The incoming board of directors for the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union has elected Kyle Hocking as chair of the board at their first meeting on Feb. 10.
Also up for election was returning director Chris Oberle. Both candidates were nominated by incoming board members and were subjected to a series of questions from directors and members of the gallery.
When questions were completed, the board casted their votes on a secret ballot.
In an interview with The Cord following the election, Hocking expressed his priorities for training the new board, which predominantly consists of first-time directors.
“That was something we lacked a little bit in the [2009-10] board and so the learning curve was a little bit steeper,” explained Hocking, reflecting on his experience as a director on the current board.
Ensuring that new board members adapt to their roles quickly is something Hocking believes will ensure that the board accomplishes their goals.
“I’m going to be communicating with the board almost on a daily basis just with dates and things that I’m working on, meeting with them one-on-one, making sure that they’re all comfortable and they’re accomplishing their goals as well,” said Hocking.
Hocking’s plan in training the new board seemed already underway, prior to him even being elected to chair. “I’ve talked to a few past chairs who are interested in helping me out with that and I know [current chair] Saad [Aslam] is going to help me out with that as well,” he said.
Reviewing and implementing a new ends policy for the union is another of Hocking’s priorities.
He currently sits on the board ends policy committee, but he believes there are flaws in the current document which he expressed has a stronger focus on means rather than ends.
“The fact that skill development is a priority for the board and the union as a whole right now is not the way that I think the union should operate,” he stated.
“Our priority has to be lobbying for students, drafting letters of intent and taking stances,” Hocking continued, expressing his ideals for the ends policy.
