New president announcement
Concordia will be getting a new president. The university has been without a top executive since the mysterious departure of former president Claude Lajeunesse last September.
In the meantime, the role has been filled by former Vice President Services, Michael Di Grappa, who has held a succession of titles since the fall: acting president, interim president and president for the interim period.
While the university’s Advisory Search Committee has chosen a candidate, the name of the candidate will not be made public until Feb. 15. Six candidates were interviewed for the position, said Danielle Tessier, secretary to the search committee.
The candidate will be presented at a joint session of the university’s Senate and Board of Governors, Feb. 25, at 12 p.m. at the D. B. Clarke Theatre.
CUSSU settles after seven year battle with admin
After five-and-a half years, Concordia’s administration and support staff reached a tentative agreement Monday morning. According to CUSSU (Concordia University Support Staff Union) President Andre Legault, the “Agreement in Principle” – which has not yet been released to the public – will be shown to union members at a general assembly this Friday. The union will then vote on whether to accept the deal at this assembly. While Legault wouldn’t comment on the specifics, he said he was optimistic. “We wouldn’t have an agreement in principle unless both sides thought they were satisfied,” he said. “Both sides, I would say, are happy.”
Concordia’s 450-member support staff, which includes secretaries and bookstore employees, have been without a contract since 2002. In recent months the Union has been close to striking, going as far as staging a half-day walkout early last month. The walkout caused large disruptions on campus as students looking to buy textbooks on one of the first days of class were locked out of the bookstore.
