#amscouncil

[dannylean]

Morning hikes 👌 #amscouncil #princeton (à RockRidge Canyon)

[dannylean]

AMS Council Retreat 2016 ✌ #amscouncil #princeton (à RockRidge Canyon)

[ubcunderground]

Bahareh's response (oh em gee it's good)

In response to Janzen Lee's long-ass rant post about VPX, Bahareh Jokar, had some feelz about his shitting on her office. 

We're just going to leave this here and let you enjoy every last morsel of this Blue Chip cookie cake. 

How irrelevant is the AMS? What does your AMS do for you? According to a certain candidate’s platform nothing. As the current Vice-President External Affairs, that concerns me. Clearly this candidate has done no research, and has made no effort in understanding the role of the Vice-President External Affairs in addition to vast assortment of services offered by the AMS. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what myself and my amazing team have accomplished this year.

During the summer we organized Western Canada’s LARGEST student association leadership conference. (ED note: don't worry, the SLC is still wayyyy bigger) A.K.A The Student Union Development Summit (which also happened to be the largest, most successful, and profitable conference the AMS has hosted in the last decade). We had speakers including, but not limited to:

1)     Reconciliation Canada

2)     Elections Canada

3)     City of Vancouver Corporate and Communication Planning

4)     Ohh La La Mobile Solution

5)     Spencer Keys (Government Relations Advisor)

6)     And presentations from all the Executives of the AMS on their respective portfolios.

We had upwards of 80 delegates from 9 provinces, representing 25 student associations across Canada. 

Lee stated that “the External Vice-President whose mandate is to lobby municipal, provincial, and federal government on behalf of the students of UBC has been operating in the shadows, leaving students unaware of the work that is being done.”

So clearly ... I’m Batman! Or better yet, I’m an executive that has been making regular updates to the Board of Directors (a.k.a Council), and providing regular ternary reports that are made public http://www.ams.ubc.ca/leadership/council/agenda-minutes/.

In September we began building relationships with elected representatives, particularly on the issue of the upcoming public transit referendum. We effectively voiced our concern about the Referendum taking place in the summer, as there would be highly reduced number of student on all Campuses across Metro Vancouver. I think our plight was heard, since now the referendum is taking place from March through May.

In October, I was a delegate at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Conference, where elected Municipal and Provincial officials came together to discuss issues facing BC residents across all municipalities. I spoke with more elected representatives than I can count, and the AMS/UBC GSS where the only student representatives at this conference of more the 2000 delegates. Additionally, I was a presenter at the UBCM alongside Elections Canada and the City of Vancouver to an audience of 100 people, talking about youth civic engagement.

In November, the AMS effectively was responding to the proposed housing and tuition increases while promoting the Municipal elections. The office of the Vice-President External invited the City of Vancouver to help register students to vote, and to raise the profile around voter engagement. Additionally, we held a forum that invited both candidates from for Electoral Area A to talk about their platforms, while canvasing at all major campus locations raising awareness about the fact that Municipal Elections were happening.

In November, I made my way to Ottawa where I was representing the AMS along with upwards of 30 other Canadian student association to the MPs on parliament hill. My objective as an observer at the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations was to gain a better understanding of federal student lobbying, and to report back to our board on how we can better engage provincial and municipal elected representatives. While in Ottawa I met with the following MP’s:

- Senator Percy E. Downe, Prince Edward Island

- MP Joyce Murray, Vancouver-Quadra

- MP Malcolm Allen, Welland

- MP Jean Crowder, Nanaimo-Cowichan

- MP Mike Sullivan, York South-Weston

- MP Mylene Freeman, Papineau-Mirabel

- MP Wei Young, Vancouver South

 We talked about the following student issues:

-          Expansion of the Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants programs

-          Increased institutional support for the indirect costs of research

-          Elimination of the 2% cap on the Post-Secondary Student Support Program

-          Enhancing Canada’s Labour Market Information

-          Renewal of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with a focus on students

All this information was made public through our minutes, since I have been reporting on all the work of the Office of the Vice-President External this year.

In December, the Office of the Vice-President External launched the pilot for the Democracy Talks Program, which is designed to promote civic engagement among typically disengaged communities. Our pilot program was well attended, and I look forward to recommending additional work to be done on this profile with the assistance of our University and External Relations Advisor.

In January the Office of the Vice-President External went full swing into the Metro Vancouver Transit Referendum. I was honored when the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition (BTTC) approached me sit as the Student Co-Chair of the BTTC alongside Iain Black (CEO of Vancouver Board of Trade), Peter Robinson (CEO of David Suzuki Foundation), and Gavin McGarrigle (Area Director for UNIFOR). Currently, within my capacity as VP External and a BTTC Co-chair, I am coordinating the Metro Vancouver Student Campaign that is targeting over 145 000 students across Metro Van.

