The Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG) hired a new vice-president (internal).
Gray Simms will replace Lindsey Keene, who stepped down from her position in July to pursue a different job. Simms’ hiring must be approved by CASG council once it is formed in October.
CASG president Dakota Livingston told the Charlatan Simms was chosen out of nine candidates for the position. She said Simms’ experience in policy writing and maintaining governing documents made him ideal for the position.
Simms is currently serving as the chair of the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) board. Last year, he was a public affairs councillor on the CUSA council.
Simms said he believed he would be a good fit for the position due to his experience with CUSA.
“I [am] excited at the prospect of getting involved with the academic side of student governance,” Simms wrote in an email to the Charlatan.
CASG’s bylaws do not restrict someone from holding an executive position while they’re a member of the CUSA board.
Livingston said CASG discussed potential conflicts of interest with Gray during the interview process and determined there would be none. Simms added he consulted with both CUSA and an independent third party, who has experience in B.C. local government, prior to applying.
Simms said he determined the two positions would not be in conflict as they do not “compete for funding, space, jurisdiction, nor does one sell or provide a service or funding to the other.”
If a conflict of interest were to arise, Livingston said, Simms would recuse himself from the conversation.
Featured graphic by Sara Mizannojehdehi.
