Okay, I'm so seethingly mad that I have to extend my rant about SUMS. This time, it's a legitimate cause...

Letter to SUMS/W.G. Brown (Pending...)

I have been at McGill for 5 years as an education/math and physics major, and have spent those five years inside the umbrella of SUMS. I have contributed to the executive and society positively in most cases, having served two terms as an executive member, and having welcomed old and new members alike during those years. As I come from Quebec City, I consider this society as my second home away from home. Some of my fondest memories of Montreal have stemmed from this society.

From this background, I believe I have grounds to criticise this year's SUMS executive (2003-2004) over the issue of chairs in the room. There were in total 10 chairs purchased from two different models and companies, that the executive in 2001-2002, and 2002-2003 (which I participated in), obtained through funds set aside for SUMS. These chairs cost more than $100 each. Currently, there are three chairs missing from the room: two of the standard model, and one of the more expensive "Vulcan" model, are unaccounted for in the entire Burnside Basement. I have personally checked heavily frequented rooms in the basement such as Infopoints, with no news of their whereabouts.

I believe that this year's SUMS executives should be responsible and held accountable for these lost three chairs. In the year that the executives purchased these chairs, the policy was explicitly stated to everyone that NO ONE is supposed to remove the chairs from the lounge for any reason other than for maintenance to clean the room, or reorganization. Thus, no one is allowed to borrow them for sitting outside of the lounge. The reason that this decision was taken is obvious: people tend to take things that do not belong to them, especially when these items are new.

Now, over the last whole week from Friday, 30 January 2004 to this Friday, 6 February 2004, three chairs have been taken from the room without any return or compensation. Two have been reportedly "borrowed" by unknown individuals to SUMS regulars (30 Jan, and 6 Feb), and one has disappeared without any information to its whereabouts (appx. 4 Feb).

These disappearances should have never occured, as no one is allowed to borrow the purchased chairs for SUMS' exclusive use outside of the lounge. My impression of the current executive is that of a general lack of care for the investments of previous executives. As a former executive and a notable SUMS regular, I feel that this current executive has let myself down, and let regular users of the lounge down, over this loss of more than $300 worth of equipment. I wish that this year's executive would take more responsibility and pride in their implicit positions as caretakers of the lounge, and of the equipment.

Sincerely,
E.
SUMS VP Academic 2001-2002, VP External 2002-2003
U4 B.Sc./B.Ed.