Jasper Lorien is a second-year political science student running for re-election as one of five student senators-at-large. Lorien's motivation to run is to finish what they started last year — their platform prioritizes accessibility, learning, research and affordability.
Lorien said, “It's very clear that our systems around accessibility at UBC are fundamentally broken.” They referenced the 2024 academic experience survey, which noted only 30 percent of disabled students are registered with the Centre for Accessibility (CfA).
To address this, Lorien wants to review policies LR7 and V-135, which focus on disability accommodation and academic concessions. Lorien also believes all required classes should offer in-person, hybrid, online and recorded lecture options.
“I think a really key part of Universal Design for Learning is making sure that there are options for every student, no matter what their access needs are,” said Lorien.
Lorien said they have been advocating to the CfA and VP Students Office to improve temporary health issues, eliminating letters of recommendation and streamlining the CfA registration process.
On learning and research, Lorien is working towards more undergraduate research opportunities and implementation of an exam database. While sitting on the Academic Policy Committee, they brought forward a motion to create a working group for senate policies V-102 and V-103, which affect exams and hardship.
Lorien also focused on changes outside the university, like UBC’s academic partnerships.
“We shouldn’t have partnerships with universities complicit with human rights abuses, full stop,” they said.
Lorien brought forward a motion this summer calling on the Senate to recommend the Council of Senates and the Board of Governors to suspend academic agreements with Israeli universities, but the motion failed.
Reflecting on this, Lorien said they are still working on UBC cutting ties with Israeli universities, and will lobby for this in committees and working groups instead of raising the motion from the floor. A move they believe is more workable within the senate's deliberative culture, which to them can be less receptive to motions from the floor.
On affordability, Lorien hopes to advocate for the elimination of the cost of physical textbooks expansion, or creation of policy similar to Policy 131, which eliminated costs for digital learning tools.
They also wants to advocate for departments to provide class equipment for free, and to ensure the $5-6 million dollars of funding that goes unclaimed is used — Lorien did acknowledge this would require re-negotiations with donors.
When asked to reflect on the previous year, they said it was “very successful,” but much of the work that has been started still needs to be finished.
“I think the Student Senate Caucus really needs to be putting on a united front. I don't think we were really able to do that this year,” they said.
Lorien also mentioned their positions as co-president and former VP academic and university affairs of the Disability United Collective as giving them experience with lobbying. Lorien believes their incumbency is important as “The learning curve for the Senate is really steep.”
If re-elected, Lorien also hopes to mentor new senators.
“I really want to … help create a really important culture of caucus cohesion, because I think that was something that we definitely needed to work on this year.”
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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