Given that Senate is more academically oriented than other governing bodies at UBC, how do you plan to include the issue of sustainability within Senate discussions?
I ran for Senate to advance sustainability precisely because it’s our university’s academic governing body, not in spite of this. For a university, sustainability is a both an opportunity and an obligation, and there exists incredible potential to achieve this vision. UBC’s academic role is a crucial part of this potential. Right now, most assignments, essays and papers are seen only by one’s prof and one’s recycle bin. Were our learning harnessed to create sustainability solutions, we would not only get a more sustainable campus, but a more meaningful education.
Research is a similar story. At its worst, it’s simply tossed down from the Ivory Tower in the hope that someone somewhere will make use of it. Instead, we could partner with the community to address sustainability challenges and use our campus as a “living laboratory” for sustainability solutions.
This is why the Sustainability Academic Strategy working group made recommendations in areas of teaching and research as well as operations when outlining the future of sustainability at UBC. Specifically, measures outlined include the creation of up to a minor in sustainability in every degree program and the development on interdisciplinary research projects focused on UBC’s operations. The implementations of these and other proposals outlined in the strategy will be my top priority over the coming year.
Sustainability must be a part of UBC’s academic role, not simply to its operations. The task of advancing sustainability is not simply about “greening” our operations and offering a few sustainability courses. It is about harnessing and connecting our academic and operational assets, linking them to the wider community, and addressing the profound sustainability challenges we face.
Recently there have been criticisms lobbed at various candidates throughout the AMS elections that support a Platinum Plus LEEDs rating for the new SUB, claiming that the appearance of such a rating is the primary goal, and that rather than trying to achieve a more sustainable campus life candidates would use this to pay lip service to the environmental movement on campus. Others have argued that while not the only way in which UBC can be greener, such a rating would be the result of real efforts which are very worthwhile. Do you have any thoughts on this? Do you believe a Platinum Plus LEEDs rating is necessary to promote sustainability?
The design and construction of the new SUB is guided by its sustainability charter which states “[t]he new SUB will serve as [a] platform for learning and action around sustainability, promoting positive social change, responsible behaviour as local and global citizens, and adaptive patterns of sustainable life all within a vibrant UBC campus community.” And so it should. The LEED rating system is a measurement tool of a building’s environmental performance, accounting for such factors as energy efficiency and materials use. A more comprehensive standard, the Living Building Challenge, will also guide the process.
The critics are right that the simple achievement of a LEED Platinum standard should not be a goal in and of itself. The appearance of such a rating, however, is not the only motivation for going through the LEED process. As an international standard, it can be helpful for communicating expectations to architects and contractors. Furthermore, LEED can set the bar for environmental performance and allow the AMS to experiment over and above this standard.
While I’m not an expert in green building or the SUB Renewal process, conversations with those who are have led me to believe that LEED is an important tool in the creation of a genuinely sustainable Student Union Building. But by no means should we stop there. I sincerely hope that Ekaterina Dovjenko, this year’s incoming VP Administration, will live up to the ambitious vision set out in the sustainability charter.
The idea of modifying the policy on exam hardships has been raised over the course of the election. Do you believe that the current policy is adequate or would you support altering it?
If there’s one thing that sucks more than exams, it’s having three in two days. Back in first year I remember having 3 exams within 26 hours. I emailed someone in the naïve hope that UBC would bend just a little. “The policy is very clear,” I was told, “Exams can only moved if three or more are scheduled within 24 hours.” How silly of me to expect sympathy.
Year after year, student senator candidates campaign on this issue. Year after year, nothing happens.
This past year, student senators succeeded in learning why. Basically, in order to extend the hardship period, more make-up exams would need to be scheduled. To do so, we need more exam slots. And to get more exam slots, we need either a longer exam period or more finals in the early morning or late evening.
Presumably, exams at 7pm on Christmas Eve aren’t what advocates of a longer exam hardship period have in mind.
It’s time for us to move on to more important issues.
Discussions for a Credit/D/Fail system for certain classes on Senate has resulted in an expected report on the implementation thereof to be made available in October 2012. What are your thoughts on Credit/D/Fail?
In short, it’s a great idea. Credit/D/Fail allows students to take challenging elective courses without worrying about their GPA. A math major with a penchant for eighteenth century poetry can take that English class she’s always wanted to and still get into grad school. It’s regrettable, however, that it’s taking so long.
What are some specific plans you have for your senate year other than promoting sustainability?
I have a strong conviction that elected representatives must be accountable to their constituents. Accountability to students will be a top priority over the coming year.
It’s easy for student senators to work in isolation from those who elected them seeing as many students have never heard of the Senate, much less understand what it does. I’m planning on turning my facebook campaign page into an updates feed where I can keep students in touch and discuss important issues as they come up. I’ll also be holding regular office hours after my term starts.
As much as possible, I’d like to connect students to body whose decisions affect their academic lives. I’ve outlined a few ideas for how to accomplish that, and I’m open to further suggestions.
Justin Yang
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