York Federation of Students (YFS) is a student union which claims to represent approximately 55,000 students at York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The York Federation of Students is a member of the Canadian Federation of Students (Local 68). History The student government was founded in 1968 as the York Student Council. Around 1975, the student government had become the Council of York Student Federations. By the early 1990s the name changed to York Federation of Students by their president at the time, Jian Ghomeshi (later a CBC Radio host). About The YFS is a dues paying student union representing over 53,000 full and part-time undergrad students at the York University. The stated purpose of the YFS is to bring together the elected representatives of all the college governments on campus. The YFS also has appointed members of campus organizations into a single body. The YFS provides services such as a health plan and TTC post-secondary IDs. Unlike other student governments, it does not own or operate any campus pub, however, it does have a controlling stake on the Board of Directors for the Student Centre. Many campus organizations and clubs are recognized under the YFS. Administration The student government is administered by five full-time paid undergraduate executives, along with several full and part-time staff members. Other part-time staff are mostly made up of undergraduate students. On multiple levels, the YFS is controlled by student volunteers and paid employees. The Day-to-day operations are overseen by the elected Executive, who also run the various campaigns and provide advocacy for all undergrads and are assisted by the full-time long-term staff. The elected and appointed Board of Directors holds open meetings almost every other week each school year. The general membership (all York Students) meets to ratify the decisions of the Board of Directors as well as provide ground level participation to the operation of the YFS. Elections Elections are held every February to select the next years Executive and Board. Along with this, all the part-time positions are re-staffed annually. Volunteers also assist the YFS with campaigns and referendums on issues like the rising cost of tuition, the environment and globalization. Board of Directors (Councillors) YFS Board of Directors meet regularly. Only members of the Board of Directors hold voting rights. All votes for the YFS Board of Directors are held by the Executive, and 17 college and faculty seats (College Councillors).