The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) council elected three of its next vice-presidents in the second part of its annual members meetings on March 9.
At the meeting, the candidates for vice-president (internal), vice-president (student issues) and vice-president (student life) responded to questions from current and incoming councillors and executives. Council then elected those vice-presidents by secret ballot.
Vice-president (internal)
The position oversees CUSA’s governance and transparency, CUSA clubs and the administration of CUSA council.
In the role, Woldegiorgis said she will introduce a code of conduct agreement outlining behavioural expectations for executives and members of CUSA clubs.
She said the agreement would help the Clubs Oversight Commission explain its decision-making on issues like club membership removal.
In November 2024, the Charlatan published an investigation into difficulties encountered by some CUSA-certified clubs when attempting to remove members on grounds of sexual harassment or violence. Some club members said Clubs Oversight Commission decisions and university policies resulted in situations where it was unclear how campus clubs could remove members on these grounds.
Woldegiorgis also said she will introduce a conflict mediation policy, a feedback policy for students to share their concerns and professional development opportunities for CUSA councillors and clubs.
“Having those learning and bonding moments will allow for connections and more of a friendly environment to happen where you feel like you can make mistakes and you can have uncomfortable conversations,” Woldegiorgis said.
Vice-president (student issues)
The vice-president (student issues) advocates on academic, equity and social issues that are important to the student body.
Kallioinen said he would introduce a CUSA speaker series, which would serve as a “linchpin between [vice-president (student issues)] and the student body” to gather student feedback for CUSA student executives.
“It’s also a mechanism of holding our own feet to the fire,” he added.
In his role, Kallioinen also said he will advocate to the City of Ottawa and OC Transpo for improved bus service frequency, for the construction of dedicated bus lanes and for more reliable schedules.
As a current member of CUSA’s divestment subcommittee, Kallioinen said his first priority will be to finish the association’s report on students’ experiences with anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian discrimination on campus.
“The biggest thing that can help us in advocating strongly to the university for divestment is to have the research, to have collected students’ testimony [and] to have their experiences written down,” he said.
Vice-president (student life)
The vice-president (student life) plans and implements events and programming at the university to enhance the undergraduate student experience.
To increase student engagement with CUSA events, McIsaac said they would promote events on CUSA’s Instagram account and make social media engagement more “informal.”
In their role, they also said they would sit on the student life subcommittee.
“I’d love to sit on that committee … to ensure that we are catering our events to what people want and what people would like to see.”
If the referendum to increase the CUSA student levy fee by 90 per cent fails, McIsaac said they will use current resources and collaborate with the service centres to maintain engagement on campus.
They also said they would schedule “micro-events” throughout the academic year and avoid the examination period to ensure student engagement at CUSA events.
A candidate for the fourth vice-presidential role — vice-president (finance) — will be selected by a nominating committee before being recommended to council to be voted in, as per CUSA policy.
The association’s final annual members meeting will be held on March 31.
*Aidan Kallioinen has previously contributed to the Charlatan.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji.
