Last night, newcomer UBC Board of Governors (BoG) candidates Jasper Lorien, Cade Desjarlais, Yi Chen and Mohkam Singh Malik (ਮੋਹਕਮ) met in the Michael Kingsmill Forum to discuss tuition increases, PhD stipends and endowment divestment plans. Candidates Norah Perkins, Bardia Mohammadizadeh and Alexander Wong were absent.
Lorien used their opening statement to highlight their experience with UBC’s Senate and UBC’s Disability United Collective and noted that the upcoming year’s BoG budget “is not looking great.”
“Cuts are absolutely on the table, and when you're in a situation like that, you need student advocates that have experience,” Lorien said. “I think that I'm that candidate.”
Desjarlais discussed his work experience with the UBCO student union as its VP external and president, noting that in both roles he worked with the BoG.
Chen said she’s running on a platform of advocacy for food security, housing and financial transparency. She noted her current involvement with UBC’s Graduate Student Society (GSS) as an advocacy strength.
Malik used his opening statement to address upcoming American tariffs and said he would advocate for the university to implement affordability measures — like a Save-on-Foods discount or investing into more local Canadian businesses — as a response.
All candidates opposed tuition increases, although they slightly disagreed on some specifics.
Lorien mentioned securing additional provincial funding to have “income streams other than students.” Lorien also suggested revisiting UBC’s Annual Tuition Consultation Process, which was cancelled last March, to ensure all student voices are being heard on tuition, not just those of student Board members.
Desjarlais disagreed that the province would provide additional funding and instead said the BoG needs to play into the provincial government’s interests by investing in technology. He also proposed a new budget system.
“The way to create a budget that works for students is one by changing the incremental-based budget system that we have right now,” said Desjarlais. “What we need to have is a zero-based budget system where every dollar that is spent is justified.”
Chen said tuition makes up 30 per cent of the university’s revenue and said she’d advocate for increased transparency in where those dollars are spent. The 2024/25 UBC Budget states tuition actually accounts for 41 per cent of revenue.
While Malik is for tuition freezes and increased government funding, he also acknowledged the university is also facing financial strain and that “we can't position the university as our enemy.”
Lorien and Desjarlais agreed they would advocate to divest from companies Palestinian solidarity protestors say are complicit in human rights violations, and both candidates noted divestment has been a student advocacy point for many years.
“Divestment has happened at UBC, and the way that it happened is gradual over time, with a long-term thought so it doesn't financially ruin the university,” said Lorien. “It is absolutely feasible, and it's something that I will absolutely push for.”
Malik opposed divestment, saying it would cost UBC millions of dollars and calling it impractical to push for both divestment and tuition freezes.
“You can't say, ‘Hey, give me all the candy in the candy store, and also you'll get nothing,’ right? You can't say, ‘give me all I want,’ and not make any compromises,” said Malik.
“I don't want any candy from the candy store. I just want to divest from genocide,” Desjarlais responded.
Chen did not answer the question, only noting divestment was political and that her research found “divesting actually had very little impact.”
All candidates agreed to advocate for an increased PhD stipend, which is currently below the poverty line, saying that PhD research contributes to UBC’s reputation and researchers should be paid accordingly.
In closing statements, both Desjarlais and Lorien highlighted their previous achievements and advocacy in student government.
Chen noted she was “not a typical politician,” and emphasized her platform points of affordability and financial transparency while Malik used his closing statement to say he would have a “singular focus” on supporting students unlike the “complete chaos of the AMS.”
BoG candidates will debate again on Thursday at 5:15 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.
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