Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) president David Oladejo and vice-president (finance) Luke Taylor will be absorbing the role of vice-president (student life) Abdullah Jaber following his official resignation at a council meeting held Jan. 8.
Prior to the meeting, Jaber announced via Instagram that he will be studying chiropratic medicine at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Jaber told the Charlatan he applied for the program “because it is known for being one of the best chiropractic colleges in the world, and they have a goal to not just make chiropractors, but the best chiropractors.”
“I suffered a severe cervical spine injury playing rugby when I was 19—it was a very scary moment in my life,” he said. “At the time, my girlfriend—who was studying chiropractic in Quebec—suggested I see a chiropractor and it was the best decision I made for my health. It literally saved me.”
According to Oladejo, Jaber could not defer his acceptance due to the academic calendar in universities in New Zealand differing from those in North America.
Universities in New Zealand follow a four-semester schedule that begin an academic year in early February and end in mid-December.
“This is a situation that is uncommon, and it’s something I haven’t had to face until now in my term,” Oladejo said. “But, because the vice-president (student life) executive role is quite heavy in the fall semester and not so much in the winter semester, other executives are able to support that role easier right now.”
He added absorbing the role for the rest of the semester instead of hiring someone to replace Jaber would also allow for CUSA to save over $9,800 in executive pay that can be used elsewhere.
At the council meeting, Jaber said he was able to implement a lot of change during his nearly two-year term as an executive including an increased commitment in programming for marginalized groups on campus.
But, Jaber said he also faced a lot of mental distress due to the events that transpired during the 2018 CUSA elections.
“Please make sure your constituents treat every candidate out there with all due respect this election season,” he told councillors at the meeting.
“I went through a very depressing year due to the fact that I had to deal with a lot of stuff that I didn’t really have to deal with,” he said.
“There’s been moments where I slept in my bed for three days, and couldn’t get out of bed because people were painting me as a certain picture, and that’s something I do not appreciate and I do not wish upon anyone.”
Jaber told the Charlatan he wants the incoming vice-president (student life) to continue the work he started for marginalized communities on campus such as events for Indigenous peoples, programming around Black history month and Islam awareness week.
“I want the future vice-president (student life) to know that they can do anything with their position. I was very scared in my first term thinking I’m not allowed to do certain things, but I was so wrong,” he said.
Oladejo said the incoming vice-president (student life)—elected after the 2019 CUSA elections—will be expected to “take on a lot” unlike ordinary transition periods for other incoming executives.
Transition periods are unpaid, informal shadowing weeks towards the end of an executive’s term where they prepare the incoming executive for their term.
“We wish AJ the best of luck in his new adventure,” Oladejo said.
Jaber will officially leave his post at CUSA in two weeks, and will begin his studies in New Zealand at the end of January.
Students can vote to elect the next vice-president (student life) on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31 online and at polling stations.
File photo
