Here are notes from the AMS Council meeting of March 29, 2023:
Stop the Deportation! Students at Large representing the Filipino group Sulong UBC asked Council for support for their campaign against the deportation of Danilo de Leon, head of a Filipino migrant workers organization. VP External Erin Co invited the representatives to come speak to her.
Governance Changes: Council approved Code amendments to create a new committee on Executive Performance and Accountability and to return to oral Executive updates at each Council meeting; also to allow non-voting Councillors to stay for in camera sessions.
Executive Goals: Council approved amendments to the policy on Executive goals to require timelines and monthly updates.
Food Bank: AMS President Eshana Bhangu said she is continuing to advocate to the Board of Governors for more funding for the AMS Food Bank. Councillor Katherine Feng asked about collaboration with a new food hub being planned by the Arts Undergraduate Society. President Bhangu said she was not sure how effective an individual Constituency could be, but said the AMS is willing to collaborate.
Academic Experience Survey: AnishaSandhu, the VP Academic & University Affairs, said the number of responses to the AES has now surpassed 3,000, which is much higher than last year.
VP Admin News: VP Administration Ben Du announced an Art Fair, an event subsidy for clubs, and new HTMI cables for every bookable room in the Nest.
Transit: VP External Erin Co told Council about the SkyTrain to UBC campaign and about winning UBC approval for transit subsidies for students who are not going to school in the summer.
Federal budget: VP Co said the budget increased the student loan limit and the student grant; it also allocated $197 million for a work placement program.
Reimbursements: VP Finance Lawrence Liu said the reimbursement issue is under control now; there is a good flow. President Bhangu said it would be Paradise in two weeks. VP Liu said he did not foresee major backlogs developing again.
Next meeting:
The next regular Council meeting will be on Wednesday, April 12 in the Michael Kingsmill Forum in the Nest at 6 pm.
Sheldon Goldfarb
Archivist & Clerk of Council
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