The contract of Brandon Wallingford, former vice-president (finance and administration) for the Carleton Academic Student Government (CASG), has been terminated, according to current president James Splinter who announced this in an e-mail sent to CASG councillors March 19.

“As a result he has lost all privileges, rights and titles associated with that position. He only continues to sit on our council as a result of the fact that he is student senator and we have no control over senate,” Splinter said in the e-mail.

The e-mail said Wallingford violated 13 sections of his contract. It only takes one violation for a contract to be terminated.

Wallingford said instead of discussing the upcoming elections at the CASG meeting, in which Wallingford is running for the position of president, his termination was brought forth.

“I show up and surprise, surprise, we have a list of things we don’t like about you,” said Wallingford.

The violations include Wallingford misusing his office for “personal activities and politically motivated activities,” and that Brandon consumed and kept alcohol in the CASG office after having been repeatedly asked to remove it, according to the e-mail.

The e-mail said this “could have resulted in enormous consequences if this had been discovered by the Carleton administration.”

Wallingford said many of the allegations were related to his role as vice-president (academic), which he held during the Fall 2009 semester.

Wallingford said he took the position of vice-president (finance and administration) after the position was vacated by Luke Russell during the winter break.

“I did a good job in this position,” Wallingford said.

Wallingford said he thinks Splinter is trying to shift the blame for his own lack of leadership and that this reflects worse on the CASG than on himself.

“We failed to do a lot as an executive,” said Wallingford.              

Wallingford said it is interesting that Splinter would bring up issues from Wallingford’s previous position before an election, and that he still intends to run for CASG president.

Splinter said no one will take over Wallingford’s position, and that the position has been removed from the council.

“We can save money if we’re not paying someone to do something we can do ourselves,” said Splinter.

Wallingford said the e-mail was sent to every student council member except for him, even though he is still a member of the council.

“James and I have had some personal conflicts for the past three months,” Wallingford said. “A lot of things can be explained or are not relevant anymore.”

Nick Bergamini, current Carleton University Students' Association vice-president (student issues), sent an e-mail in response to Splinter and the student council.

“The function of an executive is to provide coherent leadership,” said Bergamini in his e-mail. “It is particularly crucial that the President be able to set aside personal differences and unite his executive into an effective team.”

Bergamini’s e-mail said “this has not been the case with this year’s CASG,” and that the e-mail “crosses the line from legitimate criticism to mean-spirited character assassination.”

Wallingford said his removal was brought to a vote and that CASG members Taryn Lloyd and Matt Dick voted with Splinter to remove Wallingford.

“I think they were trying to avoid their own removal,” Wallingford said.

Rob Nettleton, who replaced Wallingford for the Winter 2010 semester as vice-president (academic), chose to abstain from the vote.

“I didn’t like the way it was handled. Also, I didn’t feel right voting on hearsay because I came into CASG late,” Nettleton said.              

Splinter said CASG couldn’t fire its members but that its policy is to remove a member if they cannot fulfill their position.              

Splinter said this policy is signed by all council members.