The Ubyssey editorial team likes projects. Standard coverage of events and matters that relate to UBC is part of our everyday work, but what we really love is getting to dig our teeth into a story. When the opportunity arises to investigate, to research, to extrapolate — that's when you'll see editorials buzzing with excitement and anticipation.
To say the AMS elections season provides us with this opportunity would be an understatement. Student government elections are like federal elections on a microscopic level and everyone running for positions is under 25, which means there's no shortage of stories to dig into. Candidates from various faculties compete to govern the AMS and UBC, and we interview every single one, cover every race and analyze each debate.
The process requires extensive coordination. News — the main section that oversees coverage — assigns staff to every race and every individual, often asking other editors to fact check and aid with coverage. The photo and video sections coordinate with editors on the visual style of the coverage, bouncing ideas off others to craft a cohesive visual identity all while tolerating stress, breakdowns and screaming.
It's been an interesting AMS elections season. With 21 candidates, seven races and three debates, we got to know our prospective AMS officials well — and that led to some compelling discussion on who we wanted to support. Traditionally, The Ubyssey endorses candidates, but we switched things up this year. We wanted to focus on the traits candidates possessed which would appeal to students with less outright support and more guidance as to who would best fit student needs.
