What kind of campus do we want?
A university offers classes, funds research and grants degrees. A campus is the culture that binds that place together, making it more than just a stepping-stone to a career. The most vibrant campuses, those that make a university more than simply the sum of its parts, are those where students lead what happens outside of class. Where they take charge and organize events. Where those with a project and passion can do just about anything.
But to make UBC that sort of campus, we need to have the means to do so.
That’s the choice you face this week when you vote in the referendum. There are questions on the U-Pass—which obviously need to be extended—and other questions on bylaw changes and tuition policies for the AMS. But the main question is changing the student fee structure. It would raise fees by $5 for full-time students and $19 for those that opt out of the health care plan.
We urge you to vote yes.
The AMS’s membership fee of $12.50 is the lowest in Canada for any university over 20,000 students. Almost no other school comes close. It’s a fee that hasn’t changed since 1982.
And when UBC was still expanding, and your student union had a near-monopoly on food and catering services, this was fine. They piled up profits year after year from their businesses, which in turn made low mandatory fees financially feasible.
Those days are long gone. The AMS ran a six-figure deficit last year, will run another this year, and is cutting services to the bone. Voting yes would take their fee to $21—and take your student union out of financial crisis.
It may seem like a lot, but three years ago, students decided they wanted a better campus when they voted to fund a new $110 million Student Union Building. That building will be ready in September 2014, but will the group running it be able to offer more than just minimum services inside of it?
Your student union isn’t perfect. You only have to glance at our front pages to see that. They aren’t asking for money they want, though—they’re asking for money they need. Without this increase, they’re going be less and less effective in advocating for students, administrating services and overseeing clubs.
This fee increase isn’t just about empowering the AMS. It’s about empowering students to do more.
Voting yes gives clubs access to an annual $70,000 pool of money, and if you’ve ever been part of a campus club, you know that a little money goes a long way. This fund would be there for you.
Voting yes creates a $100,000 sustainability fund, the same type that exists at UVic, SFU, Queen’s and McGill, allowing even one student with an idea the chance to make our campus a more sustainable place in a direct way.
Voting yes transfers $1 from every student to a childcare endowment fund, supporting student-parents by creating quality, affordable spaces right here at UBC.
Voting yes means more affordable tutoring from AMS Services, free DJ lessons from CiTR, and 24/7 news reporting from The Ubyssey.
And voting yes means that we are taking an active step in shaping this university by directly funding organizations and ideas that we believe are important.
All this, for $5. Even if you opt out of the health plan and pay $19, it’s still a good deal, and a deal we badly need.
Without it, building the new SUB will putter along and students will still come together to put on events. Life will go on per usual.
But this week, you can make a choice for change.
There are times where UBC students have risen up to shape our campus—saving the UBC Farm, building the new SUB, funding construction of War Memorial Gym, even convincing the government to start construction on the Point Grey campus in 1924. This week could be one of those times.
Let’s make this happen.
(+17 rating, 13 votes)
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“It would raise fees by $5 for full-time students and $19 for those that opt out of the health care plan…All this, for $5. Even if you opt out of the health plan and pay $19, it’s still a good deal, and a deal we badly need.”
I voted no to this for one reason – the AMS, in the last 2 years, has been shown to be a lame duck group, with ineffective top-down governance. I’m not forking over $19 just so the AMS can put on yet another party or talent show.
There’s more fat in this budget than an EpicMealTime video, and it’s time to trim it away. Slash the budgets, and then come crawling to us.
well said
Timmy, I would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you and Elin Tayyar to try to trim this fat. We’ve worked hard this past year to do just that, and would appreciate you coming in and helping us out, instead of hearing hypotheses in the comments section. Let me know when you’re free.
This offer extends to all students who think this is a “cash grab” or continued funding for “white elephants”. Come by our offices, let’s try to fix this deficit.
I respectfully accept your invitation, Mr. President.
Yah I voted NO to the fee increases-they seem quite sneaky. For at least 10000 students its more like a $24 increase every year in student feeS-and what pissed me off was that this was not clear.
Again, where did $24 come from?
Yah I voted NO to the fee increases-they seem quite sneaky. For at least 10000 students its more like a $24 increase every year in student feeS-and what pissed me off was that this was not clear.,..
Jase, I’m sorry we couldn’t simplify it any further. Trust me we tried.
I’m not sure what $24 increases you’re talking about. We haven’t raised our core fees since 1982! Again, there is little I can do to fix the misinformation in people’s mind, especially when those people chose not to read up on the information.
There is nothing sneaky about this fee change. It is clearly laid out in the table.
Although I am in strong support of this fee restructuring – since I proposed it – we will listen to the will of the students. We will cut all your services. We will stop providing free services to all of the 360 clubs. We will do what we have to, to bring you a financially sustainable Student Society.
“Jase, I’m sorry we couldn’t simplify it any further. Trust me we tried.”
First of all I hope your not being sarcastic because that is highly unprofessional-the AMS needs to better manage what it currently has not ask more money for increase an executive’s salary or handing out more meal vouchers.
Well you should outline clearly to students-THOSE NOT ON THE AMS HEALTH PLAN-that it will be a $24 increase. Again but not stating this to 10000 students you are being sneaky sir.
I am one who did not vote for this change. There are alot of pissed of students and student groups who are somewhat flabbergasted as to some of the changes.
One more thing-I noticed there is a NO campaign around. Correct me if Im wrong-they were given $2000? How much is AMS Council spending for the yes side-$20000? It would be nice to match both sides or not given any money to the other side.
Everything in the name of “student services” just to scrape every last cent and nickel from the backs of students.
