Month: January 2010

AMS Elections 2010

Debate: January 21 VPAd, BoG, VPAc

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 22, 2010
6 Comments on Debate: January 21 VPAd, BoG, VPAc

The following is a guest post by Bowinn Ma, EUS President 2007-2008; AMS Councilor 2006-2008; Former Hack, less so now.

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First things first: I am no longer an “Insider” of UBC. Having been “out of the game” for nearly two years now, my now antiquated and highly outdated knowledge of individual AMS politicians is proof of the impressively and depressingly volatile nature of student politics.

This has its benefits, however. Arguably, I will be able to approach all candidates with less pre-determined biases than the other writers on this magnificent blog. On the other hand, my analysis will be shallow—based mainly, if not only, only on the debates I attend. As with all political analyses, take this post with a grain of salt, or if you so choose, a cup of it.

While my final endorsements and impressions will be based on more thorough research, the aim of the game for now is to give you a pure and isolated impression of the candidates based strictly on their performance during today’s debate. For a full recap, look elsewhere. Anyone can transcribe or paraphrase.

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AMS AMS Elections 2010

Referendum: An Unprecedented Fee through “Access UBC”

Post author By Alex Lougheed
Post date January 21, 2010
22 Comments on Referendum: An Unprecedented Fee through “Access UBC”

I’ve been on campus for five years now. I probably know more about how the University and Student Society interact more than anyone else on campus. I also have my ear low to the ground, and can hear rumblings before they become issues. This is why I was dumbfounded when I learned that we would have a question on the referendum ballot to immediately transfer money to the “Access UBC Association of Disabled Students”, an organization I have never heard of.

I’m a big fan of students mobilizing to change the rules of the game. This is why I helped lower the quorum for AMS general meetings. That said, when there are questions that are ill-researched, not reviewed by anyone with their head in the game, and when they come from an organization who failed to explain who they are despite having 14 days, I have to encourage everyone to vehemently vote no.

Alex gets ranty, blames council of campus lethargy, and breaks the UBC Insiders editorial policy on endorsements prior to the weekend on the other side of the jump.

AMS AMS Elections 2010 VP External

Race Profile: VP External

UBC Insiders Analysis

Click here to skip to profiles of the candidates in this race.

The Vice-President External, otherwise known as the “just what are they doing” VP, is the person who, if doing a good job, isn’t around on campus much. Responsible for advocating to the provincial and federal governments as well as other student societies, the VPX is one of the most difficult roles to enter in to without a strong understanding of the Canadian student movement and provincial/federal politics.

Included under the portfolio are things relating to the life of a student that government exercises quite a bit of control over. Included are: transportation (U-Pass), University financing and access (financial assistance, tuition), childcare (split with the VP Academic), cost-of-living and more recently the Olympics.

Tables, profiles, and an attempt to figure out why Tim Chu is running, right around the corner.

AMS AMS Elections 2010 VP External

Referendum: Tuition Policy

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 21, 2010
16 Comments on Referendum: Tuition Policy

The Current Policy

The AMS’s current policy on tuition was passed on November 21, 2007, in preparation for a federal by-election in Vancouver Quadra. (Stephen Owen had resigned his seat to work for UBC.)

The way the policy is structured is as a set of 17 principles, divided into 4 categories: Tuition and Fees, Core Funding, Student Financial Assistance, and Research. It’s a modest document calling for, among other things:

* working with UBC, student societies and governments towards a long-term funding strategy
* opposing tuition increases greater than the British Columbia Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI), whichever is lesser
* controlling tuition at the provincial, rather than institutional level
* no differential tuition for out-of-province students
* working both with UBC and independently to lobby the province for more funding

Deconstructing the question until there’s nothing left, behind the jump.

AMS Elections 2010

Referendum: Bylaw Changes

Aside from the referendum question to modify bylaws regarding Student Court, a second question exists with Bylaw Changes. These changes are for the most part “housekeeping” changes and are intended to close loopholes and update the Bylaws to be legally compliant with the BC Society Act.

The heart of the changes are centered around altering the definition of Executives such that Council would be able to remove them from office through a 2/3 impeachment vote. Changes are also present which would bring the automatic removal of Councilors who miss too many meetings in line with the Society Act. In addition there are riders to grant the affiliated colleges (Regent, VST, etc.) voting seats on Council as well as a change to force any referenda which would alter fees to explicitly state that in the question.

Explaining it in plain English, after the jump.

AMS Elections 2010

Race Profile: VP Administration

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 21, 2010

UBC Insiders Analysis

Click here to skip to profiles of the candidates in this race.

On paper, the VP Administration does not have a lot of duties within the AMS. That changed a lot in 2008 with the successful NEW SUB referendum. Until the NEW SUB is actually opened, the VP Admin’s job will be heavily focused on making that happen. We asked about the decision this year, during negotiations with UBC, to hand over project management duties to UBC Properties Trust (UBC PT). This is something the AMS had pledged not to do, going so far on that assumption that they hired their own project managers, MHPM. The reasons for the switch have never been divulged publicly, having been discussed in camera by council. Instead, the AMS says only that this was a necessary step in order to obtain other concessions from the university on the NEW SUB project, they have not pinpointed those concessions.

We also asked about ensuring the NEW SUB is student-driven. The handover of the project to UBC PT was a step backwards and more generally, it seems like the project has shifted to the back of mind of many students. When the next VP Admin takes office, returning the student-driven focus should be a priority coming into the next step: architect selection.

More thoughts and questionnaires, behind the jump.

AMS

AMS Council: January 20, 2010

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 20, 2010
3 Comments on AMS Council: January 20, 2010

Hey! We’re back to no one taking interest in the AMS. Highlights:

1. Tuition Increase proposals from UBC
2. Student Housing demand report released
3. Council makes donation to Haiti relief efforts; doesn’t make donation to Haiti relief efforts

Catch up on five hours in five minutes, by passing the jump.

GSS

GSS Executive Elections 2010

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 20, 2010

Nominations for GSS executive positions closed yesterday. Candidate lists and events lists after the jump.

AMS AMS Elections 2010

Referendum: Impeachments

The following is a guest post by Bowinn Ma, EUS President 2007-2008; AMS Councilor 2006-2008; Former Hack, less so now.

One of the roles of guest writers is to change things up, and change things up I shall! The UBC Insiders team has done a magnificent job of creating thorough, professional, and complete postings, but what seems to be lacking is public participation. Where are the dozens of comments we used to get from people supporting and condemning opinions? Where are the flame wars and public uproars against the tragedy de jour? Where is Joe the Plumber, Little Timmy, and Big John with their stories of personal strife against the Power?

More of Bowinn’s thoughts, after the gap.

AMS Elections 2010

Race Profile: Ubyssey Board of Directors

Post author By Neal Yonson
Post date January 20, 2010
1 Comment on Race Profile: Ubyssey Board of Directors

UBC Insiders Analysis

Click here to skip to profiles of the candidates in this race.

Although the Ubyssey’s tag line is “…since 1918”, the current incarnation was created in 1995. After a shutdown for some time, the Ubyssey was re-launched in 1995, free of AMS control, as the Ubyssey Publications Society (UPS). The Ubyssey’s wikipedia page has the backstory.

Making your $5 more accountable, after the jump.