UBC Maximizing Housing Density by Minimizing Legal Compliance

Would UBC break the law to fulfill their market housing ambitions?

Yes!

Dear CUPE 2278

I was moved to write this letter precisely because I feel TA union leadership prioritized their own opinions and aims over the opinions and best interests of UBC TAs. UBC TAs deserved comprehensive information and a balanced, open forum for discussion. In this respect union leadership failed its members and failed UBC. UBC TAs deserve better.

Gage South to be Designated “Academic”

“The recommended … amendments to the Land Use Plan are the designation of the current ‘Area Under Review’ to ‘Academic’ which will allow student housing.”

AMS, Inc.

The proposed structure would set up a new corporation, under the Business Corporations Act, which would be wholly owned by the AMS. Most of the administrative units (Human Resources, Finance, Operations and the subsidiary businesses) would move over to the new corporation. For the sake of brevity, I’ll refer to the new thing as “AMS Inc.”

So You Want to be AMS President?

I am not making any endorsements, or disendosements for that matter, in any race this year. In the wake of last year’s unfortunate endorsement controversies, from which I am not exempted, I feel it would be both hypocritical and in poor taste for me to comment on the candidates themselves. Instead, I hope to paint a picture of what life in the President’s office is like, and what qualities I think candidates need to demonstrate if they are to be successful as President.

BoG Endorsements!

In a race with only two spots available, to have 7 candidates who all demonstrated a good level of understanding and engagement in the Board process is outstanding – it shows a student interest in the larger issues like we haven’t had in years’ past.

Ballots of Notable People: Elin Tayyar

The bitter impression left by Bijan in last year’s election makes executives endorsing anyone a bit hesitant. The controversy of those events will take a few years for hacks to forget. I do feel encouraged to weigh in on one race, where I think I can offer a perspective: the Board of Governors.

Senate Endorsements!

Even candidates with NO previous experience with Senate comment that is an exceptionally slow moving body. SENATE TAKE NOTE, you have a horrible reputation. Let’s speed things up a bit. Exams, be it databases or release dates, have become a priority to students everywhere. Excellent, let’s get some movement there!

What Questions Do You Ask a Board or Senate Candidate?

In past years the number of candidates who didn’t fully understand the body they were running to be elected to was astounding.

The AMS Permanent* Art Collection

So, here’s the deal: The AMS owns an astonishingly great collection of Canadian art, for a group of self-centred hacks who don’t give a shit about art and haven’t for the last 50 years.