AMS Assembly heard a presentation from the Iranian Association of Queen’s University (IAQU) and debated proposed changes to clubs’ governance.
Assembly started at around 5:30 p.m., on March 10 in room 315 of McLaughlin Hall. The meeting was largely procedural with little debate on motions. It lasted roughly an hour and 20 minutes, beginning with a land acknowledgment before welcoming the IAQU members in recognition of International Women’s Day. Assembly approved motions appointing Board Chair Dreyden George as AMS President for the 2026-27 academic year.
Speakers traced the roots of the crisis through key events including the 1953 coup against Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and the establishment of the Islamic Republic. They described what they characterized as decades of repression of women, minorities, and political dissidents under the current regime.
Members also shared personal experiences, one recounting being detained by police at age nine after her hijab fell off in public. Another described her mother’s experience growing up under the Islamic Republic, saying families often had to maintain “double lives” between private beliefs and public expectations.
The presentation also included testimony about victims of violence during protests in Iran and discussion of the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Canada designates as a terrorist organization.
IAQU members said the ongoing crisis has had a significant impact on Iranian students at Queen’s.
READ MORE: Iranian Association warn campus is overlooking Iran crisis
The group used the presentation to call for increased institutional support for Iranian students. Their recommendations included a mandatory workshop on Iran’s history and current crisis for faculty, staff, and students, culturally safe mental health services with trained staff, and public statements of support from faculty societies.
Following the presentation, Assembly moved into executive and observer reports.
Vice-President (University Affairs) Alyssa Perisa said she attended the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) general assembly with Commissioner of External Affairs Edlira Ballaj, staff and delegates. She said the alliance passed three policy papers related to tuition and ancillary fees, artificial intelligence, and credit mobility.
Board Chair Dreyden George also provided an update on upcoming governance matters, including the AMS Corporate Annual General Meeting scheduled for March 24. At that meeting, Assembly voting members will elect student directors and consider appointments for community director positions.
Assembly also approved two procedural motions extending the release of meeting minutes from the Feb. 10 and March 3 Assembly meetings until March 24.
Assembly then moved into two motions appointing and ratifying Dreyden George as interim AMS president from March 27 to April 30. George currently serves as Chair of the Board and was previously elected by students to serve as AMS president for the 2026-27 academic year.
Introducing the motion, Vice-President of Operations Elena Nurzynski said George “has spent four years working at the AMS and has extensive knowledge on AMS policies and procedures through his various roles.”
In brief remarks to Assembly, George referenced the campaign pillars he ran on earlier this year, saying his priorities remain “affordability, transparency, and engagement.” He added that affordability efforts will involve “working with the other VPs around some more large-scale system-wide projects and initiatives.”
During the discussion period, the conversation focused on proposed changes to AMS clubs’ policy. Clubs Commissioner Xian Tronsgard told Assembly that AMS is planning a major overhaul of the policy, including phasing out dual ratification for clubs over the next three to four years.
Dual ratification currently allows some clubs to be recognized both by the AMS and by faculty societies.
To address concerns about losing access to resources, Tronsgard said the AMS is exploring ways to expand club grants, allow some clubs to retain student activity fees as external groups, and broaden participation in events such as the Tri-Colour Open House. The AMS is also exploring memorandums of understanding with faculty society and reviewing how insurance coverage for student events could work under the proposed system.
Several Assembly members raised concerns about the proposal, including potential impacts on club funding, insurance, and student fees.
An unnamed Assembly member questioned whether the phased approach to eliminating dual ratification could create issues as leadership changes over time. “When leadership changes, people have different priorities,” they said. Adding the proposal could be “deprioritized” in future years.
In response, Tronsgard said consultation is ongoing with student groups, faculty societies, and university offices. She added the AMS plans to present a more comprehensive overview of the proposed changes once consultations are complete.
Following the discussion, Assembly moved into a planned 30-minute break to allow attendees observing Ramadan to break their fast. However, during the break, AMS Secretariat Racheal Reddy proposed moving the remaining discussion item, an item which she brought relating to elections and referendum, to the next Assembly instead. Assembly members in the room agreed and the meeting adjourned during the break.
—With files from Jonathan Reilly
Tags
(IAQU, AMS Assembly, International Women's Day
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be contacted, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca.