The Insiders
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Jan
29
Issue of the Day: First-Year Students
Posted by: Neal Yonson | January 29, 2007 | 12 Comments
The AMS has done a terrific job in addressing issues of systemic barriers to access. (Note: by “access” I refer to the general ability to participate in the AMS, both in terms of services and in government.) See the gender-neutral washroom, its bursary fund, cab fares after midnight, and childcare for examples.
But take a quick glance at the demographics of AMS Council and, by extension, AMS executives. I note two glaring deficiencies. The first is an absence of first-year students, the second is the absence of non-native English speakers. Herewith begins my two-part series on AMS Access – First Year Students.
There are two ways to get involved directly with the AMS. The first is to sit on Council, the second is to win a campus-wide election. It’s very very difficult for a first-year student (FYS) to achieve either. Since the undergraduate societies hold their elections in the spring, for a FYS to be on Council there pretty much has to be a vacancy at some point during the year, and some way to win the ensuing election. It’s very difficult.
Some would argue that undergraduate societies (and their respective first-year committees) serve the purpose of engaging first-year students. That certainly may be true. But the situation begs for more first-year involvement, and we’re doing them no favors by ghettoizing them in their faculty committees. The other argument is that FYS may not have enough of a grasp on campus issues, and need to learn a little before taking an active role. Again, that may be true. But consider the flip-side; by the time people get on AMS Council they are comfortably ensconced in the University, they have a place. They’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a first-year, and the gut, visceral feelings it could inspire. And that’s a valuable perspective we’d do well not to exclude.
(I should also note that the elections results will be held in the Gallery. I certainly hope that there is some arrangement whereby the underage candidates can participate in the Elections merriment, too.)
What solutions have been tried? We’ve attempted a first-year society in two successive years, each of which suffered from a lack of buy-in from various parties. Or maybe it was a doomed idea to begin with. The AMS used to have a frosh rep on Council; the position was once held by A. Kim Campbell, who would go on to become Prime Minister. Ought there to be some direct way to engage first-year students with the AMS? Or is the status quo sufficient?
The Candidates:
No candidates explicitly refer to first-year students in their platforms.
Alfie Lee (Senate) and Hillson Tse (BoG/Senate) are the only first-year students currently running for election. Jaspreet Khangura is in first-year Med, but that So doesn’t count.
Jerry Fan Fan ran for President, BoG, and Senate as a first-year student.
Comments
12 Comments so far
Talking of no first year student involvement, Tim, you are mistaken. Go to the AMS Council. Ask for the reps from the faculty of art. there’s at least one rep from the first year.
Talking of no first year student involvement, Tim, you are mistaken. Go to the AMS Council. Ask for the reps from the faculty of art. there’s at least one rep from the first year.
I never said it was impossible… it’s just rare and requires a coincidence of circumstances that ought not to be necessary conditions for first-year involvement.
The AUS fills their Council reps in March. They only change in Sept (or later) if there’s a vacancy.
I never said it was impossible… it’s just rare and requires a coincidence of circumstances that ought not to be necessary conditions for first-year involvement.
The AUS fills their Council reps in March. They only change in Sept (or later) if there’s a vacancy.
Please explain your reference to “cab fares after midnight.” Thanks.
Please explain your reference to “cab fares after midnight.” Thanks.
If AMS Council, for whatever reason, goes past midnight (usually for a legitimate reason given its 10pm end time), cab fare is covered for those that are no longer able to use the bus. To my knowledge, it has been used no more than once or twice.
If AMS Council, for whatever reason, goes past midnight (usually for a legitimate reason given its 10pm end time), cab fare is covered for those that are no longer able to use the bus. To my knowledge, it has been used no more than once or twice.
Well, as a first year student, I don’t have nearly enough information to be able to say how I could get more involved. :'(
Well, as a first year student, I don’t have nearly enough information to be able to say how I could get more involved. :'(
Anon 10:40 –
Therein lies the problem. It’s a vicious cycle of informational inadequacy. It’s hard for us to relate to the needs of first-year students, because we haven’t been first-years for, well, years.
Anon 10:40 –
Therein lies the problem. It’s a vicious cycle of informational inadequacy. It’s hard for us to relate to the needs of first-year students, because we haven’t been first-years for, well, years.