Dear Queen’s Community,
Today, I am writing to formally inform you of my resignation as President of the Alma Mater Society (AMS) of Queen’s University, effective March 9, 2026.
This decision has not come lightly. I stepped into this role with determination, conviction, and a deep sense of responsibility to the students who entrusted me with their voice. Serving as AMS President has been one of the greatest honours of my time at Queen’s, and I wanted—more than anything—to see this term through to the end.
There were moments this year that reminded me why student leadership matters. I was humbled to speak at the NDTR Sacred Fire and to witness the strength of community, ceremony, and truth-telling on our campus. I’m proud of the work we did to deepen connection through AMS communications and marketing, expand alumni engagement, and celebrate a milestone for student life with the JDUC Grand Re-Opening. I’m also proud that I helped secure free summer access to the ARC, because students deserve support and fair access to the facilities they pay for. Those moments, of gathering, rebuilding, and belonging, are what I will carry with me long after this role ends.
I also owe you clarity and accountability.
In recent weeks, a situation involving the President’s corporate credit card became public. Students’ concerns were valid; when student dollars are involved, scrutiny is appropriate. I identified that $377.32 in personal expenses were accidentally charged to the card. That should not have happened. I take full responsibility, and I am sincerely sorry for not addressing it as promptly and clearly as students deserved.
I want to share context—not as an excuse, but because I believe you deserve the full truth. A large part of my portfolio involved overseeing the Internal Affairs Office, the behind-the-scenes backbone of student government. This year, Internal Affairs experienced extreme instability: 10 staff transitions between July and December, and over 50% of the office was vacant during September, October, and November. During that time, I absorbed an overwhelming workload to keep essential governance running, and an administrative backlog formed, including receipts tied to operational purchases across seven offices in my portfolio. That context does not absolve me, but I hope it explains how quickly things can unravel when systems don’t have the support they need.
At the same time, the internal environment became increasingly isolating. I asked for support again and again. I tried to do the right things: to step back where appropriate, to trust the systems around me, to believe that people would meet this moment with care and good faith. Instead, I felt increasingly abandoned.
As the situation became public, incomplete, and at times false, information circulated, intensifying confusion and distrust when students deserved clear, verified information. And what followed has been devastating: harassment and threats. In recent weeks, I have experienced severe harassment, including threats of doxxing and harm, repeated spam calls, and my family being pulled into something they never asked for. No student should be made to fear for their safety. No student leader should have to weigh public service against personal security.
I care deeply about this institution and the students it represents. I have invested an immense amount of energy, effort, and time in this work. While I did not imagine this trajectory, I believe the AMS President deserves safety and good-faith support. The AMS deserves stability and the opportunity to move forward, and so do I.
To Team DAE, I wish your team the cohesion, integrity, and support necessary from the Board, Executives, and Management to serve students effectively.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your 156th President of the Alma Mater Society.
Sincerely,
Jana Amer
156th President, Alma Mater Society
Queens University
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