Ever wondered how the DIE Board works and what happens during a hearing or ruling? Here’s the breakdown: 

What is the DIE Board?

The Discipline, Interpretation, and Enforcement (DIE) Board is like the independent court of the Students' Union. The DIE Board has authority from the Students' Council to hear students' appeals, interpret and enforce our bylaws, and resolve major concerns related to the UASU bylaws, including student elections.

The DIE Board is made up of current undergraduate students at the University of Alberta. They are selected by Students’ Council, and serve for as long as they are undergraduate students, unless they are removed by Students’ Council. 

The DIE Board operates independently from the rest of the UASU to ensure impartiality and fairness in their rulings and interpretations. 

What does the DIE Board do? 

The DIE Board is like the independent judicial branch of the UASU. Its main job is to interpret and enforce Students’ Union legislation. So, fairness and impartiality are key. 

The Board will meet as required to respond to the following types of inquiries: 
-Disputes: reports and complaints that UASU legislative rules have been broken 
-Appeals: re-consideration of rulings made by the Elections Office staff during an election
-Requests for an interpretation: an official explanation or clarification of the scope of Students’ Union policies, actions, decisions and events without the need for a dispute to be brought to the Board.

How do hearings work?

When there's a dispute that needs to be resolved, a panel of DIE Board members holds a hearing. This is like a trial where evidence is presented, and everyone involved gets to make their case and respond. The hearing panel listens to everything and then makes a decision, also known as a ruling. 

How does a ruling work?

After the hearing, the panel deliberates privately and then issues a ruling. This ruling is like the judgment in a court case. It's written down and shared with everyone involved, and then published to be accessible to all members of the UASU.

Why does it matter?

Student self-determination and democracy can naturally involve complaints and sincere disagreements, but it's how we address them that reflects our values. The DIE Board ensures that the process is fair, maintaining the integrity of our union's operations and elections.

How do I get involved in the future?

If you're passionate about making a difference, consider filling vacancies on Students' Council through vacancy petitions, running for office in the future, or applying next time the UASU opens applications for DIE Board Tribunes or elections staff. Your voice could be a valuable addition.

Summary:

Appeal Opportunity: After the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) makes a ruling during elections, there’s always a fair chance to appeal their decisions. Students' Council created the DIE Board to deal with appeals like these.

Transparent Process: The DIE Board follows strict protocols to ensure fairness and transparency, and operates independently of both the Elections Office and the UASU.

Attendance: Every member of the Students' Union can attend DIE Board hearings, except for private sessions. Information about upcoming hearings is posted on the DIE Board web page.

Respectful Conduct: Disruptive behavior can lead to expulsion from the hearing.

So, next time you hear about the DIE Board, you'll know how and why it works behind the scenes.