ASUO Elections Coordinator Braden Wolf resigned his post Wednesday after accepting a job with the University’s Student Orientation program.
Wolf, who ran for the academic Senate seat representing journalism students, was appointed by ASUO President Emma Kallaway after her executive ticket formed a coalition with the True Blue slate Wolf ran on. Wolf spent the summer working for Student Orientation Services and was offered a position as a student director. He accepted the job during the last week of August, he said, and notified the executive at that time. Wolf said Kallaway called him today and he formally resigned.
“I didn’t think it would be fair to the ASUO Exec to have to split my time between the orientation programs and the ASUO,” Wolf said. The position runs from the end of Week of Welcome events this year through the end of Week of Welcome events next summer, he said.
Wolf likened the decision to leaving a public sector role for a more lucrative job in the private sector. However, he said enjoyed his time with SOS this summer and said higher compensation wasn’t his reason for leaving student government. “It wasn’t an indictment in any way of the ASUO,” he said.” I was excited to be elections coordinator. I just had to decide between one and the other.”
Yesterday, ASUO Communications Director Curtis Haley said the executive was considering a raise in executive staff stipends. Any increase would have to be approved by the Programs Finance Committee in the winter and affirmed by the Senate.
Wolf’s resignation is the second in as many days. Yesterday Sen. Lidiana Soto, who ran for vice president on the True Blue slate, resigned her Senate seat.
“I’m very disappointed that he’s leaving,” Kallaway said of Wolf. “He absolutely, I think, made the right choice for himself. He was our first choice and it will be hard to fill his shoes.” Wolf’s departure comes at a time when the executive is trying to revamp the elections board by adding members to increase its efficiency during elections. Kallaway said she wants to make it easier for the board to reach a quorum to decide grievances about minor elections violations within 48 hours.
Kallaway said the changes “would move things along faster and make the elcetions process more legitimate.” When asked if she was going to pursue sweeping changes some have suggested, such as moving the board from the executive branch to the purview of the Constitution Court, Kallaway said “It’s not something that our exec wants at this time. i think its possible to legitimize the process without burdening con court.”
There is no time frame for hiring a new elections coordinator, Kallaway said. She said it is “important to keep moving” on changes to the elections board and the next coordinator will have a say in the process once hired.
Is a raise in stipends really necessary? I don’t know how much they are now, but I don’t think inadequate pay is the real problem the ASUO has when it comes to resignations. It might entice them to stay, but in the end they’ll choose the opportunity that will be most beneficial to them… regardless of whatever political loyalties/investments they may have. Eh, it happens. Life moves on.