New UMSU executive director’s name was listed on leaked CFS-BC document

Chelse McKee, staff

UMSU has hired a new executive director, former vice-president Cathy Dowd. Since she began on April 1, Dowd has taken over responsibility for overseeeing the UMSU businesses, and acting as a resource in the UMSU office.

Dowd was named in a leaked Canadian Federation of Students-B.C. (CFS-BC) document two months ago.

In February 2008, an internal CFS-BC document, called the “Referendum Campaign Plan and Tasklist,” was leaked to the Manitoban. It contained a list of potential campaigners for the Simon Fraser University CFS referendum, including UMSU president Garry Sran, and vice-president (external) Amanda Jonson, both of who attended and campaigned for CFS during the campaign and voting period in March.

In the same area of the document as Sran and Jonson, a Cathy Dowd is also listed.

On the “Outside ON” page of the document, after the list of potential protesters, a category called “Hiring” contained Cathy “Dawd” (sic) listed for Local 103, UMSU.

“According to the document, the federation is planning on getting her hired at her local students’ union. That’s the problem,” Titus Gregory, Kwantlen Students’ Association policy analyst, told the Manitoban in February.

“CFS had nothing to do with the hiring process,” Sran said. “UMSU has no knowledge of this supposed document and we were not responsible for writing it.”

The search for the new position began Dec. 20, 2007 after Cathy Anstey left the position. Nearly 50 applications were received, according to Sran.

He described the process, before announcing the new hire at the UMSU council meeting on April 3, as a “long, drawn out process.”

Dowd served as UMSU vice-president from 2004-06, with president Amanda Aziz. Her name at that time was Cathy Van De Kerckhove.

Sran served as the campaign manager for nee Van De Kerckhove when she was re-elected in 2005.

— With files from Ashley Gaboury.