Former CRO speaks out

By Chris Beauchamp

Former Students’ Union Chief Returning Officer Shuvaloy Majumdar recently returned to Canada after a stint doing election work in East Timor. While he was away, Majumdar’s contract with the SU was terminated by the Student’s Legislative Council after an in camera discussion on Tue., May 18.


“It’s a little silly that they felt I had to be out of the country to do it that way,” said Majumdar. “It hasn’t been explained to me why they did that yet.”


Majumdar added he didn’t feel slighted, but rather attributes his dismissal to student politics, though he did express concern that student money was wasted when the SU changed the lock on his office.


“It’s a bit of overkill to replace my door lock,” he said.


Although no official reason has been given for Majumdar’s termination, Greg Clayton, SU Vice-President Operations and Finance stated his performance had not fulfilled the expectations of the council.


Majumdar was responsible for overseeing the highly contested 2004 SU General Election. The election was overturned by the SU Review Board after a petition by failed presidential candidate Phil Barski alleged glitches in the on-line voting software materially affected the results. The election was subsequently reinstated by the highest SU judicial body, the Tribunal. The software was designed by Sorex Software Inc.


“It is important to note that the problems in the election were not in the ballot creation,” said Majumdar. “The software should have been guaranteed.”


Majumdar also said Sorex was not available to repair glitches early enough in the election when problems first became apparent.


He said all things considered, his experience at the SU had been a good one.


“There have been a lot of changes in how SU elections are held here on campus and I’m very proud to have been a small part of it,” said Majumdar. “I think in the judgement of most students I did a good job.”