Dear ECA Community and beyond,

This is a petition to fight against the unfair disqualification of the Engineering & Computer Science Association’s President Alexander Stojda.

On March 12, 2020, Alex was disqualified while re-running for President. If you have not heard about it, it is because it occurred right at the outbreak of COVID-19 in Montreal.

The Board of Directors of ECA issued a ruling as to its interpretation of the ECA Bylaws rendering Alex ineligible to rerun for President on the basis on Article B.4.1.3 of the ECA ByLaws:

“Current executives of another society, association or committee that has financial affiliations with ECA, excluding all ECA appointed committees, shall not be eligible to be the President or Vice-President of Finance of the Association.”

Alex was disqualified because he is also a member of the Board of Directors of our student bar, Reggie’s.

The problem with this assessment is the following:

- Reggies is an independent business that does not satisfy the definition of a society, association or committee.

- Disqualifications during campaigning period typically need to be prefaced with a warning in situations that do not grossly violate the terms and values of a society

- If Article B.4.1.3 was interpreted in such a way that would result in a disqualification, Alex should have been given an opportunity to resign from Reggie’s in order to clear the perceived conflict of interest.

Over his 3 years of service as an executive of the association, Alex has shown nothing but dedication to his role representing the students of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and working to provide them the best university experience possible, and thus we the undersigned feel that his disqualification was not in the best interest of the association, nor the members it was established to represent.

For these reasons, we would like appeal this decision and give Alex Stojda a fair chance to participate in the upcoming General Elections.

Should the CEO fail to reinstate Alex Stojda, this petition shall serve as an official call for a Special General Assembly as per article F.7 of the ECA Bylaws, whose agenda shall consist of one item of business: the unjust disqualification of Alex Stojda as candidate for the role of President.

Thank you and farewell.