WLUSU Director resigns

At the August 23 board meeting it was announced that Yoad Avitzur had formally resigned from the board.


Graphic by Shannon Millar
Graphic by Shannon Millar

The Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union board of directors has decreased to 14 directors after the resignation of Yoad Avitzur.

At the August 23 board meeting it was announced that Avitzur had formally resigned from the board. Matt McLean, chair and chief governing officer of the board, said Avitzur approached him early in the summer with the intent of resigning.

After he took some time to think over his decision, he submitted a formal letter to the board, outlining his reasons for resigning.

“He ended up making the decision to resign from the board because of other commitments and concerns about his academics and reasonable things one would consider,” McLean said.

In the letter, Avitzur explained he was given a teaching assistant position and felt his other commitments coupled with “the importance of doing well” in his final year would prevent him from “being a good director.”

According to McLean, the constitution says the board has the choice to determine whether they need to fill the empty seat. After the board meeting where the directors discussed the positives and negatives of filling the empty position, they came to a consensus to continue the year with 14 directors.

“In a way, it’s almost better to have 14 engaged directors than 14 engaged and one that has other commitments,” McLean explained.

With the change, quorum for board meetings will change from 10 directors to nine, which McLean said will make it easier for the directors to meet and make decisions as a group.

He also noted that with the board moving to 12 directors next year from 15, this is a good opportunity for transition.

“We’re going from 15 to 12 for next year and we said as a group there’s a positive with this decision to move to 14 and see how it works out.”

McLean said he’s positive the board can fulfill their function and service with 14 directors and it’s “not necessary to fill the seat.”

If the board did decide to fill the empty seat, the Union would have had to call a special general meeting, for which the costs would be “astronomical” according to McLean.

“In the past, there have been boards that have had some directors more engaged than others and we have a great group of 14 directors.”

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