Three high-level Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) staff members resigned during the month of September.
The resignations impact three key roles in CUSA’s full-time team. Samuel Kilgour, CUSA’s former director of operations, resigned on Sept. 27. Ellie Sheppard, CUSA’s former charitable initiatives manager, resigned in September. Michelle Li, CUSA’s former events and programming coordinator, also resigned in September.
The now-vacant positions manage the association’s events and programming, grant funding acquisition and general operations as a multi-million-dollar not-for-profit organization.
Kilgour and Li did not respond to the Charlatan’s request for comment in time for publication, while Sheppard declined the Charlatan’s request for comment.
The September departures follow the resignation of Nawaila Imtiaz, CUSA’s former vice-president (student life), on Aug. 12. Imtiaz cited a new employment opportunity and the “difficult” politics and dynamics of student government as reasons for her departure.
CUSA president Sarah El Fitori addressed the resignations during a Sept. 30 council meeting, saying she believes it is important for council to be informed.
Resignation letters were provided “without any notice period,” El Fitori told council, making the transition challenging to navigate.
“As we move forward, I want to emphasize the importance of unity and teamwork,” El Fitori said. “Now more than ever, it is crucial to come together and support one another.”
When asked about the reasons for the resignations, El Fitori said most of the former staff members had found new jobs before leaving CUSA, which stemmed from financial concerns over the summer.
“When we were informed of our financial state [over the summer], a lot of people did start to worry and start[ed] looking for other jobs,” El Fitori said, adding staff knew there might be incoming layoffs at CUSA.
Financial projections put the association at an $85,000 budget shortfall at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
In response to a question about the resignations’ impact on CUSA, El Fitori said it was “very upsetting to lose such important members of [the] team.”
“It’s out of all of our control. It’s not something that anybody could have projected that would be happening,” she said. “It actually puts us a little bit in a better financial position.”
In a later statement emailed to the Charlatan, El Fitori said there are interim measures in place to “ensure a smooth transition and continuation of services.”
“We are confident in our ability to maintain the standard of support and operations that our students rely on,” she wrote.
CUSA has yet to release a public plan to fill the now-vacant positions
She added that working to meet the student community’s needs in a student-led organization is a unique experience that requires adaptability, collaboration and the ability to thrive in a constantly evolving environment.
“Not everyone is prepared for that kind of atmosphere, but we remain committed to supporting those who are passionate about contributing to the student experience,” El Fitori wrote.
“What does it say about CUSA? I think that’s up to everyone to decide for themselves,” El Fitori said during the September meeting.
A previous version of this article referred to CUSA as a non-profit instead of a not-for-profit. This article was last updated on Nov. 8, 2024 to reflect this change. The Charlatan regrets this error.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
