Legacy

CUTSA’s outstanding and phenomenal growth can be attributed to the tireless commitment and dedication of many of its members over more than two decades. It is mainly due to such hard work that we hold our heads high with pride, not just as an organization within Carleton University, but also within the entire Tamil community. It is therefore a necessity to look back and reflect back upon the factors that have brought us to where we are today. The purpose of this article is not to provide a list of all the achievements of CUTSA over the past two decades, since it will not only be a chapter on it’s own, but also because we lack proper documentation of the many such achievements. Therefore, we provide below a summary of the contributions made by CUTSA’s members to itself and to the community at large, each year.

1988 – 1989 President: Sathiya
The ten Tamil students who attended Carleton University during this year were the ones responsible for sowing the seeds for the Carleton University Tamil Students Association. The Association was unofficially formed in month of October and in November, with the CUSA’s approval; it became an official member of the Carleton University Students Associations. The constitution was also drafted in this year with just two executives President and a Secretary.

1990 – 1991 President: Rajaratnam Rajeshwaran
In this academic year, there had been fifteen members in the association, including three female members. Executive members were selected for the positions of Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, while the President was selected unanimously. With two major issues, namely, to bring together students and the Tamil community at large, and to bring about an awareness of the

Tamil culture within the younger generation, it was decided that a Kalai Vizha be held. Due to the limited people base at that time, lottery tickets and the member ship fee were utilized t conduct the Kalai Vizha. It showed the dedication of CUTSA’s members with all fifteen members taking part in the show at a high school auditorium, while the general public helped out with short eats.

1991 – 1992 President: Muthiah Ranesh
There were approximately twenty members in the association during this academic year. Even with limited participation from the members during this year, a Kalai Vizha was conducted with various musical programs and cultural shows.

1991 1992 President: Selventhiran
The President for this committee was selected unanimously. For the first time in CUTSA’s history, a summer picnic was held with the participation of its old members. There were approximately fifty members during this academic year that saw a female student become an executive member for the first time. An important aspect of this year’s Kalai Vizha, apart from the various programs from Toronto, was that the chief guest was a lecturer who had studied Tamil at Carleton’s Linguistics Department.

1992 – 1993 President: Panchalingam Sothinathan
A summer picnic was organized for this year as well. Membership increased to seventy-five, with the arrival new students. A get together was organized for the new members and CUTSA also got it’s own logo during this year. The position of Sports Coordinator was also created in this year. In association with CICA, a South Indian cultural association, CUTSA conducted a Tamil musical program featuring Pithukuli Murugadoss. Other firsts for this year were the release of the Kalai Vizha Malar and the certificates of appreciation awarded to the Kalai Vizha participants. Even though musicians from Toronto provided the musical program in the Kalai Vizha, our students joined in, bringing out their own talents. The drama staged in this Kalai Vizha not only stole the spotlight here, but also in various other stages.

1993 – 1994 President: Kanagasabapathy Manimaran
The new committee organized a summer picnic and a get together. For the first time, as per the request of the members, fellow students conducted tutorial classes for the members of CUTSA. Before the arrival of new students, meetings were held in Toronto to explain them, the education system at Carleton University and the methods of renting rooms in Ottawa. There were a total of hundred and ten members during this academic year. For the first time, Kalai Vizha was conducted in a grand manner at Carleton’s own Southam Theatre.
Various new events were also added to the usual Kalai Vizha event list. A major contribution was made to the Jaffna University in form a donation o $2000.Even though the then President Manimaran is no longer with us, the tradition that he started out with the tutorial classes and the contributions made to our people back home, lives on with us. At this time, it is very essential that every one of us pay our sincere respect to this very dedicated and hardworking friend.

1994 – 1995 President: Manikavasagan Nareshan
The membership further increased to about hundred and forty students. CUTSA’s own bulletin board was introduced. In this academic year, thousand dollars were sent to the Jaffna University as part of CUTSA’s tradition of helping our people in back home.

1995 – 1996 President: Kanendran Sivayogasundaram
A summer picnic and the frosh party were held as usual, but with increased participation from the members. There were approximately two hundred and ten members in the association during this year. A special representative was selected for the position of public relations and a total of four thousand three hundred dollars was collected and presented to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization. This represented another major milestone in CUTSA’ history.

1996 – 1997 President: Sathiyalingham Nannithambi
The executive members were selected from an election. Just as the normal routine, the summer sports meet and picnic were held. A cultural show was organized in Toronto and the profit was handed over to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization to help our people in back home. The home page for CUTSA was created. A memorandum, reflecting the ongoing massacres, was submitted to the United Nations and the Canadian Parliament. A grad party was organized for the first time CUTSA

1997 – 1998 President: Athithan Gunaratnam
The executive committee was unanimously selected without an election. A musical album for the first time, called “Arumbuhal”, was released by CUTSA for Tamil Rehabilitation Organization funds. All the lyrics, music, and composing were done by the Carleton University Tamil students. As usual a successful cultural show was staged.In addition to these events a demonstration in support if the release of our fellow student Thivyn Krishnasamy, was held in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission, Ottawa in the name of “ Call for Action”. Newly introduced a web-based newsgroup. TNA’s Cricket Challenge cup was won by winning their tournament for the three years consecutively. CUTSA wall mural was painted. Akkinikkunju (English version CUTSA monthly) newspaper was released. Three-selected personal were honored for their participation in CUTSA for the year 2001-2002 in Graduation Party.

