Call Me Ismail
New CSU CEO Already Prepping for Elections
Confusion over the hiring, and firing, of the Concordia Student Union Chief Electoral Officer last week overshadowed the position’s immediate responsibility—organizing the byelection taking place in three weeks.
With former CSU councillor Tomer Shavit promising to appeal the recent Judicial Board ruling, which ruled the hiring of CEO Bram Goldstein invalid, Ismail Holoubi, the man hired to replace Goldstein, is stepping into a volatile position.
In an interview with The Link, he expressed an awareness of what will be going on behind the scenes as he tries to coordinate the byelection, which will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.
“I [already] have access to the [CEO’s] email address, so I get all of the updates about that situation,” he said.
“I know [Shavit has] five days to file an appeal to the Judicial Board’s decision, but I’m not going to concentrate on that right now,
because I have the [byelection] to coordinate and run. So I’m trying to just work on doing the job I have to do.”
A former polling clerk in both CSU and Arts and Science Federation of Association elections, Holoubi said he had also organized elections for the Arab Students’ Association and Syrian Students Association, using the CSU bylaws.
The controversy surrounding the CEO position forced the delay of the byelections by a week, but Holoubi said that, at the current rate, things will be ready to go by Nov. 29.
“[I am] booking locations, reserving the tables and chairs, talking to security and making sure everything is going to run smoothly, coordinating with the CSU staff,” he said.
“We’re currently hiring the deputy electoral officers, there’s a job posting on the CSU website and that’s basically it. We’re trying to get the team on board to actually run the elections.”
Holoubi says he has no plans to consult with any past CEOs, and that he was trying not to get involved in any of the procedures surrounding Goldstein’s termination, saying, “Council explained why that happened, and that’s it. I just asked why.”
He acknowledged he was aware of problems with last year’s end-of-year elections, which were run by former CEO Oliver Cohen.
During those elections, there were rampant accusations of foul play by the two opposing slates, which ended in the disqualification (and eventual reinstatement) of both sides. Hoboudi said he planned to avoid those kinds of controversies by following the electoral rules as closely as possible.
“I like to work independently if I’m taking the job, and that’s what I explained to the Councillors. I know it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s manageable, as long as you follow the rules and regulations of the CSU.”
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