VP Administration Dylan Evans ran uncontested on a platform emphasizing sustainability, support for clubs and fiscal responsibility.
While he has addressed some long-standing issues with clubs and clubs spaces, it is unclear how many of Evans’s stated goals will be achieved by the end of his term, particularly regarding AMS sustainability.
Club management
Last June, the AMS capped the number of clubs it would support at 350 and suspended intake of new clubs, a policy that Evans championed. The decision was driven largely by financial strain — club funding deficits are projected to hit $80,000 a year — Evans said the cap is necessary to balance fiscal responsibility with effective support for clubs. "Our time is limited, our resources are finite and I would love to support the clubs even more," he said.
Evans sees the club cap as a successful policy that improves club management. He noted, however, that the number of AMS-affiliated clubs is still above 350 and reducing it has been an ongoing challenge. Evans said whether the cap should continue in the future is best assessed once club numbers stabilize around the AMS's targets, a decision more appropriately left to future administrations. “At least for the near future, it probably is something that is beneficial,” he said.
Evans has also worked toward his goal of improving efficient Nest space utilization. In November, he proposed relocating the club commons, currently in the lower level of the Nest. The plan calls for leasing the current club commons and retrofitting an existing commercial unit in the Nest into a larger clubs common space. The project has not yet been implemented and Evans said it will depend on available funding. He expects that the new space could open by September, although a summer timeline would be ideal if funds allow. He referred questions about the proposal's current status to VP Finance Gagan Parmar.
"I'm confident that council definitely sees the value in it, and I think everyone else sees the value in it," Evans said, "so I'm confident that'll proceed."
Space agreements
The VP administration has worked to secure and formalize space-use agreements with AMS-associated groups. Evans said there has been “a lot of ambiguity” in the past over how groups could use their spaces, creating confusion. Creating formal agreements would clarify what clubs are allowed to do, he said. Evans has focused on the unique needs of certain clubs such as the diving club, which requires room storage for its equipment. Finalizing these agreements is an end-of-term goal.
During his campaign, Evans also promised to streamline club room-bookings. A few months ago, the AMS opened the Osprey Lounge & Terrace in the Nest for bookings, which was formerly used as a childcare centre. According to Evans, the room is the largest bookable space added to the Nest since the building opened.
"That's been a great resource to help offset a bit of the burden from on there, on the room booking system ... and make sure that all of our club events are being accommodated."
Sustainability efforts
On the sustainability front, it is unclear how Evans’ sustainability policies — including a review of the AMS Sustainable Action Plan and efforts to reduce carbon emissions — would be implemented before his term ends.
In a report last October, Evans noted that the AMS reached its targeted 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from 2019 levels, but did not elaborate on GHG reductions going forward.
Without going into policy details, Evans noted that he was passionate about sustainability and “how we as an organization can be as environmentally friendly as possible, and how that ties into our different student groups.”
When asked about specifics, Evans did not elaborate beyond projecting the sustainability plan would roll out within the next few months.
Evans described his time in office as demanding but rewarding.
“I think we've accomplished a lot, and there's still a lot to do, and still a lot we're excited to do,” he said.
