A member of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity advisory committee at UBC, Ash Dennis, told The Ubyssey she “couldn’t give a straight answer” in recent conversations about whether students feel safe.
Dennis is a fifth-year student in the Bachelor of Education program running for one of five student senator-at-large positions.
Citing OneBC’s Jan. 22 appearance on campus and transphobic and homophobic marches across the country in 2023 and 2024, Dennis says there’s a need to create spaces that “allow students to exist.”
Passionate about supporting students at UBC, she wants to utilize her experience working with the AMS, disability advocacy groups and pride initiatives on UBC’s highest academic governing body.
Throughout her time at the AMS, Dennis says she has worked alongside student senators and the AMS leadership team. She said she has rewritten two constitutions for different student societies, and is currently working on the Education Students’ Association’s policies and constitution — governance experience she also wants to bring to being a student senator.
If elected, Dennis hopes to focus on the inclusivity issues on campus, mentioning mental health specifically. She also thinks the Senate needs to reach community members more, saying, “I think there is a way that transparency and actual communication with the student body can really support” its goals.
Dennis discussed enforcing this transparency through TL;DRs of Senate information — short summaries of longer materials — joking that “nobody wants to read 198 pages of the recent Senate report.” She wants the student body to easily access this information and know what is happening on campus.
This transparency extends beyond sharing what the Senate is up to for Dennis — she wants to prioritize students' needs through interaction, whether it be through surveys, online or in-person. “Tell us what you need, and we’ll try to advocate for it at these tables, at these meetings, at these committees.”
Dennis also said she wants to improve UBC’s accessibility policy by making self-certified extensions more available through the CFA. “This is something that’s been advocated for from other senators for the past few years, but it hasn’t really been moving. That’s a really big goal of mine: continued discussion of LR7, and continuing to discuss really important topics around disability and support for them.”
When asked about her thoughts on other student senators' policies, Dennis emphasized their interest in collaboration. “I agree with anybody who wants to run for Senate because I think they’re all advocating for students – I’m happy to work with any and all of them.” She underscored how even in the face of differing values or beliefs, she would prioritize working together as students who seek to support other students.
Dennis wants to ensure students can afford to attend UBC by advocating for them through policy — she cited the Board of Governors’ recent 2 per cent domestic tuition hike to argue that UBC doesn’t listen to students.
Dennis said she was previously taking a full course load, and was not able to work because of the eight-hour days. “And there are students doing more than me, who are needing to do eight classes in education and can’t afford to teach, learn and work. They’re going to give up sleep, they’re going to give up food, they’re going to give up actual self-care.”
Making policy that will create “a place for them to actually afford their schooling,” is a priority for her.
As Dennis indicated, tuition is determined by the Board of Governors. The board also receives updates on the Student Affordability Task Force report recommendations, which do not interact much with the Senate’s policy sphere.
If elected, Dennis expressed interest in sitting on either the awards or academic policy committees. “Awards are somewhere where we can access these grants, bursaries or scholarships that can really support students.”
Dennis is interested in the academic policy committee as it not only aligns with her interests and degree, but is somewhere she feels she can affect real change: “This is a place where we can rewrite policy and allow for students to really look forward to education here - if we change policy to support them, instead of just having a barrier up.”
“We want to actually build these systems around our students — that’s what policy is meant for.”
