Candidates say a lot of things during debates — numbers, figures, claims and more.
It can be hard to catch everything, but that's why we at The Ubyssey have a team dedicated to fact-checking all the big claims candidates make during debates.
Here we're covering the first debate on February 26 where the candidates for president, VP finance and Senate debated each other.
Hopefully this gives you a clearer idea on what was discussed — and how much of it was true.
Quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
President
Alexandra Smith, Brandyn Marx, Shaun "The Bulldozer" You and Christian 'CK' Kyle are running for president.
Christian ‘CK’ Kyle: We are one of the only universities on the planet that does not have an exam database that students can access no matter what.
True. According to a November 2023 interview with current VP academic and university affairs Kamil Kanji, his portfolio is looking to establish an exam database with UBC’s Provost’s Office and VP Students’ Office. UBC is one of three U15 schools that do not have an exam database, said Kanji.
Brandyn Marx: I've been part of the [PC1/2] working group since its inception.
True. Marx is on the AMS’s PC1/2 working group, overseeing the review of the society’s respectful workplace and sexualized violence policies.
Shaun “The Bulldozer” You: One of the issues facing us today is that we don't have nearly enough engagement from the student body [for the AMS’s Annual General Meeting].
Noted. The AMS’s 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) did not reach quorum of 600. It was the first time in three years where the AMS did not offer any prizes to students attending the AGM.
You: A lot of people were giving less than 24 hours … of consultation time [for the PC2 review].
True. According to Ubyssey reporting from August 2023, the Social Justice Centre (SJC) said it only received one business day to review and give feedback on PC2. The SASC also noted they did not receive a full draft of the policy when consulted.
Smith: We're currently in a $730,000 deficit. … 50 per cent of the student body says they struggle with finances.
True. In July 2023, the AMS anticipated a $738,000 deficit for the 2023/24 fiscal year. According to the AMS Academic Experience Survey, 50 per cent of respondents “have experienced financial hardship related to tuition and other expenses.”
VP finance
Mohkam Singh Malik (ਮੋਹਕਮ) and Gavin Fung-Quon are running for VP finance.
Mohkam Singh Malik: Every single business in the Nest except one bleeds money.
False. The AMS’s budget and budget reforecast show that Blue Chip, Honour Roll, Grand Noodle Emporium and The Gallery are profitable.
M. Malik: Executives make $40,000 a year so cutting that [by 10 per cent] would save us roughly $80,000 a year.
False. Though AMS executives, who work 40 hours/week, make an annual salary of approximately $42,000 plus benefits, cutting executive salaries by 10 per cent would save the society $21,000.
Gavin Fung-Quon: [The VP Finance Office has] actually make contact with other credit unions around the region.
Hard to verify. The AMS finance committee’s written update from January does not mention credit unions.
M. Malik: In our constitution, it says that unless it's a two-thirds majority of Council, resource groups have to receive at least the same amount of [funding] they received last year.
Mostly true. The AMS’s constitution does not mention this, but AMS Code said resource group funding “shall not be reduced from the amount allocated in the previous fiscal year except by a specific Two-thirds (2/3) Resolution of Council.”
Fung-Quon: As far as the AMS and investments … two years ago, BDS motions did pass.
Misleading. In April 2022, AMS Council approved a motion to petition UBC’s Board of Governors to divest from companies complicit in human rights violations. This motion did not call on the AMS to divest from companies complicit in human rights violations.
Senate
Alex Chui, Kareem Hassib, Kamil Kanji, Jasper Lorien, Sahib Malik, Kyle Rogers, Ferdinand Rother, Taushifa Shaikh and Solomon Yi-Kieran are running for Senate.
Rother did not attend the first debate.
Kamil Kanji: [I] secured $250,000 for open educational resources.
Shaikh: According to the 2023 Academic Experience Survey, 82 per cent of the students indicated that having a past syllabi at the time of registration would help them better choose courses and they're absolutely right.
Hassib: We're seeing an influx of cases where students are being accused of academic misconduct on the basis of usage of AI.
True, but misleading. According to the 2022/23 Annual Summaries of Student Discipline Cases report, one UBC Vancouver academic misconduct case and two UBC Okanagan academic misconduct cases reprimanded students for the use of generative AI like ChatGPT. This is an increase from 2021/22 where there were zero instances of this.
Kanji: [Student Experience of Instruction surveys] are actually considered in tenure processes.
True. According to UBC, these survey results are “considered as part of reappointment, tenure, and promotion decisions for faculty.”
Hassib: Study after study have come out saying that when professors are white and when professors are men, students tend to rate them much higher in evaluation surveys.
True. According to UBC’s Student Evaluation of Teaching working group’s final report, “the system is inherently unfair and biased in favour of white male instructors.”
Alex Chui: A lot of my [fellow] candidates are from a similar faculty … having [faculty] diversity … on Senate is so important.
Noted. This year, all candidates for student senator-at-large are from Arts except for Chui. Each faculty — including engineering, sciences, economics, law, and others — also have representation on Senate.
Lorien: I've been doing a lot of work with LR7.
Noted. Lorien is the VP internal for AMS resource group Disabilities United Collective and has been advocating to UBC on LR7, the disabilities accommodations policy.
Yi-Kieran: Say you went to UVic with an 80 per cent average, you could be getting a $2,000 Entrance Scholarship. UBC being in one of the most expensive cities in Canada really should be offering that.
Mostly false. For Entrance Scholarships at the University of Victoria a minimum admission average of 90 per cent is required if entering from a Canadian high school or secondary school. Entrance scholarships award amounts vary. UBC offers entrance scholarships based on merit and need.
Taushifa Shaikh: The Trek Scholarship was specifically put toward the experiential learning, but [UBC] took away the funding from international students.
True. In July 2023, The Ubyssey reported that international students were no longer eligible for Trek Excellence Scholarship.
Hassib: I passed the motion to stop the VPIR from becoming a voting member of Senate.
Noted. May 2023 Senate meeting minutes confirm Hassib spoke against a motion brought by the Provost to amend the composition of the Senate and introduce the Vice President, Research and Innovation (VPIR) as a voting member. The motion failed.
This article is part of our 2024 AMS Elections coverage. Voting is open until March 8.