News

Campus : New chief electoral office appointed for Student Society

By Shara Lee, News Editor

The Simon Fraser Student Society has recently appointed a new Chief Electoral Officer for its Independent Electoral Commission. Panther Kuol, who served as a member of the previous IEC, will now lead the Commission as Chief. In this capacity, he will be responsible for managing all student elections conducted in the coming year.

Kuol was appointed by a majority vote from the Board of Directors and also had the endorsement of former Chief Electoral Officer J.J. McCullough.

“During his time on the IEC Panther consistently impressed me with his hard work and thoughtful mind,” said McCullough. “I knew very quickly that he was the person I would eventually want to replace myself.”

In a short speech presented to the Board of Directors Kuol expressed that he wanted to lead, but knew that this meant not making decisions unilaterally.

Kuol stated that he was confident about the work he had done on the commission in the past and confident about the new role he is stepping into. “I feel very good about getting the position and I’m looking forward to it,” said Kuol. “I’m willing to work with challenges.”

Five other positions on the IEC were also vacant. Of the five, two were filled by Melissa Dobud and Stevan Anas, who had served as previous members of the Commission. In her presentation to the Board Dobud asserted that she was “a fair minded person” and thus well suited to be part of this committee.

Anas was not present. However, McCullough spoke in favour of his appointment.

John Morrison III and Chen Shen were the other two candidates who applied for a place on the Commission. Morrison stated that he was very capable of working in a group setting and displayed his outgoing and friendly manner in his presentation to the Board. He was appointed shortly after.

Shen gave a less compelling presentation. “Seeing as one day I want to be a lawyer and a judge, I am very capable of being impartial,” said Shen. The Board decided not to ratify him.

“I think it’s going to be good,” said SFSS President Joe Paling said of the new Commission. “The people who were elected are all very capable.”

When asked what he thought of the new Commission he would lead, Kuol admitted that he was pleased. “It’s good that I’m going to work with familiar people. I was happy that Melissa and Stevan will be working with me, but I’m always happy to work with new people,” he said.

Kuol told The Peak that he hopes this new Commission will “serve students and abide by the rules.”