The AMS campaign to get students to vote yes in the ongoing transit referendum is underway at UBC.
Along with current VP External Bahareh Jokar, Associate VP External Jude Crasta has been advocating to UBC students on behalf of the AMS. According to Crasta, the AMS supports the referendum and the benefits it will bring to UBC students that take advantage of Vancouver's transit system.
After a recent AMS Council resolution, Crasta is part of a team that supports the transit service and infrastructure improvements proposed in the transit plan. Some of the focuses of this initiative include advocating for a new B-line to UBC and increasing current NightBus services by 80 per cent. These initiatives are already included within the plan for the transit referendum, but greater advocacy from the AMS has led to their front line position.
Crasta is using the next few weeks to inform students and register them for voting in the referendum. Through programs like material distribution and events such as Coffee for Commuters, where students can get a free coffee and register to vote in the referendum, Crasta hopes to encourage students to vote yes.
“A lot of students were initially understandably unaware that the referendum was taking place, but once brought up to speed, they have been extremely supportive of the plan and the referendum itself,” said Crasta.
As the AMS is representative of the student body on UBC, Crasta believes that the emphasis on transit referendum is in the best interest of students. As a large number of UBC students ride the bus to campus, he feels that, just like the U-Pass program, the current plan will benefit students who use transportation by a focus on infrastructure.
As the mail-in referendum takes place over the next few months, Crasta will continue his outreach efforts on campus. He hopes that more students will support the AMS efforts and register to vote before mid-May.
“We hope to have a [continued] positive outlook from the student body,” said Crasta. “This is the passion that we hope to see from our students throughout the referendum campaign.”