After a long search-and-interview process, Laurier Brantford finally selected a new Dean of Students for the campus. However, the administration’s relief was short-lived.

“We had selected and offered the position to somebody, unfortunately after accepting that person had to back out due to personal reasons,” explains Ross Fraser, former Student Affairs Coordinator.

This left a small but essential hole in the university’s power structure. Stepping up to help is Ross Fraser, a familiar face from the school’s administration. Fraser, who previously occupied the position of Student Affairs Coordinator, was named as the Student Support Specialist on December 1, 2010. According to a press release from the university dated November 24, 2010, the position’s key responsibilities include “Student Liaison and Support, Stewardship of the Quality of the Student Life, Student Leadership and Recognition.”

The absence of a Dean of Students won’t likely impact the daily scholastic routine of students. In fact, one could argue that although the title of Dean is one that every student has heard, few know what exactly power that title wields. The Dean of Students represents the one thing that every school needs to survive: students.

They oversee the Student Conduct Board, which is a peer based group concerned with non-academic student behaviour issues. Along with overseeing the board he is responsible for forming faculty partnerships. Essentially the Dean of Students is the voice of the students; they are able to share ideas and opinions with other administrative members of the university, both here and in Waterloo.

Laurier Brantford is currently in the process of finding another person willing to take up the position. Once that time is up and that someone has been selected, Fraser will go back to being the Student Affairs Coordinator.

Fraser hopes that he can use his temporary position to address issues that the previous dean was assigned to do – mainly, affairs involving student support. The student contact part of the position is the main focus of the temporary job. This is to cover short-term needs.

“We wanted to make sure that Brantford got the support it needed,” says Fraser.

“This is so that the students here had someone to go talk to when they needed it.”

While in this temporary position, he hopes to be especially approachable and accessible to students. Fraser is well spoken and willing to talk to students who are just as willing to do the same. Like many extroverts, he is happy, friendly and always ready to help people. He thinks this will go a long way in this new role.

Fraser will hold this position until the end of June.

“Hopefully we will have found a new dean by then,” says Fraser.