With fall elections quickly approaching, the current AMS executives reflect on their first few months and what’s to come.
As Queen’s students settled into a new semester of life in the reopened JDUC, AMS President Jana Amer and Vice-President (Operations) Elena Nurzynski sat down with The Journal to discuss the successes and challenges of the team’s 2025 fall semester.
Vice-President (University Affairs) Alyssa Perisa was unable to attend the meeting due to a scheduling mistake, but sent The Journal a statement with her thoughts on the year so far.
Amer described the year as “one of learning and adaptability,” pointing to the organization’s move into the JDUC as a shift the AMS has “never seen before.”
All executives pointed to the JDUC move as central to the fall term, saying the new location has increased visibility and changed how students access services.
Additionally, Amer has felt “more cohesion,” now that offices are centralized in the JDUC, rather than split between locations like LaSalle and other campus buildings.
“Now that we’re here, students actually come to us and are able to ask a lot more questions,” she said.
When asked about campaign commitments reaching a diverse student body, the executives said their approach this year has focused on being proactive and accessible, rather than expecting students to navigate AMS systems on their own. Amer and Nurzynski both spoke to the JDUC, surveys, newsletters, and social media, helping make this possible.
Perisa, in her statement, echoed the importance of being accessible and listening to diverse student voices, saying she has tried to be intentional about listening
before acting.
“One of the main ways I’ve done this is by meeting regularly with the vice-presidents of Faculty Societies to understand the unique challenges their students are facing,” she said. “These conversations help me stay connected to the realities of different faculties and make sure the perspectives I bring forward truly reflect the diversity of student experiences at Queen’s.”
Amer also pointed to consultations with university offices and equity bodies as part of their approach, naming groups including the Human Rights and Equity Office, the Division of Student Affairs, and others.
Engagement Strategies
All executives said student engagement has been a priority, and they consistently seek new, effective ways to keep students engaged throughout the fall.
The AMS reinstated a monthly newsletter and has seen over “30 plus per cent,” open rates, according to Amer. The AMS has also used giveaways tied to referenda—the Fall Referendum received 14.6 per cent voter turnout—to encourage participation and awareness.
According to Amer, the AMS has been sharing updates through its website, blogs, newsletter, and Instagram, and also referenced using “a couple different international chat sites,” to better reach international students,
Survey feedback has also guided decision-making. Nurzynski pointed to a student experience survey conducted in September, to ask what students were looking for in the AMS, saying results helped the AMS understand how students want to hear from their student government and what information they’re looking for.
The AMS Instagram “really blew up,” this year, according to Amer. The account has averaged “over a one or two million click rate” per month. The account’s follower counts also doubled after plateauing.
Investments, Divestment Calls, and Student Safety
The executives addressed calls on campus for divestment related to the war in Gaza and other concerns about investments. Amer emphasized a distinction between Queen’s investments and AMS investments.
“Queens has their own separate investment portfolio and the AMS has their own separate investment portfolio,” Nurzynski continued, “and we have an investment committee which does look at our investments […] we ensure that our investments are held to a certain standard.”
Student well-being was emphasized as a baseline principle in their approach to tense campus issues. The executives emphasized different ways and actions they’ve found particularly important when dealing with problems.
Nurzynski pointed to the assembly as an important venue for students to raise concerns and encouraged students to continue bringing questions.
Amer described meeting with student groups to hear diverse perspectives, adding that not all investment decisions sit within AMS’s control, but it’s something they hope to work on with the University.
“We have no say or actually no control over any of those decisions [Queen’s investment portfolio] and not even necessarily a specific seat at the table,” Amer said.
Bill 33: Summer Advocacy and Fall Outreach
AMS’s response to Ontario’s Bill 33 began in October, while the bill was tabled on May 29.
The AMS released its first statement on Bill 33 on Oct 29 and picked up awareness efforts mid Nov., with an official statement and an informational video on Instagram.
Amer stated that broad public-facing outreach is difficult when students aren’t on campus. Executives attended town halls, coordinated with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), and worked with partner unions at other schools to support lobbying efforts.
Perisa also said that engagement with the AMS Equity Caucus has shaped how she approaches advocacy, with student voices at the centre.
“I brought forward concerns around Bill 33, and the feedback I received highlighted how changes to funding and supports can disproportionately impact marginalized students and affect the sense of community that is so important for student success.” Perisa wrote
Amer also said AMS representatives participated in a November “lobby week,” and met with Members of Parliament (MP) such as the sitting member for the official opposition—New Democratic Party of Ontario—MPP Peggy Sattler, who represents the riding of London West, about concerns regarding Bill 33.
Looking Ahead: Transition and Elections
Looking to the winter term, all executives said improving transition processes is a key focus.
“Transition has historically been a very weak point for the AMS,” Amer said, adding the organization has been discussing ways to strengthen documentation and create clearer checkpoints so incoming teams aren’t starting from scratch.
The AMS plans to continue refining its student engagement strategies, building on the data and feedback collected throughout the fall semester. After paying close attention to engagement trends, they plan to adapt future communication accordingly.
As AMS elections approach, they all encouraged students to consider running. Amer framed the experience as both challenging and rewarding. Nurzynski added that even students who don’t win gain a valuable experience and urged candidates to keep perspective during what she called a “whirlwind” period.
Tags
Bill 33, fall in review, Student Engagement
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