was happening. We were fortunate to have that support within the KPU community.
We also discovered that many students wanted us to stay, which was reassuring after seeing the 150 signatures.
Jacobsen: Could there be a standard process for something as extreme as the dissolution of student publications or the merger of board involvement between the KSA and the student newspaper? For example, based on who was running the petition, should there be a threshold of 100 or 150 signatures, followed by an open call for two weeks or a month for a counter-petition to see the opposing side? Because while 100 or 150 signatures are a lot for a student petition, there are tens of thousands of students across KPU’s various campuses. It is helpful and shows concern from some students, but it might only represent part of the picture, especially with such a significant claim. This is about something other than starting a new club, dissolving a club, or hosting an event that needs a $1,000 bursary.
Singh: Yes, that is very true. Because 150 students want the student publications gone, they only represent part of the KPU student body. It’s not just about dissolving The Runner but also about dissolving PIPS, which they had just started.
I remember Yana saying something like, “We are collateral damage,” which felt true. There is no way of proving who sent this petition, but we felt bad if our reporting triggered it. However, more than a threshold of 150 students is needed to make decisions about these publications. Many students might be interested in knowing what is happening and where their money is going, and we do not only report on the student association.
We cover a wide range of topics—KPU events, issues in the Lower Mainland, opinions, and pop culture—and we are also doing video work. Our work is so much more than just reporting on the student association, and I don’t think that should only affect our ability to report in the future.
Jacobsen: Do you have any final thoughts before we wrap up today?
Singh: Yes, student journalism is important. My message to the students would be this: If you’re signing a petition, ensure you know what it is about before signing. You would not want democracy to disappear. We have seen censorship happening worldwide, and a student publication is at the core of student life at KPU. So, think before you sign anything.
Jacobsen: Excellent. Thank you so much for your time today. I appreciate it.
Singh: Thank you.
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