CSU President Resigns

VP Services Heather Lucas appointed to finish term

NewsChristopher Curtis — Published August 24, 2010

“I am announcing this resignation with a heavy heart,” Osei told The Link before formally notifying the CSU Council on Aug. 23 of his resignation. “This is it for student politics for me.”­­

By the end of the week, Osei will be headed to Europe to pursue a Masters degree in Psychology with a full scholarship.

On Aug. 26, CSU VP Services Heather Lucas will take over as president, having been appointed by the council unanimously.

“Prince, you are an incredible leader at this school,” said an emotional Lucas. “You are one of the very few people who is so passionate for students, that would do whatever it takes to advocate for students.

“Your drive for this is encouraging and inspiring. We’re all sad but we’re also happy you are moving on with your life, finally,” she said during a tear filled session of council.

In 2009, Prince Ralph Osei was elected CSU VP Services and Loyola.

During his mandate, the charismatic VP fought to make Loyola Campus a priority at CSU Council meetings and for students at large. Osei’s tireless efforts gave way to a transformation of the Loyola Campus that many have dubbed the “Loyola Renaissance.”

Under Osei’s leadership, the CSU re-established the Loyola Luncheon—a five-day-a-week free vegetarian meal served on Loyola Campus—a heated bus shelter was constructed for students, the G Lounge underwent a series of renovations and the campus hosted a series of cultural events at The Hive.

“I thought it was a sick joke [and] it just hit me,”
—Heather Lucas,
Incoming CSU President on hearing the resignation of her predecessor.

In March, Osei swept the CSU general elections, taking the presidency with an overwhelming majority while leading a campaign to defederate from the Canadian Federation of Students, a national lobby group that had clashed with the CSU for months.

The CSU president helped mobilize Concordia students in the fight against tuition increases, often leading his peers into protests in Montreal and Quebec City.
In July, Osei received a phone call that would change his life.

“I found out I had been awarded a full scholarship to attend university in the Netherlands,” said Osei. “The opportunity of the scholarship, combined with family pressure made it difficult to say no. I took a decision and I wasn’t happy with it but honestly, tonight, it felt good to get it off my chest.”

Later that month, Osei sat Lucas down and informed her of his pending resignation.

“She was happy for me,” he said. “But she also cried and said ‘damn you Prince.’”

Lucas said she didn’t initially believe Osei.

“I thought it was a sick joke,” she said. “I was like ‘nice try it isn’t gonna happen.’ Then he said ‘No I’m serious.’ And it just hit me.”

Heather Lucas was elected as the Arts and Science Federation of Associations’ VP Internal in 2009. During her time with ASFA, the Federation developed a more transparent set of accounting practices to rectify some of her predecessors’ financial irregularities.

During the 2010 CSU General Elections, Lucas ran alongside Osei in a campaign that had her visiting classrooms in both of Concordia’s campuses while canvassing the university for nearly 12 hours a day.

“We’re all very sad today but someone needed to step up to the plate,” said Lucas. “I’ll fight the university in tuition increases wherever I can and I promise we will leave the CFS as quickly as we can.”

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 02, published August 24, 2010.