Ayesha Irfan campaigned to become the AMS VP external on a platform advocating for international students, housing and transit.
Halfway through the year, this is where she stands on accomplishing her campaign promises and goals.
Seven months into her term, Irfan has made significant strides toward her goals on student outreach, transit and gender-based violence prevention advocacy but some of her other goals on international student support and student housing rights have not yet been achieved.
One of Irfan’s primary goals was to secure commitments for the UBC SkyTrain extension. During the provincial election, her office successfully advocated for the BC NDP to include the project in its platform.
“During the pre-election period, we were able to secure a commitment to the UBC X SkyTrain in the BC NDP platform. Now we will work to hold the current government accountable for ensuring that construction continues beyond the Broadway Subway extension,” wrote Irfan in a statement to The Ubyssey.
In addition to this, Vancouver City Council passed a motion to implement dedicated bus lanes on eight priority corridors, including routes frequently used by UBC students. Irfan highlighted the importance of these changes for improving transit access.
“These corridors are essential for many students’ commutes,” she wrote. “This is a step forward in making UBC more accessible.”
When asked how she was pushing for increased housing and student rights, Irfan wrote her office was partnering with on-campus and external partners but did not provide any specific details on what her office has done so far to achieve this goal.
Addressing gender-based violence has been a significant focus of Irfan’s term. Her office joined other student unions in signing a letter to declare gender-based violence an epidemic in BC and secured a seat on the provincial Sexualized Violence Advisory Group.
“Securing a seat on the Sexualized Violence Advisory Group is incredibly important to ensure we can continue to advocate to the provincial government for a safer campus for students,” wrote Irfan.
Her office plans to continue advocacy for the Post-Secondary Sexualized Violence Action Plan, emphasizing its importance for students.
Another one of Irfan’s major accomplishments was the Get Out the Vote campaign during the provincial election.
“The office held a robust two-week Get Out the Vote Campaign where we partnered with multiple clubs and external stakeholders to engage students in the Provincial Election through events and debates with candidates,” she wrote. “It was a huge win for us.”
Looking ahead
Irfan’s plans for the next term include pushing for increased student housing, continuing advocacy for tenancy rights and expanding discussions with both the federal and provincial governments.
“Meeting with the recently elected provincial MLAs and federal MPs is only a piece of the plan,” wrote Irfan. “This multifaceted approach will ensure that UBC students’ interests are heard at both the top of government and represented in grassroots organizations.”
“The office is excited to spend the next six months continuing to focus on making the student experience more enjoyable and affordable.”
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