U of T is home to many student societies that provide important services to its students. However, sometimes, these societies fail to provide equitable treatment. This guide focuses on the courses of action one may take to file a formal complaint against the student societies.

What are student societies?

Before we explore how to take action against a student society, it’s important to understand what they are. U of T Student Life’s website defines a student society as “an autonomous student organization on whose behalf [U of T] collects a compulsory non-academic incidental fee.”

Membership to these societies is automatic and coupled with registration to certain academic divisions. Leadership is elected from a society’s membership in accordance with the U of T’s Policy on Open, Accessible and Democratic Autonomous Student Organizations and the society’s bylaws.

All representative student bodies are student societies. U of T’s Governing Council formally recognizes five student bodies, which collectively represent all U of T students: the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students, Scarborough Campus Students’ Union, University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union, and the University of Toronto Students’ Union.

Additionally, student societies can also be council specific to a residence, like Innis College Student Society, or represent students in a specific academic division, like the Engineering Society.

Campus media — such as The Varsity — are also recognized as student societies.

Filing a complaint

A student can file complaints or concerns pertaining to a society’s openness, accessibility, or democratic nature. However, when filing a complaint, the first pathway that you take should be through the society itself. All societies have contact information listed on their respective websites, and some societies may even provide an anonymous form.

If the conflict cannot be, or was not, resolved by the society, students can contact the Complaint and Resolution Council for Student Societies (CRCSS).

The CRCSS will first check if the parties involved have exhausted all possible avenues of resolution. If the CRCSS decides to begin an investigation, it will appoint certain panel members to resolve the conflict. The complainant and the society itself both have the ability to object to these appointments if they believe there will be a potential conflict of interest.

Afterward, the society will be given a copy of the formal complaint written to the CRCSS and will have a chance to submit a written response. The CRCSS will then begin its formal investigation, collecting and reviewing relevant information, and eventually determining an outcome. In the end, the CRCSS will announce relevant recommendations and courses of action for the society and the complainant.

The CRCSS posts its decisions on its website for future reference. For example, in the 2020–2021 school year, a complaint was made against the UTM Athletic Council (UTMAC). The complaint alleged that the UTMAC was breaking its bylaws and constitution in a recent election, stating that it caused inappropriate disqualification for multiple candidates. The CRCSS recommended that the election be held again at a later time, and that the UTMAC should review, revise, and follow its constitution to ensure a fair election.

Hopefully, this guide provides you with an initial impression of the process for your complaints and concerns regarding student societies. For more information, you can contact your registrar’s office, U of T Student Life, or the CRCSS.