A screenshot of the email shared with The Ubyssey summarized the major changes the referendum would enact and claimed that all of the changes would improve the student experience. The referendum ultimately failed to meet quorum for the third time on March 27.
The referendum failed in the 2019 AMS general elections and again in the 2020 general elections, making this the third time the AMS has tried and failed to pass the referendum that would abolish student court, extend AMS membership to carry over to the second semester and would allow the AMS to create a confidentiality policy to limit the release of certain records.
With experience from residence life, Yee has defeated Harresh Thayakaanthan, Zoe McDaniel and Reed Garvin in the VPAUA special election held after all candidates dropped out of the original race.
UBC President Santa Ono made the announcement on March 26 in a letter to the community, confirming that in-person ceremonies would be cancelled in May.
With the Nest closed until at least April 14 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the AMS held its March 25 Council meeting via teleconference.
The rental relief program will be administered through BC Housing and is meant for people unable to make payments on their rent.
The university made the announcement in a broadcast email sent to faculty, staff and students on March 25 signed by UBC President Santa Ono.
In the wake of UBC’s March 16 announcement that all final exams would be held online, international and domestic students alike were left with the difficult task of choosing between travelling home and staying in Vancouver until the COVID-19 pandemic winds down.
New economic measures include investments in healthcare and housing, a new BC Emergency Benefit to support workers and a promise to support renters’ rights.
On March 23, the faculties of science, commerce and arts announced changes to end-of-term grading in emails to students. Under the changes, students will be able to withdraw from their courses with a W standing or change their registration in a course to Credit/D/Fail.
VP External of the Science Undergraduate Society Shovon Das accidentally sent out a mass email to UBC science students in the Blue Card Program without using the blind carbon copy (BCC) function, leading to the leak of around 200 student emails.
In an internal email sent on March 16 by UBC Student Safety Abroad, students on exchange were advised “to return home, wherever that may be for you.”
Thayakaanthan sees the VPAUA race as another opportunity to get involved in the AMS after losing the presidential race to current VP Administration Cole Evans in the general election.
Second-year anthropology student Zoe McDaniel is running for VP academic and university affairs (VPAUA) on a platform of mental health, sustainability and sexual violence prevention.
Currently working as associate VP finance of the AMS, Garvin’s platform includes increasing mental health resources, bettering communication and improving financial transparency and food security on campus.