After a longer than normal in-camera session, the June USU board meeting was dominated by sentimental statements and gratitude from exiting Board members who were attending their final meeting. A clarified USU position on the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and a potential new election for Honorary Treasurer were highlights.
Outgoing President Naz Sharifi was unwell and unable to attend the meeting and multiple directors including Ben Hines, Grace Wallman, and Alexander Poirier zoomed in. Outgoing Vice President Madhullikaa Singh chaired the meeting in Sharifi’s place.
CFO Michelle Tonge delivered the finance report which showed a strong surplus in May, primarily driven by higher than expected outlet revenue and income from usher services during graduations.
Immediate Past President Cole Scott-Curwood asked Tonge if this surplus was evidence the USU could be more ambitious with its budgeting in the second half of the year and Tonge was optimistic about new activities funding, “if we are tracking well we can carry that sentiment forward.”
Interim CEO Michael Bromley informed the board that a USU Risk Register to help the organisation assess potential risks is now being built into the operating routine. The register has a scale from low to severe and from July’s meeting onward any risk deemed moderate or higher will be presented to the board.
Honi Soit understands that during the in camera session, the directors discussed a potential two month extension of Bromley’s six month term.
Honi has also heard multiple reports that the Honorary Treasurer position, held by Wallman since the recent elections, is going to be vacant following her resignation.
In response to questions, Singh confirmed the position would be vacant soon, telling Honi that a democratic process would take place as normal to elect a new Treasurer.
Wallman was the only member of the left-bloc to gain a position on the new executive team after losing the Presidential race to Bryson Constable who gained the support of both Senate Appointed Directors.
Wallman appeared blindsided by the nomination from Constable and Hines and, at the time, hesitated before accepting the position. It is unclear if any other members of the left bloc will want to accept another nomination under those circumstances.
Outgoing Treasurer Nicholas Dower delivered his final report which expressed gratitude for being able to serve on the board for two years. He listed off achievements including a new enterprise agreement as well as the establishment of Food Hub and the Student Safety Conference. Singh’s VP report echoed a similar tone, highlighting the governance review and expressing full faith in the incoming first year directors.
Julia Lim and Grace Wallman then delivered the Ethnocultural and Disability reports respectively. Lim noted that the accessibility of USU safe spaces have been improved with updates to the website. Wallman informed the board that consultations and interviews to action USU’s DIAP were ongoing as well as plans to make Welcome Fest accessible.
Sargun Saluja reported that she had attended a conference run by non-profit Our Watch last Friday which focused on ending the ongoing epidemic of violence against women, telling the Board she was encouraged to hear about a Gender Based Violence Code being legislated but disappointed to hear about continued funding issues.
After delivering the Queer Report which noted preparations for the upcoming Glitter Gala in October, Alexander Poirier put on record that he was “disappointed” that the University used Welcome Fest, a USU run event, as the pretext to end the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The Encampment was “doing great work,” he said and the USU was not consulted before the email stating the University’s position was sent to staff and students. Singh confirmed that the USU was not consulted but also clarified that the organisation “serves all of our members no matter what their views are.”
A USU employee was told the meeting would finish around 3pm, when they were supposed to pack up the Cullen Room, but instead the meeting closed at 3:59pm— the longest session this year.
