Category Archives: Politics

The AMS, our student union, is having a referendum on a few issues this week (voting ends Friday.)

The following views represent nobody but me.  I’m not even sure if they represent me, haha.

I’m voting YES for the U-PASS.
Because not doing so would screw over all of the lovely commuter students .  The price increase is worth it/inevitable as the U-pass program now provides coverage for more universities.

I’m on the fence, but probably voting NO to the Fee change.

Look.  I wouldn’t mind giving more money to the Childcare Bursary Fund, or the Sexual Assault Support Centre, or the AMS Financial Assistance Fund.

But the AMS has been consistently manipulating students this election to not only pass these fees, but also the increased AMS membership fee.

First, the AMS ad campaign was extremely misleading.  Anyone looking from a regular student perspective can see that they made it seem as if we’d all lose our U-passes if we didn’t vote for the Fee change.  The two questions are completely separate.  Of course, when people have asked for clarification online and elsewhere, they will tell the truth–but I mean, there’s a reason why people are confused and asking for clarification in the first place.   Plus, I’d have to be really naive to believe the marketing campaign wasn’t intentionally trying to dupe “un-involved” and “uninformed” students.  You know, the ones who only show up to vote for questions on U-pass referenda…

Second, (more of a question), why do the rest of the fees have to be tied with the AMS membership fee?
Why didn’t they separate the question?  If the AMS council really deserves a general stash of money, it should be advocating it as a separate issue and not tying it to all the other fees.

So what is the argument for AMS membership fee increase?
From what I’ve picked up…

-We haven’t increased the fee since 1982.
Because more time = more fees, obviously.  Just keepin’ up with the rest of the world.  (P.S. If you mention inflation, I will inflate your face.  #threat)
-We don’t have to rely on our businesses.
The recession isn’t forever.
-We have the lowest student fees in the country.
And we have to lose our bragging rights because…?
-It’s only 5 bucks, you stingy #$@&^@#*!
1)not if you opt out of or are subsidized for the Medical/Dental plan 2)Insert Russell Peter’s sketch about  the importance of saving 50 cents.

All that being said, I still have to think about this one.

I’m voting NO to the Bylaw Substantive changes.
Because a constitutional change should require a lot of people.  500 is too little for a union with 48 000 members and a long history.
Plus other stuff, but that’s enough for a No for me.

I’m voting YES to the Bylaw Housekeeping changes.
Because nobody cares about this issue.

I’m voting YES to the Tuition question
Because we want Council to know that higher-level education should be affordable.  You know, in case it’s not already a priority.

I’ve compiled a few links, both pro and anti-campaigns for anyone who wants to start research:
http://ubcinsiders.ca/2011/03/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-the-fee-referendum/
http://voteams.ca/referendum/
http://noquickbuck.ca/
http://ubyssey.ca/opinion/lets-make-this-happen-vote-yes-for-fee-increase/
http://ubyssey.ca/opinion/the-ubyssey-needs-you/
http://ubcinsiders.ca/2011/02/the-upcoming-referenda-why-you-should-care-about-more-than-just-the-u-pass/
http://www.deathofdestiny.com/tysune/2011/03/07/the-ams-referendum/
http://blogs.ubc.ca/riccatina/2011/02/why-i-will-vote-yes-for-increasing-ams-fees/
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144387112291650

Or Get votin’ at the Student Service Centre!

I am a little disappointed with how personal and ideological the Voter Funded Media blogs have become this year.*

[Note for those who have no idea what I'm talking about: VFM ]

First, you have the Student Union Press taking personal jabs at elections candidates.  Seriously?  These people are volunteering their time and putting themselves at risk by running–the least they could ask for is a little bit of respect.  I realize there seems to be some sort of ideological split on campus, and that you might severely dislike the way the AMS is being run right now, but RESTORE THE SANITY.

And then you have blogs who seem willing to overlook any candidate at all associated with the “leftist” AMS Resource Groups (Social Justice Centre, Equity Office, Allies, etc.)  Courtesy of Foxtrot, UBCVanGuard, and –gasp- maybe even UBC Insiders.  (In seriousness though, I think UBC Insiders will explain soon why Omar Chaaban is not listed on the President Race page—did he not hand in his submission?)

AMS Confidential, last year’s Continuous VFM winner (who has shed all signs of the cute modesty I once adored) was one of the first to notice the candidate split amongst “commerce kids” “knollies,” and “hacks,” and will not let it go.  At the end of the day, people are people, and they should not be defined as members of these pretend slates.

Here are some links to some other blogs following the elections that haven’t, as of yet, caught up in the elections heat:
11′ Eleven”
Death of Destiny: Tyler’s Blog
Valentina’s blog
Radical Beer Tribune (To be fair, “-insertsomebody’sname- SUCKS”, as a blog entry title, is kind of uncool.)

*Most of them are UBC student blogs not actually running in the VFM

[Edit:
January 22, 2010.

It's been almost a week since I wrote this post, and the madness has only gotten worse as candidates joined the row. ]

While I’m acquainted with many of the topics discussed last night, I didn’t take notes, and I’d rather describe it from the perspective of a little first year viewing AMS politics.

I’d say 50-60 people showed up to watch it in Brock hall but apparently it was more like 70+.  And then you have the people watching the online stream – great use of social media through out the campaign by both candidates and media it seems.  It was hosted by the Ubyssey/UBC Insiders instead of the elections committee with the beloved Geoff Costeloe moderating.

Briefly on the candidates:

Pak Ho was just hilarious.  He brought some down to earth perspective on these oh so serious elections.  I totally saw Geoff’s intention when he changed his mind to leave Pak Ho with the concluding remarks: “I need this on my resume, so vote for me.”

Natalie is the kind of person that I can totally relate with.  She’s intelligent, cautious, yet determined to make the right choices.  I have a soft spot for the Stephan Dions in this world – “indecisiveness” does not necessarily entail poor leadership, but it is deceiving to the average voter.

Bijan: What a debater.  Having had checked out his website beforehand, he was repeating his own videos verbatim, which got boring, but was effective nonetheless.  I like going out to live events because you get to see what people are like between the camera cuts, and he just bounces around the room with such energy.

I believe Sean Kim was in class during the debate.

I’m glad I went, especially because Pak Ho was there to liven up what was perhaps expected to be a more heated debate.  I had already voted, but it was still worth a watch.  I think they have to potential with this type of moderation to draw in more people, so hopefully they can put it on before 7pm next year.

I am just loving the new semester, by the way.
I also picked up playing badminton again, it’s good to be back (if anyone wants to practice with a couple of rusty not-too-bad players, we’re totally up for it.)  Updates to come after this seriously scary-looking weekend of homework doom.

Hey guys,

I wish you a happy AMS elections, and get reading voter funded media!
I was just doing some, and came across this article on one of the referendum questions…while I’m not convinced it is a “scam”, it is worth consideration:

http://blogs.ubc.ca/ubcinsiders/2010/01/21/referendum-an-unprecedented-fee-through-access-ubc/

Happy informing!