The ANU Union has filled the casual vacancy left by the resignation of Jack Gracie with 2nd year Political Science and Economics student, Josh Bolitho.

Bolitho was elected through an ordinary resolution passed by the Board of Directors on August 22.

Chair of the Union, Josh Orchard, affirmed his confidence in Bolitho as the person “best suited to take the Union forward next year and beyond”.

“Mr Bolitho [has] a background in finance and accounting, as well as being more familiar than most with Union operations”.

Jack Gracie, who was elected to the Board in 2012 and due to retire in March 2015, resigned short of finishing his term due to personal circumstances.

“Jack was unable to continue serving as a Director of the Board due to the commitments of work which meant that he was unable to devote as much time and attention to the Union as he would have liked” writes Orchard.

“The Union faces significant financial and organization challenges…Jack believed the Union need[s] someone who is able to devote 100% to the organization”.

A call for nominations was released on the ANU Union in early August. The call was publicised by posters around the Union building, a notice on the Union website and in print by Woroni. Although an arrangement with ANUSA to advertise the position “never eventuated”, Orchard commented that he was satisfied with the response from the student body.

“Considering we had six quality candidates, I feel the advertising was adequate”.

Despite this, the Union have not yet publicly announced the results of this recent resolution nor updated their website with the outcome. This follows a tradition of poor communication on behalf of the Board; in June this year Orchard acknowledged that advertising for the Union’s woefully attended AGM “went through the cracks”.

Nominees were required to submit a 200-word statement to the Board for consideration. Speeches were not heard by the Directors due to the absence of some applicants at the meeting.

Despite the presence of clear political factions on the Board, Orchard stated that he was not required to exercise his casting vote. Bolitho is a member of Student Unity, and joins fellow members Orchard and Director Megan Lane on the Board.

The ANU Union is a non-profit, student run body that operates a number of services and food outlets within the Union building and around the ANU campus. Elections are held every March to vote in new Directors to the Board. Successful candidates who are elected through the normal process begin their tenure in April.

The Board is composed of six student members of the Union and one postgraduate member, all of whom serve a two year term on the board, as well as the PARSA and ANUSA Presidents, a representative of the Council of the University and the Vice-Chancellor. All but the ANUSA and PARSA Presidents are entitled to vote in a general resolution for the filling of casual vacancies.