Although they might not know it, graduate students at Dalhousie University have been members of both national student lobby groups for several years.
The Canadian University Press (CUP) reported last night that the Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students (DAGS) is a trial member of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and also a member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) by virtue of its status as a “member society” of the Dalhousie Student Union (DSU)—a CASA member.
DSU President Courtney Larkin reportedly said that DAGS decided not to pursue full membership in the CFS in 2004, and that they “seem very happy with what CASA is doing.”
According to the CUP story, DAGS president Christopher Giacomantonio has “not had a conversation with any CFS representative” since his election. Nevertheless, DAGS had its trial membership in the CFS extended indefinitely in 2005, pending a referendum on full membership. Larkin told CUP that such a referendum is unlikely, because “there is no interest in participating” in the organization.