Comments on: New Tuition Policy Question Added To AMS Referenda

By: Lane

Lane — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:21:01 +0000

Yeah I agree Neal. Fuck the students. They don’t know how to set policy.

By: Neal Yonson

Neal Yonson — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:06:03 +0000

The view of most in the AMS is that if this passes, it doesn’t bind them to do anything. The students think you /should/ lobby for lower tuition. The wording of the question simply makes it a suggestion.

Even if the official policy were to be changed to say that, on paper, the AMS will be pushing for lower tuition it’s still up to the execs to put that into action in a meaningful way. Unless a left-leaning VPX and/or President is in place we won’t see that and it could be a few years or more before voters are ready to left-leaning student politicians in positions of power.

Even then, if they mount some big campaign, what will come of it? The CFS has been doing it for years and all they have to show for it is a lack of credibility.

By: Michael Moll

Michael Moll — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:38:10 +0000

Hi Neal. Great article and since no-one else is covering this or knows as much about it.
I wanted to ask. If this referendum question passes. What is the implication on the AMS.
I mean what checks would be in place to ensure that the AMS did this. And second what would happen if anything if they didn’t follow through with it?

By: David Foster

David Foster — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:52:58 +0000

Sigh.

For those trying to make UBC more like UVic, maybe you should come over here for a year or two and see if it’s really an improvement?

By: Michael Haack

Michael Haack — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 06:14:16 +0000

Ahhhh. Ok. Interesting.

On another note, there is no Student Court this year as none have been appointed.

By: Neal Yonson

Neal Yonson — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 03:27:57 +0000

Michael, it’s ten days from the submission of the petition, which was Friday. That would make the window from March 7-27.

The clock does reset if the question is referred to student court but that is only supposed to be done if the question cannot be answered “yes” or “no”. The question as phrased definitely meets that criterion. Ultimately it’s up to Jeremy to call the referendum and decide on the timing as long as it’s within the time frame above.

By: Julian Ritchie

Julian Ritchie — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 14:23:59 +0000

It only says council may send it to court not that council must give the ok…
So it can be on the same ballot, but I not sure if it should since I doubt that that question will generate the desired results even if it passes.

By: Michael Haack

Michael Haack — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 08:34:06 +0000

Wow. They only had about 500 earlier in the day, I heard.

However, it is my understanding that the question will be added to a ballot after council has accepted the referendum and to ensure that the question is clear.

Then after Council approves the question, the referendum window is no less than ten days but not greater than 30.

So either Saturday, March 19 or Monday, March 21 is the earliest date for the referendum.

Oui?

By: Julian Ritchie

Julian Ritchie — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 01:35:25 +0000

This would be a fun no campaign to run…

To bad I am too lazy.