Hi all,
As the GSS (Graduate Student Society) representative for Land and Food Systems, I wanted to pass this on to you and also encourage you all to vote in both the GSS and AMS elections currently, but specifically for the GSS election.
In addition to voting for the standard president and various vice-president roles, there is also a very important referendum question.
The GSS is currently in a financial deficit, and the proposed referendum is asking to increase the fees collected by the GSS by $12 per year, paid out to the GSS in 3 installments of $4 in January, May, and September tuition payments.
Whether or not you are aware, the GSS has been expanding the services it offers to its membership (ALL graduate students), but expanding these services, such as yoga @ the GSS, hikes, and academic workshops, all come at a cost. Several years ago (before my time), the GSS attempted to pass a fee increase of $15 which failed. Costs in general increase over time following the consumer price index (CPI), but the fees the GSS collects have not reflected this. As such, they are trying to do more with an ever decreasing amount of money.
Without this fee increase, the GSS may cease to exist as a society, and we will default to being under the umbrella of the AMS, which does not understand the needs of graduate students.
I would implore you all to visit the GSS’s elections website: Redefine your GSS
Positions to be elected:
- President
- VP University and Academic Affairs
- VP External Relations
- VP Students
- Faculty of Graduate and Post Doctoral Studies Student Senator
As well as visit the website pertaining to the referendum question to find out more about what happens if the fee increase passes or fails: Referendum
For more information, please contact the Chief Electoral Officer (elections@gss.ubc.ca) or the current GSS President (president@gss.ubc.ca).
Cheers,
John—
Faculty of Land and Food Systems Graduate Student Council
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