Fact-checked: Breaking down your 2025 VP academic and university affairs debate claims

Candidates say a lot of things during debates — numbers, figures, claims and more.

It can be hard to hear or understand everything said, but that's why The Ubyssey has a team dedicated to fact-checking all the big claims candidates make during debates.

Here we're covering the AMS VP academic and university affairs by-election debate on January 20 where candidates Renee Hui, Zarifa Nawar and Joe Vu discussed their platforms.

We didn't cover everything, but hopefully this gives you a clearer idea on what was discussed and how much of it was true.

Quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Renee Hui

Hui: I aim to advocate for [increased harm reduction initiatives] by increasing counsellors available for students to help with their mental health … I would hope to advocate for having one counsellor at each residence … and make it stay free.

True. There are only 2 counselors in residence at UBC and 17 residences on campus. Students can book 50-minute long appointments with these counsellors 2 weeks in advance. These services are already free to students.

Hui: Especially with the CfA [Centre for Accessibility], I understand that the process is very long … to be registered in the CfA. I hope to make that process easier by advocating for more staff to be at the CfA office and also making mandatory office hours for the CfA.

Noted, and mostly true. Students have long expressed discontent with the CfA, and, in 2023, the AMS advocated the university to increase CfA advisors from 13 to 20. The CfA has varying opening hours each weekday, but is typically open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Zarifa Nawar

Nawar: In only two months [as interim VP AUA,] I secured $250,000 for undergraduate research.

True, but hard to verify. In a statement to The Ubyssey, Nawar said UBC administration verbally agreed to this funding during a January 16 meeting between VP Research and Innovation Gail Murphy and members of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Expansion Steering Committee. There currently is no public document regarding this funding allocation.

Nawar: I plan on working with Student Housing and Community Services to ensure that folks are aware of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act and its implementation in residence contracts, which offers a level of amnesty for students who call 911 to help out a friend that is going to overdose.

True. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection — such as protection from charges for possession of a controlled substance or associated breach of conditions such as parole — for individuals who seek emergency help during an overdose. UBC’s residence contract does not explicitly mention the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, but it allows residents to possess “negligible amounts” of illicit drugs for the purpose of drug testing. “Negligible amounts” is defined by the policy as 10 mg or less of solids, a few drops of liquids, one pill or a quarter of a tab of blotters.

Joe Vu

Vu: I suggest [UBC has] a two-year minimum for renting for students, so that when they move in … the rent will not increase every month.

Noted, and somewhat false. UBC currently has eight-month and one-year long leases for its residences. UBC residence rent increases typically occur annually, not monthly. Since student housing is not governed by BC’s Residential Tenancy Act, UBC retains the authority to implement increases in rental rates.

This article was updated at 6:20 p.m. on January 21, 2025 to include further details from Nawar regarding undergraduate research funding.

This is part of The Ubyssey's VP AUA by-election coverage. Find more on The Ubyssey's news page.