A brief intro to the nerds that run student government.

The Alma Mater Society (AMS) is the representative student body of UBC’s Vancouver campus. Per its mission statement, it works to “improve the academic, personal, and social life of students at UBC.” Every year in March, society members — that’s you! — elect five students to lead the organization: the president and four vice presidents, the VP academic and university affairs, VP external, VP administration and VP finance.

It looks after student interests, everything from advocacy to the university and the federal and provincial governments to taking care of the Nest and the AMS-owned-and-operated food outlets in it. The AMS will inevitably touch some part of your life at UBC, whether it’s through the 350+ AMS student clubs that you can join, elections and referendums, support services like the Sexual Assault Support Centre or even Block Party.