2002 – 2003 President: Panchalingam Navaratnam
Unanimously an executive committee was selected without competition. Two of them resigned and 2 more were appointed. CUTSA organized a Sports Meet, Picnic, Frosh Party, Kalai Vizha Ottawa, Saraswathy Pooja, Hero’s Day, Ponmali Poluthu, and Grad Party. The newsgroup was moved into the more secure Connect Mail.

2003 – 2004 President: Ganeshkumar Subramaniam
Unanimously an executive committee was selected without competition at the beginning of the school year. The newsgroup features such as chat was introduced to the members. CUTSA members took part in the student orientation program that was held in northern Sri Lanka and the Student Organization of World Tami Movement organized this student orientation program. Members who took part in this orientation gathered information about students needs and issues in our homeland. The gathered information was broadcasted to all CUTSA members in CUTSA meeting. CUTSA organized Frosh Party, Saraswathy Pooja, Hero’s Day, Kalai Vizha in Toronto and in Ottawa, 3-On-3 Basketball Tournament and Grad Party.

2004 – 2005 President: Satheejan Guganathan
Executive committee was selected by election with competition for the positions of Secretary, Treasure, and the Vice President. CUTSA started with the picnic, frosh party and then greatly supported the Pongu Thamil held in Toronto. 2nd Ponmalai Polluthu was organized followed by Saraswathy pooja, Heroes day and display for the first term. CUTSA with the help of the graduates led a massive fundraiser for the unexpected Tsunami devastation during the Christmas break. Second term continued with fundraising events
for Tsunami relief. A spectacular Kalai Vizha was organized in Ottawa followed by the sports events and the Grad party. All proceeds close to $30000 were donated for Tsunami relieves and development work.

2005 – 2006 President: Thiruvarangan Piranavam
The Esecutive committee was elected by an election. During this term CUTSA had much of its regular events and a Conference on Violence against Students in the North and East Sri Lanka. The conference attracted speakers from the Canadian Students Federation, Carleton University Students Association, Non governmental Organization, Honorable members of Parliament, students, general public and media. The conference debated issues on Canadian foreign policies and student right to education. As usual, CUTSIS had the opportunity joining at the Summer Picnic, Frosh Party, Saraswathy Pooja, Toronto and Ottawa Kalai Vizha, Grad Party and Cricket, Volleyball and Basket Ball Tournaments. CUTSA joined the Canadian Tamil Congress in campaigning for the 2006 Federal Elections. CUTSA also started campaigning for space for CUTSA on Campus.

2006 – 2007 President: Satheeskumar Sivasubramaniam
The executive committee was elected by election during winter term of 2006. As usual, CUTSIS had the opportunity to joining the Summer Picnic. In addition as sports Cricket, Volleyball tournaments were organized. Furthermore, Frosh Party, Saraswathy Pooja, Maaveerar Naal, and Ottawa Kalai Vizha were organized. CUTSA also participated in the demonstration to show the union of Tamils and to make the voice be heard by the government of organization and throughout the world. The Grad Party for the Tamil graduates fo Carleton was organized by the Grad Committee.

2007– 2008 President: Stephen Jeevaratnam
The committee was elected by the election, involving the members of the Carleton University Students Association, during the winter term of 2007. The committee started off this year by supporting the movement to Stop Errorism. This was followed by the successful Cricket Tournament. To welcome the first years into the community and introduce them to CUTSA, a Frosh party was organized. Furthermore, Saraswathy Pooja, Maaveerar Naal and the Kalai VIzha were also successfully organized and implemented. The Iron Ring and Grad Party were organized by the Grad Committee of 2008.

2008 – 2009 President: Janarthanan Sivarajah
The executive committee was selected unanimously, without competition. The term began with a Summer Picnic in collaboration with the University of Ottawa  Tamil Students’ Union. Also during the summer period, a successful Cricket Tournament was held.  The Frosh party was organized to welcome first years to the  Carleton Tamil community. To create awareness of Tamils suffering in Sri Lanka, a letter writing campaign, VOICE, was organized and executed. This was followed by a signature campaign to request the Prime Minister to urge the government of Sri Lanka to stop the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka. This was accomplished with the support of UOTSU. Heros day was also held to pay tribute the fallen. The scheduled annual Kalai Vizha was later cancelled due to the unrest situation created by the horrific shelling on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

2009 – 2010 President: Niranjan Balachandran

2010 – 2011 President: Sujeebavan Manoharan