VP AUA by-election candidate profile: Renee Hui

Renee Hui is running for AMS VP academic and university affairs (AUA) on a platform based on affordability, engagement and ensuring student voices are heard.

The first-year science student said she is passionate about making UBC a place “where students can thrive both academically and personally.” She said when she told people she was running, many students did not really know what the AMS is and she hopes to increase the society’s outreach and transparency with the student body.

Hui said she plans to reach out to students through social media, classroom visits and by hosting office hours. She also said she’d want to have surveys, but acknowledges that sometimes survey engagement is not very high and would have prizes to motivate students to complete them. This year, the AMS Academic Experience Survey broke the record for most responses.

When it comes to affordability, Hui said she wants to make course resources, like textbooks, more affordable and accessible.

“I know textbook fees are very expensive, so one of the things I … [want] to advocate for [is] free textbooks,” she said. “[I want] to support students with financial challenges, to make sure that they have all the resources they need to be able to [succeed] in their courses.”

Hui also wants to work on advocating for affordable housing, food and tuition, if elected, but did not provide examples of how she would work toward these goals. When asked about what UBC administration she plans to work with to advocate for affordability — such as the VP Students Office or the Provost Office — Hui was unable to name any.

“I'm very enthusiastic, I'm very outgoing, and I really like talking to people, so I’m more approachable, and I have a more public personality,” said Hui on what differentiated her from her opponents. She hopes students “will feel welcome and heard” when speaking to her.

When asked about whether she would consider advocating to UBC to divest from weapon manufacturers — something that was in previous VP AUA Drédyn Fontana’s executive goals for the year — she said she would first want to collect data from students to ensure she is doing what the student body wants.

Hui cited gaining relevant experience running fundraisers, establishing her own music training foundation and being student council president in high school. She said as student council president, she worked to bridge the gap between students and the administration, which would be applicable in this role too.

“During that role, I was able to gain a lot of leadership skills, whether it's like organizational skills or working with other people.”

On challenges facing the position, Hui said on-boarding nine months into the term would pose an issue and she would have limited time to plan campaigns.

“I really like to do things in a timely manner … once I get on-boarded, I would [still] be able to help to get things started.”

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