In February, the president of the Graduate Student Society and I attended the Alliance of BC Students 4th annual Lobby Days, and hands down our best lobbying effort to date. We had meeting with upwards of 40 MLA’s collectively. I attended meeting with the Minister of Advanced Education, the Deputy Minister of Advanced education, the Minister of Jobs and Industry, the Leader of the Opposition, the Opposition Critic for Advanced Education and more. We talked about the grace period on interest rates, BC’s rate of interest on provincial student loans, trades programs, housing legislation/policy that would protect the rights of student renters on campuses, and more.

Why am I doing all of this? Because, this candidate believes that you can storm into the office of an elected official and demand that your needs get met. Unfortunately, it is very easy to be dismissed if you do not have effective research and composure in your meetings. Additionally,  the reality is that lobbying takes time, and it only becomes effective if students are seen to be voting in municipal, provincial, and federal elections.  

With that, I urge you to get registered if you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18, together we can pass the upcoming Metro Vancouver Transit Referendum, the first of its kind in Canadian history.

Together we can, together WE SAY YES to better transit, cleaner cities, more accessible and affordable housing options, and the longevity of the U-PASS BC program.

If you have any questions about the workings of the VP External Office, or any of the projects that we have worked on this past year, feel free to contact me at [email protected].

Smooches,

Bahareh Jokar

Your Loyal Vice-President External Affairs

Basically Bahareh is saying fuck you to Janzen. DAME GOT SOME BIG ASS BALLZ YO. Cause you know what? JOKAR AINT'T NO JOKER

[ubcunderground]

Did you read Janzen's "platform"?

Cause if you didn't you are missing outtttttttt. 

When VP External candidate Janzen Lee started campaigning on Monday, he posted this gem to his Facebook page that has since been removed.

Donchu worry boo, we got you.

The AMS has become irrelevant in the lives of students. As an organization, it is inactive and boring and does not relate to the massive student population it claims to represent. It is time for an outside perspective. Time for action and time for a new goal. My campaign is not me vs. my opponent, it is change vs. more of the same. I am thenew goal I see for our student government.

3 things: Problem, Solution, Benefit. 

UHHHHH. 

amirite?!?!?! Princess Shiney Hair Mahal will forever be the only solution #WhatWouldKiranDo

There existsa problem with the current system. I have a solution. As a student population,we will benefit. The problem is that the office of the External Vice-Presidentwhose mandate is to lobby municipal, provincial, and federal government on behalf of the students of UBC has been operating in the shadows, leaving students unaware of the work that is being done. When I told people I was considering running for VP External, the majority of them answered “Oh, that’s really cool… What do they do?” What does the VP External do? Because most people have no idea. 

I want us to join the ranks of the world’s top institutions. I want our letters to be on the lips of every researcher, high school grad and instructor in the world. Our problem, is that the current administration wants none of this. [ED note: HAVE YOU SEEN ARVIND'S ENTIRE PRESIDENCY?!?!?!]

As students, one of the greatest challenges we face in our great city is affordability. I have spoken to students who do not have the fortune of living on campus, outraged they must transit hours each day because they can nowhere near afford the outrageous costs of housing near the university. What has the current administration done about that? Why aren’t you in the mayor’s office every day pleading our case and expressing that the greatest shame of our society is that young men and women who want nothing more than access to knowledge are barred by lack of funds. Why aren’t our representatives present at each and every political convention exchanging dialogue with those capable of reforming the student loan system. How could access to funds limit our right to an education?

the amount of shit being sprayed here is naaaaaasty

These are the problems with our AMS as I see it. It has become, to an extent, irrelevant and I want to reverse and bolster the necessity of the office of external vice-president. Here is my solution. We are fortunate to find ourselves in the midst of a federal election year.  I pledge to be in the ear of politicians who are seeking election in order to gauge and ensure their commitment to alleviating the burdensome life of a student. 

Why has the current administration had minimal, if any, contact with the established system? Why aren’t they fighting for us!? We have an opportunity here that comes along only every once in a few years and why don’t we seize it? The benefit from my planned endeavours are obvious. My only goal is to better the lives of students and I believe my efforts could be better directed towards the overall benefit of the student population rather than spending millions of dollars a year with little to show for it. Or if there have been improvements in our lives, they’ve gone unnoticed. If you will allow me, I will be present at each and every opportunity that passes my desk to have our voices heard beyond the walls of the SUB into the places which actually matter. My voice will ring through the halls that we as students will not go away quietly and we will not allow our plight to be ignored.

