By Scott Roberts
No matter how much former RyeSAC colleagues Sajjad Wasti and Darren Cooney have disagreed in the past five weeks, it seems they’ve both decided it’s time to move on.
For Wasti, the former RyeSAC vice-president finance and services, it means cleaning out his Jorgenson Hall office and successfully completing his business degree.
For RyeSAC, it means refocusing its attention on students’ issues and picking up the pieces of a bitterly divided council.
“Things are getting better and starting to settle down a bit [at RyeSAC] because part of the problem has been laid to rest,” said Cooney, president of RyeSAC.
“But there’s still a storm swarming around here. We still need to rebuild the executive and bring the board back together.”
The saga began some five weeks ago when Wasti wrote a letter accusing RyeSAC management of being “corrupt” and “nepotistic.”
The discussion about punishing Wasti was to take place last Monday but was halted when he entered the meeting and shocked the council with his resignation.
“The number one reason I resigned was because I knew I couldn’t work there anymore,” Wasti told The Eyeopener. “It was an option throughout the ordeal but I thought if I resigned earlier it would be too easy and that would be a disservice.”
The resignation leaves RyeSAC in a tough spot. Currently, Wasti’s duties are being divided between staff and executives but Cooney is unsure about what the permanent course of action will be.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any perfect solution here,” said Cooney. “The most important thing is ensuring that RyeSAC is functioning to the best of its ability.”
Cooney said RyeSAC has several options with regards to filling Wasti’s position. It can either hold an election to decide who will take the spot, appoint an executive member or simply leave the post vacant. If the latter is chosen, Cooney said he would end up taking over most of Wasti’s former duties.
Wasti was responsible for RyeSAC’s cooperation with community service groups but more importantly the council’s finances, including the student bursary fund.
Cooney said the bursary fund currently has between $12,000-$14,000 in it.
“There’s already a committee to oversee the bursary fund,” he said. “I’ll also be meeting with Wasti this week to discuss the issue.”
Wasti is no longer an official member, however, he said he will continue to be involved with the organization.
“Although I’m obviously not on payroll I still consider myself with RyeSAC,” he said.
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