Last night, uncontested VP administration candidate Dylan Evans spoke about his experience, club engagement and goals for the Hatch Art Gallery.
In his opening statement, Evans talked about his experience as president of the Forestry Undergraduate Society and spoke to his achievements in the position.
“I have experience managing a $200,000+ budget, I’ve led countless volunteers ... and I have carried out full organizational and government restructuring.”
Evans called his experience “comprehensive,” and said he also expanded club support. “
“I’m passionate about helping clubs out.”
Evans also served as an AMS councillor this year and was a member of the Operations, HR and Executive Performance Accountability Committees.
The AMS has too many clubs compared to room bookings available and often causes frustrations between clubs and the AMS. When asked how he intends to deal with bookings and the creation of new clubs and club renewals, Evans said he wants to improve the AMS’s room booking system, but did not provide specifics — a recurring theme throughout this debate.
Evans said “implementing a system where people are able to track their status easily and have a user-friendly interface where they can book rooms a bit easier."
One of Evans's main platform points is sustainability, and when asked about what his sustainability goals are and how he plans to achieve them he referenced the AMS Sustainable Action Plan (ASAP).
He said he plans on “taking a look at ASAP and the priorities there and hopefully expanding on that.” But, Evans lacked details on what goals or initiatives in ASAP he wants to expand on.
On the topic of the AMS Clubs Fair, Evans said maintaining student engagement is going to be a top priority for him.
He intends to start “getting clubs actually involved with the promotion” of the event.
Acknowledging that while he’s running unopposed, he’s “here to represent students and ensure that they get the services that they need out of the AMS.”
“I’ve actually already started some informal talks with club presidents and society presidents just to hear their opinions and their problems with the AMS currently.”
The VP admin is responsible for overseeing one of the largest teams of staff in the AMS executive office, and Evans was asked how he would approach team management.
“I’m Forestry president, and I think it’s really important to have a solid team and a good team dynamic,” he answered.
He said his approach is focused on “having that balance between doing things right and efficiently, and making sure everyone feels comfortable and safe and has a bit of fun at the end of the day.”
The AMS has also previously had issues reimbursing clubs in a timely manner, creating tension between the administration portfolio and clubs despite finances falling under the AMS VP finance. On how we would fix this, Evans said he intends to work “closely with the VP finance, and again, looking at that whole system for clubs, booking and club reimbursements and stuff like that.”
Evans again failed to give specifics on how he would specifically accomplish this or approach working with the VP finance.
If the referendum to establish the new executive position of VP student life passes, some of the VP admin's portfolio could fall into the new executive portfolio. Evans said he would manage balancing the two portfolios by working with the VP Student Life Office to make sure necessary work gets done.
“[I would work] with the VP student life, if that passes, to really hammer home that club support.”
The admin candidate will debate again on Thursday at 12:30 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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