Utmost Respect

I want to express support for Morgan Pudwell, ex-VP Sustainability & Promotions for the CSU, in her resignation last week.

Morgan has taken the courageous step to resign because of her sincere commitment to students’ interests and her conviction for an accountable and transparent student union.

I have seen her incredible efforts during this school year to carry out her mandate and to represent students on issues including eco-awareness, sustainability, corporate influence on campus and tuition fee increases.

Her tremendous contributions working together with students-at-large to put together the SGM/WHALE on Feb. 14 have especially left an impression on me.

Morgan has consistently put students’ interests first, and her resignation is a testament to that.
The factors leading to this are clear. Morgan was expected to comply while the rest of the executive silenced her and acted directly in conflict with the concerns students have voiced about purchasing the Faubourg for the student centre, and the disarray of the university due to corrupt governance.

She was expected to straight-up lie about their finances while the CSU was being steered by external forces in a direction detrimental to student interests—one which disregards actual student representation and instead favours the administration.

I am certain that in making this difficult decision, Morgan had the best interests of the student body in mind and that this was the only way she could be honest and transparent to her constituency.

Morgan has chosen to defend the rights of over 30,000 students she could not know individually, above many of her personal relationships, her reputation and her job. This is admirable. It is the first time I’ve seen real courage and loyalty (to students) coming from the CSU.

I have the utmost respect for Morgan and I wish her the very best.

—Irmak Bahar,
Molecular Biology

This article originally appeared in Volume 31, Issue 25, published March 8, 2011.