Last Monday, the results of the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Winter referendum on whether or not to further empower its general assembly were announced, with the ""yes"" vote coming out ahead with a plurality by a very slim margin of only 13 votes.
The numbers were 509 (46.4%) for Yes, 496 (45.2%) for No, and 93 (8.5%) for no opinion for a total of 1098 voters out of a faculty of over 7000 students.
The referendum, which takes effect immediately, makes a change to the AUS constitution which allows the general assemblies held by the AUS to have more decision making power, such as voting to join Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (CLASSE) in their indefinite strike to protest tuition hikes in Quebec.
This change can only be reserved by another referendum.
The referendum was posed with joining CLASSE in mind, as was mentioned in the preamble of the referendum.
The AUS is currently not a member of CLASSE and could not join without the referendum passing, as having a GA as the supreme governing body of the society is a required of student societies in order to join CLASSE.
The referendum does not change the role and responsibilities of the AUS executive and legislative council.