That’s a Wrap!

The 2010-2011 AMS elections have come and gone and the people (at least all 6925 of them) have spoken.
Your 2010-2011 AMS executive team will be led by Bijan Ahmadian. Ben Cappellacci takes over the Academic & University Affairs from his commerce classmate, Johannes Rebane, while Elin Tayyar clinches the Finance portfolio over the Invisible Man. Ekaterina Dovjenko succeeds Crystal Hon as resident queen of the SUB (both old and new) and Jeremy McElroy rounds out the team by taking on the External portfolio.

Your senators-at-large comprise a good mix of old and new: Johannes Rebane and Joël Mertens bring a wealth of experience to the table while AJ Hajir Hajian, Spencer Rasmussen and Nader Beyzaei infuse the team with new blood.

The departing Michael Duncan and Bijan Ahmadian yield their seats on the Board of Governors to the one-two punch of the eloquent Azim Wazeer and the effervescent Sean Heisler.


None of the referenda met quorum (meaning their items automatically fail) except for referenda question 2, specifically “Do you support the removal of Blake Frederick from the office of President?” which passed with quorum (76%). After a hitherto celebrated career in public office, Blake Frederick now departs after a tumultuous year.

Edit: After an email from the Elections Administrator this morning, it was discovered that the specific referendum question requesting the removal of Blake Frederick from the office of President did not actually meet quorum nor did it pass. The only referendum question that did pass was "Should the AMS actively lobby for reduced tuition fees and increased government funding?".

Additionally, the top spot in the one-time Voter-Funded Media contest went to the Radical Beer Tribune who won $1900. The UBC Spectator won second place with $1800 just slightly ahead of Social Capital with $1600. Issues that Matter and Glittery Unicorns (UBC Insiders and AMS Confidential, respectively) won $1200 and $1000 while Geoff’s Place took home $500.

The winners were triumphant, the unelected had stiff upper lips. I say congratulations to all the winners as well as anyone who took the time and energy to run a campaign – I hope to see you all continue to remain involved in student advocacy and student politics, effecting genuine change.

To those who voted for the UBC Spectator, I extend to you my personal thanks. Your faith in us is what keeps me going and I hope that the UBC Spectator will continue to serve students as they see fit.

Check out how the referenda question votes fared after the jump!

Here are the results for the referenda questions. Keep in mind that quorum is 3716 "Yes" votes out of 46,438 AMS members. 

1. Do you support the amendment of the AMS Bylaws as presented, based on the recommendations of a consultant hired to review the operations of Student Court and of a special AMS joint committee, for the purpose of revising the rules concerning Student Court?

Yes votes = 3191
No votes = 1011
Quorum not met.

2. Do you support the removal of Blake Frederick from the office of President?

Yes votes = 3542
No votes = 1432
Quorum not met.

3. Do you support the removal of Timothy Chu from the office of Vice-President External?

Yes votes = 3323
No votes = 1558
Quorum not met.

4. Do you support the AMS establishing a $5.00 refundable Engagement Levy to help improve student engagement by encouraging voter turnout and funding engagement related projects?

Yes votes = 1773
No votes = 2933
Quorum not met.

5. Do you support indexing the current and future fees of the AMS to the Canadian Core Consumer Price Index (CCCPI)?

Yes votes = 2014
No votes = 2240 
Quorum not met.

6. Do you support the amendment of the AMS Bylaws as presented, for the purposes of enabling Student Council to remove an individual from a position as an officer of Council, and other amendments as outlined?

Yes votes = 2906
No votes = 1169
Quorum not met.

7. Do you support an increase in student fees beginning September 2010 of $1 per part-time student and $2 per full-time student per semester to be directed to the Access UBC Association of Disabled Students for the purpose of increasing accessibility, participation, and inclusion for all people with disabilities on campus and in society?

Yes votes = 2244
No votes = 2457
Quorum not met.

8. Should the AMS actively lobby for reduced tuition fees and increased government funding?

Yes votes = 3844
No votes = 910

9. Should the AMS create a voting seat on AMS Council for students with disabilities by amending Bylaw 5.2(a)?

Yes votes = 2475
No votes = 1906 
Quorum not met.