With the winter term underway, AMS President Kate McCuaig, Vice-President (Operations) Michelle Hudson, and Vice-President (University Affairs) Victoria Mills sat down with The Journal to reflect on their fall term.
With a successful Orientation Week and Homecoming weekend, KMV welcomes the new year with planning for the JDUC and re-establishing their commitment to student advocacy amid rising fees and the University’s budget deficit.
Queen’s budget cuts
The AMS was in “shock” when the University announced potential service cuts, spurred by a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
McCuaig sits in Senate and attends Board of Trustee meetings where the financial deficit was discussed; however, she was shocked the cuts were made without students’ input. Along with Hudson and Mills, McCuaig believes the student body should have been consulted in making cuts to academic programming.
READ MORE: University’s operating budget deficit lowered from $62.8 to $48 million.
The executive team piggybacked on a protest planned by student advocacy group Queen’s versus Cuts outside the FAS town hall in December. Although not invited to the meeting, KMV was admitted entry as observers.
To answer students’ questions, KMV invited Provost Mathew Evans to AMS Assembly on Jan. 23 to meet with students face-to-face. The Provost accepted their invitation.
“We’re all able to come together and unite on this topic and I’ve never seen a topic that sparked so many joint and communal conversations, so suddenly, and so quickly,” McCuaig said.
Responding to students on conflict in the Middle East
In response to widespread dissatisfaction amongst Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim students and their allies at the November AMS Assembly, KMV encourages all students to use Assembly as a platform for advocacy and ensures it’s a safe space.
“Your student leaders will hear it, your student leaders will listen, and they will make sure they’re present during those discussions,” McCuaig said.
Following the meeting, the team spoke with senior administrators, advocating for accommodations for students without documentation, recognizing students impacted by the conflict in the Middle East can’t provide documentation in some instances. McCuaig said the executive’s advocacy led Queen’s to require all faculties to grant accommodations to affected students.
Hudson encourages students who would like to speak with a professional to use the Peer Support Centre, and to access services paid for through insurance like Empower Me+.
Homecoming weekend 2023
Homecoming was a “massive success,” Mills claimed. With harm reduction campaigns and effective communication with the City and Kingston Police, KMV hopes it sets a precedent for years to come. During an Assembly last fall, Mills said law enforcement admits students did a good job following bylaws this year.
“I think it’s something that, to a certain degree, is to students’ benefit. This is something we’re able to use for future advocacy going forward,” Mills added.
READ MORE: Fewer unsanctioned events at Homecoming amid increased police presence
The AMS helped bus students to and from the football game, and distributed free snacks and beverages to keep students hydrated. They also hosted a food truck around Earl St.
Although Homecoming 2023 saw less disruptive behaviour, the Kingston Police still issued $57,000 in fines, marking a $13,000 increase from last year. KMV hopes this year shows Queen’s students can act responsibly.
Mills cautioned students the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI) is likely to be put in place for St. Patrick’s Day weekend in March. KMV wants to advocate for greater transparency regarding the charges students need to be wary of to limit police officers’ discretion when fining students.
Financial accessibility of Orientation week
From ongoing conversations about academic accommodations for upper years, to faculty bursaries, KMV worked to make orientation more accessible in meetings with the Senate Orientation Review Committee, and the Student Affairs Orientation Roundtable this fall.
Academic accommodations for orientation student leaders aren’t yet finalized, but Mills said discussions have been “fruitful” and promised to keep advocating to the University. Different faculties having different accommodation procedures is proving to be a barrier.
In the review, Mills and the executive are considering building in scheduled rest times for leaders to ensure their physical and mental wellbeing.
Orientation garnered $30,000 in sponsorships, which will be split across faculties based on size. Each faculty’s orientation fees differ due to the different activities that are run.
“There was a large increase in sponsorships that the previous ORT team could secure this year. It is something that we’re very much hoping to continue progress with,” Mills said.
At December Assembly, faculties who haven’t received their students’fee revenue expressed frustration, and Mills said the conversation ended up being positive.
The AMS holds 75 per cent of faculty societies’ student fee revenue if the previous year’s orientation costs exceed their revenue. In the future, Mills and ORT hope to work closer with the faculty societies to understand their individual needs and budgets.
JDUC revitalization project
Presenting the floor plans at the December AMS Assembly, McCuaig got to share her excitement for students to be back in the JDUC.
To keep the JDUC affordable for students, KMV is putting forward a $5.00 increase at referendum for the Student Life Centre (SLC), despite lack of confirmation from the University before the referendum packages were due.
READ MORE: AMS plans JDUC prayer spaces for Muslim Queen’s Students
This fee will cover rent expenses to the University for the spaces the AMS will occupy in the new JDUC.
“It’s a beautiful building that comes with increased costs. With the increased costs themselves, our current student fee is modeled after the rent model that the University gave us,” McCuaig said.
KMV is especially excited about the new Wellness Wing, a collaboration between the AMS, SGPS, and Student Wellness Services (SWS) to centre all student health services in the JDUC. There will be an increase in study spaces, club rooms, and a dedicated prayer space for Muslim students, including a foot-washing station.
Corrections
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the JDUC redevelopment fee was going up for referendum for a fee increase. In-fact, the SLC fee is going up for referendum. Incorrect information was published in the Jan. 12 issue of The Queen’s Journal.
The Journal regrets the error
Tags
AMS, budget cuts, fall in review, Homecoming, JDUC
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