Ben Du, the current AMS VP administration, is running to be AMS president with a focus on improving affordability, making AMS operations more efficient and bettering the student experience.
Du, a fourth-year human geography and urban studies student, said he would draw on his experience at the AMS over the past three years — first serving on the Operations Committee, then as associate VP administration before his current role — if elected president. He emphasized this throughout the two debates, as well.
“The experiences that I’ve had the honour and privilege of being a part of … have informed my goals and commitments to focus on creating a more affordable, convenient and fun student experience,” he said.
On affordability, Du said he would prioritize lowering food costs in the Nest through a supply chain audit. He also mentioned housing and tuition costs, but did not provide any details.
He added that he would divert extra food from Nest businesses to the AMS Food Bank, which has seen significant increases in visits since the start of the pandemic.
In terms of AMS operations, Du’s main focus is implementing an audio and visual renewal plan throughout the Nest to upgrade the current technology available to clubs around the building. He said he would pay for these improvements with the Capital Projects Fund.
To fulfil his third priority of bettering students’ experiences, Du said he would make next year’s Clubs Fair bigger and better. Specifically, he said would bring in a ferris wheel.
“We're not only focused on the serious items like operational excellence and food insecurity,” he said. “But we're also trying to be fun and a bit lighthearted and adding that ferris wheel [to Clubs Fair] would be such a massive addition.”
Du said the biggest challenge as president would be uniting students and making it clear that the AMS is there to help them — which he said he would do by emphasizing in-person engagement with students.
When asked how he would work to repair the relationship between the AMS and Trans students after AMS Council voted against these students’ request to introduce a combined referendum item for gender-affirming care and a general AMS/GSS Health & Dental Plan fee increase, Du said he would focus on establishing more formal consultation processes.
He said he would conduct a “coverage adjustment consultation process” where students can share their priorities with the Health & Dental Plan and the AMS can share the financial pressures it faces with the plan — though this has already taken place between the AMS and Trans Coalition, albeit informally.
Du also said he was willing to consider adding gender-affirming care to the Health & Dental Plan by the 2023/24 policy year if this year's referendum does not pass. He voted 'no' to combine the two healthcare items when they came before Council, but said he would be voting 'yes' to both now.
Du is running against returning candidate Remy the Rat and first-time joke candidate ChatGPT.
Follow us at @UbysseyNews on Twitter and follow our election coverage starting February 27. This article is part of our 2023 AMS Elections coverage.