I hope students will stand up for this and not be outwitted by SOME of the nonsense that some execs think they can get away with.
I voted for the fee because I believe in the Ubyssey and all of its potential.
Those that don’t are free to believe so, but I find it ironic how they choose to express themselves on the Ubyssey’s very own comment section.
@Timmy: Thank you for your comments. However, I have to respectfully disagree on a couple of points you have made. I can understand why and how the AMS has been perceived as what you call a “lame duck group” (though I actually have no idea what that entails), as it definitely has its issues. However, it is precisely because of these issues that inspired me to get involved this past year as Councillor. If you really get to know the day-to-day workings of the AMS (I did just that this year), you will see that many many students and staff give a lot of their time, energy, and passion to making our campus life that much better for our students.
No, you might not agree with everything that goes on with the AMS, but if you really looked at what has been done regarding with the budget this past year, you would notice that significant cuts had already been made to the budget to cut out the “fat”. Over $200,000 this past year alone. I know this for a fact because I am part of the Committee that made those cuts. Sincerely, we really only have very marginal cuts we can make. Otherwise we would have never come to the students for something as drastic as a fee increase. We ARE crawling, on our knees, begging you, our students to understand that we didn’t make this decision lightly and really would like to continue offering you the best possible services.
The only way for us to do this though, is with your support. Please vote YES to keep the upass. Vote YES to make sure that the AMS can continue to improve the campus experience of our students!
Screw the elitists! I’m keeping my money. If the elitists in the AMS want money so bad, let them donate it out of the 25 000 dollars they make. I’, gonna buy some pizza with my 5 bucks. nom nom nom
I voted yes to everything, but this article almost changed my mind. This is appallingly poor journalism. Please Ubyssey, I expect better than this. Media bias much? Having this banner on your website’s front page is unprofessional and embarrassing.
For unbiased information about the fee referendum from a source that does not stand to directly profit from it:
http://ubcinsiders.ca/2011/03/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-the-fee-referendum/
unbiased?
HAHAHAHAHA
you’re all buddy buddy with the whole ams. hacks helping hacks be hacks. insiders is as worthless as the ubc.
Thank you for the ad hominem attack. Did you read the post? While we usually do have opinion in our writing, I think you’ll find that this particular one is purely factual.
I am deeply disturbed by your comment. I have been following the Insiders for a while now and their work is top notch. This article does a fantastic job of breaking down the referendum.
http://ubcinsiders.ca/2011/03/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-the-fee-referendum/
You are clearly on some sort of war path against the AMS.
“Screw the elitists! I’m keeping my money. If the elitists in the AMS want money so bad, let them donate it out of the 25 000 dollars they make. I’, gonna buy some pizza with my 5 bucks. nom nom nom”
… really? That’s your contribution to the discussion at hand. What is the motivation behind it? You think the plan of the executives is to get rich off a $25000 annual salary, and they are elitist? You make more than that working at McDonalds for a year.
“insiders is as worthless as the ubc.”
I am going to assume you mean the Ubyssey. The Insiders have uncovered so many stories, and are one of the only VFM’s that doesn’t just pop up during elections. I encourage everyone who comes across this post to check out their site and even if you are hyper-critical of everything that has to do with student politics (as I think is the case with you, John), give the Insiders a chance and you will become very informed about the going-ons of this campus.
Hacks supporting hacks??? By all accounts McElroy was the ‘hack’ in the previous election, so who broke the story about his involvement with a blog which arguable constituted slate-like behaviour. The Insiders!!! I bet your face is really red on that one! How do you even make that claim, “hacks helping hacks be hacks” What is your reasoning, or are you simply stirring the pot? I can think of no other motivation!
The actions of the Ubyssey surrounding the referendum are best described here – “Ordinarily, The Ubyssey could be counted on to give high quality information about the referendum. However, they are participating in the fee referendum, resulting in a deep, unacknowledged conflict of interest.” – UBC Insiders.
…
What do you have to say to that?
John, if you are so outraged by the AMS, why not attend a different institution? The AMS isn’t something new, it has been around for nearly a century. Whether you like it or not, they are just students doing their best to bring other students services. Something like 25% of students opt-out of health coverage as they are covered by their parents or etc. I am part of the 75% that couldn’t afford to hit up the dentist before I started attending UBC, without the plan I still wouldn’t be able to go. The UPass has changed student life on campus for the better. Ask someone who was around before the pass and if you lived on campus without a vehicle you were trapped. God forbid you take longer than an hour and a half to get your groceries and you are paying a full fare both ways.
Hopefully you will take a few deep breathes and give the Insiders a chance, I don’t have my hopes up for it, but anything is possible right?
Lionel I dont know who you are or what you are trying to communicate but when you say
“John, if you are so outraged by the AMS, why not attend a different institution?” it seems you are highly partisan. If there is a governance deficit you ideally dont run away (well maybe you would which is cool for some people). At the end of the day someone came to UBC because of education and research and they are not going to be dissuaded by the AMS-a student society..hahhaa you’re funny kiddo.
Not a penny more for the AMS crooks.
I opted out of the health plan since I’m already covered by another plan.
From an apathetic student’s perspective, it seems like I’m being penalized $14 for NOT using an AMS service.
I can’t see why any student wouldn’t support the initiatives. If you’re active on campus then it directly benefits you, the student.
If you aren’t active on campus, then the referendum provides the means for students to get involved. It increases club funding and improves student life. What’s not to like?
This is your university. This is your AMS. And now is your chance to make change for the better. Vote Yes. Save the UPass. Change your AMS.