Solomon Yi-Kieran is running for reelection as a student senator-at-large, looking to champion academic support and accessibility for students, as well as transparency.
The second-year history major, who is also running for AMS VP external, hopes to use his second term on Senate to have all lectures recorded as a way to better support students.
“I want to have Senate do an investigation into that so that they can assess the cost and time needed to make universally recorded lectures possible," Yi-Kieran said.
He also said he hopes to set up a system so past syllabi for every course are available, while also pushing for 24 hour library access.
In terms of accessibility, Yi-Kieran plans to review UBC’s Disability Accommodation policy, LR7, and update it to allow students to self-identify their concerns.
“I want to make sure that the LR7 policy is changed to allow for self-certification, which [could help] accommodate students with temporary injuries and conditions,” Yi-Kieran said, continuing to affirm his belief that the Centre for Accessibility (CfA) should have an increased role in brokering exam accommodations.
“I want to push to make sure that the CfA automatically books students for accommodated exams, which takes the pressure off students from sending their accommodation letters to professors and TAs,” he said.
Yi-Kieran also wants to use social channels to ensure Senate proceedings are known to the public.
“[I want] to make sure that there is a student Senate Caucus social media page, preferably on Instagram, so that students can get direct and easy access to not only … Senate, but also the people on it.”
Serving this past year as senator, Yi-Kieran feels most proud about his work on presenting the Dean of Arts with what he called the Class of 2027 Policy Book, containing his recommendations for “recorded lectures, a database of past syllabi, more free textbooks [and] more scholarships,” he said.
Equity, diversity and inclusion was a major pillar of Yi-Kieran’s previous campaign and he highlighted that, though unsuccessful last term, he is still advocating to make the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Academic Diversity and Inclusion a permanent committee.
“It's definitely a very core promise that I would pursue, especially next year, when I am an experienced senator who has these connections already,” he said.
Yi-Kieran hopes his current tenures as co-chair of the Student Senate Caucus and VP Academic of UBC Disabilities United Collective, as well as his work with the BC NDP, will grant him the experience necessary to perform in the role.
“I do think that's one of the things that's going to set me apart this year.”
Acknowledging recent turbulence in student government, Yi-Kieran has reaffirmed his commitment to “transparency efforts," going as far to say “my past few months of work have been how I'm overcoming the issues with drama.”
“I want to create a Student Senate Caucus that works very well, that actually is able to get the work done, and where people feel like they're being supported in trying to do advocacy work for students.”
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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