issue 14 / volume 40

Douglas College student to lead

organization of Canadian journalists

» ‘Other Press’ News editor elected president of Canadian University Press

Brody Steves
Contributor

student from Douglas

College and a member of
the Other Press newspaper will
be leaving for Toronto in a few
months to lead Canada’s largest
and oldest student journalism

Press (CUP).

Patrick Vaillancourt, who
currently works as the News
editor with the Other Press,
was elected by the membership
of CUP on January 12 at their
annual general meeting in
Edmonton.

Vaillancourt said in his
address to the plenary that he
was “deeply honoured to have
received the confidence and a
mandate from the membership
of the Canadian University
Press.”

Delegates from campus
publications across Canada were
in Edmonton from January 8
to 12 for a five-day conference,
titled NASH, which focuses
on professional development
and networking opportunities.
The Other Press had sent a
delegation of eight students to
NASH, which was hosted by the
University of Alberta’s student
publication, the Gateway.

Vaillancourt had
originally been contested
in the presidential race, but
his opponent withdrew her
candidacy a few days before the
scheduled vote. Despite some
calls from the membership to
delay the election to allow fora
contested election, the plenary
gave Vaillancourt a convincing

for the next 12 months.

“Tt was just strange coming
into the conference being
perceived by the membership as

presidency,’ said Vaillancourt.
“After my opponent withdrew,
my Twitter followers list grew
substantially. That’s when I
realized that, in the blink of
an eye, I went from being a
long-shot candidate to the
presumptive winner of the
election”

In making his case to the
membership, Vaillancourt
stressed that the vision for his
presidency focuses on three
pillars: reversing the trend of
member attrition, charting
a course to organizational
sustainability, and the eventual

: reacquisition of growth. :
: “It’s certainly a lofty purpose, :
: and one which may not be :
: accomplished in a one-year term,
: but certainly a framework for

: success in these areas will be

: established,” said Vaillancourt. :
: The plenary also elected Jane :
: Lytvynenko as national bureau —:
cooperative, Canadian University : chief, in an election which Saw
: three strong candidates in the
: running for the organization's
: top editorial job. Lytvynenko :
: currently serves as CUP’s Ottawa :
: bureau chief, and will replace
: Brendan Kergin as national

: bureau chief this fall.

Outgoing CUP president

: Erin Hudson was elected as the
: CUP continuity director, and :
: will remain on the CUP Board of:
: Directors, providing guidance to:
: the incoming executive. :
: Vaillancourt said that he was :
: excited to be working with the

: new national bureau chief and

: the outgoing national executive.

“Jane's an absolutely

: fantastic person and very

: qualified for the role,” said

: Vaillancourt. “She brings with

: her some solid experience from
: the Ottawa bureau and she

: will play a major role in the

: turnaround strategy I have laid
: before the membership in the

: coming year.”

Vaillancourt also had some

: kind words for Hudson, who he's: :
: set to succeed.

“Erin Hudson came into

: the job as CUP was facing

: some of the biggest challenges

: in its 76-year history. Despite

: the challenges, she has been

: instrumental in strengthening

: the CUP brand inthe lastyear,
d -  : and I look forward to continuing :

mandate to lead the organization : :

: some of the great work she has

: done as president.’

Vaillancourt has

acknowledged that the role
an outsider and underdog for the : of president-elect of CUP is

: one that will consume much

: of his time, but has indicated

: that he would stay on as the

: News editor for the Other

: Press, the student publication

: from Douglas College, until a

: successor is found. It is known

: that Vaillancourt is one of only a
: few people with ties to Douglas

: College or the Other Press to run
: for CUP’s top job.

Vaillancourt will officially

become president of the
: Canadian University Press on
: May1.

news // 5

 

By www.patrickvaillancourt.ca

 

 

date

JANUARY 22

place

The Atrium

Coquitlam Campus

hours

9-7

last day

9-5

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