At the first VP academic and university affairs (AUA) debate last night, the two candidates discussed harm reduction, affordability and sexual violence prevention while speaking to their varying levels of experience.
Ananya Gupta emphasized her platform of accessibility, affordability and action for students as well as her experience as the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) VP academic.
Incumbent Zarifa Nawar focused on her achievements during her tenure as AMS VP AUA and underscored her experience and commitment to representing student needs.
When asked about representing student voices to UBC administration, Nawar said being the only student in the room means you're at an automatic disadvantage.
“You don't have the 40 years that you put into it the way that university administrators do, and this means that you have to show up more research than them,” said Nawar.
Gupta said as AUS VP academic she has experience supporting students and would leverage support systems to continue this like the VP Academic Caucus.
On increased advocacy for preventing sexual violence, both candidates said they would work with the UBC Sexual Violence Prevention Office (SVPRO) and the AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC).
Nawar said she would leverage relationships with various constituencies to ensure that students who oversee campus events can receive trainings.
Gupta added she would have a “more trauma-informed approach” and also advocate for mandatory training like consent and bystander intervention training for all students and staff.
“I would also like to collaborate with other clubs to raise awareness for campaigning regularly about this,” she said.
When asked if they would advocate to UBC to complete the Student Affordability Task Force recommendations, Gupta said she did not have the knowledge to answer this question.
Nawar said she would advocate for those recommendations, including a multi-year tuition framework and the creation of a multi-year cost calculator, to be implemented.
On harm reduction, Nawar said she would want to increase the number of drug testing sites on campus, while Gupta said she would like to work with AMS Peer Support to reduce stigma.
When asked about food insecurity, Gupta said she would collaborate with food banks and work on a rescuing food initiative from dining halls on campus to make sure food doesn't go to waste and can be used for students.
Nawar said food insecurity was a huge barrier for students and she would work towards ensuring that a minimum of $800,000 each year is allocated from UBC toward food security initiatives. She added she would ensure that services like AMS Food Bank and undergraduate society initiatives, which give free or extremely low cost food options for students, recieve continued support.
When asked if they would advocate for UBC to be part of the Residential Tenancy Act, Nawar said she would be advocating for UBC to be part of the act and that she wants to take a "multi-pronged approach to student affordability when it comes to housing."
Gupta said she would advocate for UBC to be part of the act. She said she is currently working with the club Hope to House to educate people on housing strategies — and would also work with the AMS VP external to achieve this goal.
VP AUA candidates will debate again on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Pit before voting opens on March 7.
This article is part of our 2025 AMS Elections coverage. Follow us at @UbysseyNews on X (formerly Twitter) and follow our election coverage starting March 3.
See all stories on "vp aua race 2025" and be notified with RSS
Share this article
First online
