VP academic and university affairs candidates largely agree at uneventful great debate

VP academic and university affairs (AUA) candidates gathered in the Pit last night to discuss housing bursaries, harm reduction, the VP Academic Caucus and more at the great debate.

Candidates were asked how they would make sure student needs are met regarding UBC’s sexual misconduct policy (SC17), despite the fact the policy will not be up for review for another three years.

Ananya Gupta said want to ensure students were aware of the policy and would utilize social media to do this.

Zarifa Nawar noted that as staff in VP AUA office last year she was part of the review that occurred last year.

“I played a critical role in giving feedback and advocating … to ensure that we have a clear outline … removing a lot of vague language from the policy,” said Nawar.

Both candidates said they would work with the Sexual Assault Support Centre and the UBC Seuxal Violence Prevention Office.

The candidates have also both promised to implement housing bursaries and were asked how specifically they would accomplish this.

Nawar said she would work with UBC Student Housing and Community Services to advocate for the creation of a month-to-month off campus rental housing bursary and a cap for on-campus rent increases.

“Affordability [shouldn’t] just stop for the students that are living on campus. It also has to extend to the students who are commuters,” she said.

Gupta agreed she would also want to advocate for a cap on rent increases and said she would also work with the VP External Office to advocate for more provincial funding for housing as well.

Nawar rebutted that in September 2024, the provincial government had already promised $300 million in funding for more student housing on campus, and asked Gupta what she would do to secure further funding so soon. Gupta declined to answer.

The VP AUA also works with the VP academic of each constituency to accomplish shared goals and candidates were asked what the relationship between their office and the VP Academic Caucus should look like.

Gupta was the Arts Undergraduates Society’s VP academic and said her experience on the Caucus would help her build a relationship with the Caucus next year.

“I would also like to host advocacy one on one sessions … for the VP academics to know exactly what advocacy sounds and looks like,” said Gupta.

Nawar highlighted her work with the Caucus this year, as the incumbent candidate, and said she ensured the Caucus’s priorities were reflected in the advocacy work done. She specifically talked about promising that next year the constituencies will receive faculty statistics from the AMS’s Experience Survey to allow them to better advocate to their faculties for student needs.

In May 2024, UBC amended the language in its residence contracts to allow students to possess “negligible amounts” of illicit substances for drug-testing/checking purposes. Candidates were asked what they thought of this change and whether it was a positive step forward.

Gupta said she supported the policy. “I think we need to reduce the stigma related to this as well, and try to get more drug testing sites on campus,” she said.

Nawar echoed this and also wanted to ensure students are aware of the policy.

“It doesn't make any sense that we have this policy and yet students are not able to stand up for themselves. I would really work towards ensuring that students are well educated about the benefits of this,” said Nawar.

This article is part of our 2025 AMS Elections coverage. Follow us at @UbysseyNews on X (formerly Twitter) and follow our election coverage starting March 3.

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