former, or prospective) and other members of the University community. The Office provides information and guidance on students’ rights & responsibilities, and UVic regulations & procedures. The Ombudsperson is also an ‘agent for change’, recommending improvements to policies and advocating for fair procedures the office offers workshops and talks on conflict and communication, fairness and related issues. Other services The UVSS though the Student Union Building also offers free phones, a banner room, a darkroom and study space. Controversies The UVSS has had no shortage of controversies over the years. Here are a few: 2008-2013 Youth Protecting Youth (YPY) is an anti-abortion club at UVic and funded by students. Over the past few years there have been a number of discussions and controversies relating to their activities on-campus. In 2008 and 2009 funding was cut off as a result of the groups posters and activities. In 2010 funding and ratification were lost as a result of continuing controversial activities. In 2010 YPY launched a lawsuit against the UVSS where they were given back their withheld funding and ratification. YPY lost their booking privileges in spring 2012 because of a graphic display held on campus. YPY has since filed a constitutional lawsuit against UVic in relation to a cancelled booking in February 2013. An out-of-court settlement was agreed and as of 2017, YPY is a regular student club which participates in standard events such as "clubs day". 2010 Fraternities and Sororities were looking to get recognised by UVic and the UVSS. This resulted in one of the largest AGMs in UVSS history where students ultimately decided to not recognize the Fraternities and Sororities. The groups do continue to exist without the University recognition. 2009-2012 From 1985 to 2011 the UVSS was member local 44 of the Canadian Federation of Students. In late 2009, a petition was circulated among the membership to demand a referendum on continued membership. Despite having reached the required number of signatures, the CFS denied that the petition was valid. The UVSS retained a lawyer on behalf of the membership in order to demand a legal referendum. In March 2011, 70.5% of UVic students voted in a referendum to leave the CFS. The UVSS's membership in CFS-National ended on June 30, 2011. The provincial component of the CFS, CFS-BC, has since removed the UVSS as a member. The UVSS received two F's in the Justice Centre for Constitutional