Watch above: Accusations are flying around the campus office of the Graduate Students’ Association and Saskatoon police have an open file on it. Meaghan Craig has more on the issue at the University of Saskatchewan.
SASKATOON – The president of the Graduate Student’s Association (GSA) at the University of Saskatchewan says she’s a suspect in a fraud investigation. Saskatoon police confirmed an investigation is underway against Izabela Vlahu.
“At this point we’ve only received a single report, it was filed on March 9 and assigned to an investigator in our economic crime unit shortly thereafter. It was a report of a fraud and a possible theft and that this point that’s where we’re at,” said Saskatoon police spokesperson Kelsie Fraser.
“The sergeant in charge of the investigation told me that I am a suspect for fraud under $5,000,” said Vlahu.
Since September, the acting vice-president of finance, Andrew Frank-Wilson, says there have been questions about financial transparency and the GSA hasn’t been getting direct answers from its president.
“As councillors we have a legal obligation to ensure our association is being fiscally responsible and following the law so if there are allegations then we are obligated to ask questions about those allegations and we haven’t received any answers from her about them,” said Frank-Wilson.
The issue escalated after the former vice-president of finance walked out the door in late October, according to Frank-Wilson.
“We’ve been without a VP of finance since October and initially we were told that that position would be filled with a nominee and that never happened,” said Frank-Wilson.
“In our policies it states that you’re not supposed to pay yourself for any amount your own stipend for your position and since we have not had a VP of finance, the VP of finance stipend amount has still been dispensed.”
Izabela Vlahu has flat out denied the accusation.
“I have not stolen any money from the GSA,” said Vlahu.
“Currently, I don’t have access to anything, this is kind of part of a pattern of a lack of transparency,” said Frank-Wilson.
Vlahu also confirmed that Frank-Wilson has not been able to access the GSA financial records and for good reason.
“To my understanding of the GSA policies and constitution, the appointment did not follow due process and as such granting access to that person would be opening GSA to liabilities.”
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A fire storm was sparked Wednesday during the state of the University of Saskatchewan address, when a professor was dismayed by the GSA’s behavior after sitting in on two of its meetings as an observer.
“What I witnessed at both meetings is what I can only describe as lynch-mob behavior,” said Ed Tymchatyn, a department of mathematics professor.
On Friday, Frank-Wilson countered, saying that is not an accurate representation of the situation and he was disappointed members of the faculty have been meddling in GSA affairs.
“I think the use of the term lynch-mob was a bit repugnant considering what that word actually means, we did not hang about at these meetings. We asked direct questions of our leadership and we were not given answers,” said Frank-Wilson.
On Wednesday, Vlahu said she withdrew her name from the ballot, hours into this year’s GSA elections.
“I didn’t believe that the elections were being democratically conducted,” said Vlahu.
Last year, Vlahu said she thought those against her leadership would show their support and trust the work she did once she was elected but that hasn’t happened.
“I honestly believe that this group isn’t even aware of why they’re doing what they’re doing.”
This includes the leaking of GSA financial documents prior to Wednesday’s election.
“Documents were, in my opinion, illegally accessed in the GSA office so that there would be visual use, visual opportunity to portray me as a theft,” said Vlahu.
Vlahu said she reported the break-in to campus security as soon as she got access to the email and when she went to report what was happening to the Saskatoon police Friday.
At this point, Vlahu maintains her innocence and said she’s not hiding anything.
“I welcome an audit any time.”
She says she deserves an audit to clear her name and to restore confidence in the GSA and celebrate the achievements it’s made in the last year.
“There have been many and great ones and they’re all under shadow by groundless and frivolous allegations that serve only to hurt people,” said Vlahu.
GSA represents approximately 3,000 graduate students on campus and handles some one-million dollars in student fees every year.
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