The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) is fighting back against its eviction notice — claiming the university doesn’t have the authority to order such a move under the organization’s constitution.

In a letter to administration, URSU’s vice president of operations and finance Jwalant Patel said the university’s recent directive, instructing campus security to restrict URSU executives and staff to retrieving only personal property from its offices, is unfounded.

The directive cited Article XV of URSU’s constitution, which outlines that all assets, property and information held by the union will be held in a trust by the university until a successor organization is formed.

The union argues that its dissolution can only occur through a vote by the membership, which has not happened.

“The university’s unilateral eviction notice is not equivalent to dissolution under the constitution. No vote of the membership has taken place to dissolve URSU,” the letter read.

“Failure to respect URSU’s constitutional requirements not only undermines student democratic rights but also exposes the university to potential claims of unlawful interference with a non-profit corporation’s governance and assets.”

The union ended off by requesting that the university immediately rescind its instructions to campus security.

Jeff Keshen, the U of R’s president and vice chancellor, announced on Aug. 18 that URSU’s main lease agreement with the university had been terminated.

As a result, all staff with the organization were instructed to vacate the spaces they occupy on campus. That includes URSU’s offices, the multi-purpose room in the Riddel Centre and the Lazy Owl, which will remain closed until further notice.

In April, the U of R terminated its fee collection agreement with the student’s union after it “lost confidence” in URSU’s ability to serve and represent those on campus.

The university said it made the decision after months of failed attempts to offer financial and governance assistance to the organization.

Prior to that decision, URSU had attracted criticism by attempting to cease funding for several organizations on campus, including the UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, the Women’s Centre and the Regina chapter of Engineering Without Borders.