I’m in Arts, I study political science, I am from Vancouver and I live on residence, I am a part of clubs and organizations across campus. All of these things are what make our school incredible: diversity. [ED NOTE: 'scuse me? that's only one thing.] The Alma Mater Society’s mandate is to actively represent the entirety of the student population. That. Means. Everyone. Not just the select few insiders of student government but each and every academic, athletic, creative, social, and entrepreneurial student of this university. I will listen to everyone’s voice, actively seeking it, not just heeding the advice of the political elite that has so long held a monopoly over the affairs of this society. The powers that be are shocked by my candidacy; that someone not in their “friend group” is seeking to change the way things are done at this school. 

The fact that the office of external vice president has been naturally uncontested for years is disgusting. Why aren’t people getting involved, why is this unambiguous apathy of students so rampant on our campus? Because it is the failure of this office to get students interested, informed, and involved in student government. I offer difference. Even if I do not win this election, I hope the serious nature of my candidacy and opposition to the status quo serves to show the student population that if things do not change, we will be continuing a trend of mediocrity from our leadership. Instead, you should expect and accept nothing less than greatness from those you trust to represent you. [ED NOTE: LOL]

Hope you have someone who can help you, current VP External (Dame Sassy Hair of North Vancouver) has a come back. And it's goooood.

[ubcunderground]

Debate Preview: VPF, VPAdmin, Senate

With the upcoming AMS Elections debate, we thought it best to give a little perspective on the candidates before you meet them in person... 

VP FINANCE

This office is arguably one of the most important, and also the easiest to somehow not fuck up. There's lot permanent staff who support this position, so even if you don't know what a VLOOKUP is, you won't be lost, but you won't be doing shit all either. 

Mateusz: aka Mat, aka Matty, aka Miadlkasdlfjasdlfk–(it's hard to say, trust us) Having defeated the king of spending cuts and Tommy Hilfiger sweaters, the incumbent sadly has fallen into the exec life support system. He didn't fuck up per se, but we're not necessarily sure what he did do (who wants to read his PAI goals again?)

Will Pigott: We were really excited to pronounce this with a French accent, but alas, it's more like a picket fence :(. Lets start off, who are you Will Piggot? Like we know you were somehow involved in the CUS; your photos are basically you in a perma-suit. Tell us how you plan to #wow the AMS finances with new systems and processes! Like actually, tell us.

VP ADMIN

New SUB, New SUB, New SUB, NEW SUB GOD DAMNIT. Oh and like the only commission with importance which controls the *drumroll* STUDENT UNION BUILDING...and clubs...and security...and actually a lot #SACpack, PEOPLE PERSON

Ava Nasiri: NO I DON'T WANT TO GO TO YOUR TEA PARTIES. But we love your Tinder ;)! Looking forward to drinking every time you say "Blahblahblah, I was the VP Admin this year and....." tonight. 

Alex Remtulla: Hello Mr. Student Development, let's see how student development you sound tonight. FYI, that beanie can't go with you into an interview.

James Jing: Whoa, where did you come from?

SENATE

Ugh there are still like a dozen of you. Everyone else dropped out, so why didn't any of you?!?!!!!? We will sass you back to Kansas after hearing your answers tonight. Until then, the death match continues...

[ubcunderground]

DROPOUTS: so what?

I wish we could say that we were surprised that Harsev, Chris Roach, and Daniel Munro dropped out, but guess what? WE AREN'T! 

Every election, there's always some sort of "high profile" person that is dropping out of the election. Last year's "big" dropout was Caroline Wong. Did it make a difference to the race? Not really. I know this sounds a little bitchy, but the point that's being made is just cool yo' jets. Real world campaigning is starting next week and we shall be covering it to your heart's desire :) 

We can't wait to poster-slamma-jam next week. Get excited kiddos.

[ubcunderground]

We'z back bitches.

OH HAI! Did you miss us? We thought so. As our coverage ramps up over the next week, take a look through last year's coverage to learn the in's and out's of this beaut we call AMS Elections.

SEE YOU SOON KIDDIES! 

[ubcunderground]

Time to pack up this rodeo...

We hope you've enjoyed our VFM coverage for this past year. Two things we'd like to say...

1. Congratulations to all the winners! Even if we threw shade on you, you won, so, like whatever #donewiththisshit

2. WHY AREN'T THE OFFICIAL RESULTS BEING RELEASED?! We need to plan our binge shopping trip accordingly.

that's all. peace out bitchez.