Team ATP elected next ASUS executive

Although the team was running uncontested, receiving the vote of confidence was still an unreal moment, Harrison said in an interview with The Journal.

Sofia Tosello Staff Writer

Amaiya Walters, Preston Harrison, and Therese De Rivera were announced as the new Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) executive team in Jan. 31.

Team ATP had 81.3 per cent votes in favour and 18.7 per cent voters against in a vote of confidence. Walters was elected president, Harrison was elected vice-president (society affairs), and De Rivera was elected vice-president (operations) for the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

“I’m so thrilled by the outcome of our election,” De Rivera wrote in a statement to The Journal. “ATP will continue to make improvements that are in [the] best interest of Queen’s students in any way we can.”

“With the strong foundation that Yara, Emma and Aloka [current ASUS executive] have set for us, I strongly believe we can only make significant, positive changes from here.”

Health and safety committee is a priority for candidate

Asbah Ahmad Senior News Editor

The undergraduate trustee position is up for grabs this year, as Jaya Sharma, HealthSci ’24, and current trustee’s term comes to an end. The position will be elected along with the AMS executive on Feb. 6 and 7.

Reem Al-Rawi, HealthSci ’24, is the sole candidate vying for the position in this year’s election. She is running on a platform of clarification and two-way communication.

The undergraduate trustee is one of the few students who sit on the Board of Trustees, alongside the Rector and the Graduate

Aimée Look

Assistant News Editor

As Senate opened on Jan. 31, AMS president Eric Sikich asked questions via Zoom regarding the sessional dates surrounding Orientation Week and the University’s “competing priorities.”

“There is a general consensus of a desire to change the format that has been consistent over the previous years as the weekend model,” Sikich said.

He acknowledged it was “difficult” to change dates and asked how the University can

Walters told The Journal that, upon receiving the results, all the team’s efforts were worthwhile, and all their “plans and hopes” for the Society are “finally going to come to life.”

Getting different perspectives on the major problems facing the Arts and Science community was one of the challenges ATP had to overcome during the election process, Walters said. Going forward, the team plans to continue to have an “open door policy” with students.

The team is excited to tackle prevalent problems facing the ASUS community. Becoming more connected with first years, strengthening ASUS’s relationship with sibling societies, and better supporting students’ financial needs are some of the issues team ATP plans to tackle.

“As mentioned throughout our campaigning process, we will continue to set goals that tackle issues regarding equity, diversity and inclusion in the Queen’s community,” De Rivera said.

Trustee. Members of the Board of Trustees have a fiduciary duty towards the University.

“In the role, I’m really acting as a voice for students. For me, myself, I might have my own opinions, but that’s not really as important as what everyone else’s opinions are,” Al-Rawi said in an interview with The Journal.

Working with international students and students supporting AMS initiatives are a big part of Al-Rawi’s platform. She currently works in the AMS Marketing Office as a graphic design staff member.

According to her, her work experience from the AMS has inspired her to push for increased student government engagement and improve communication from student leaders to the Board of Trustees.

Collaboration with student leaders

“I really wanted to change and support students if the dates of Orientation Week can’t be changed.

Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean of student affairs, noted Orientation and residence move-in dates are not sessional dates and are set separately.

“I understand the connection you’re making [...] with the Senate orientation review committee, we have an opportunity there, as well with the Deans and Designates group,” Tierney said.

“There are a lot of complicating factors around residents’ preparedness for move-in. I think that [it’s] a really good idea to have these kinds of conversations.”