AMS Assembly met on Jan. 19, opening with a Holocaust remembrance presentation before members unanimously ratified four executive election candidates and passed a series of motions.

The meeting began roughly twenty minutes after the designated start-time at 5:53 p.m. before concluding just over two hours later at 7:54 p.m. Assembly saw motions passed specifying logistics for the 2026 Winter Referendum, requests for increased funding from the Commissioner of Social Issues (External) and the Queen’s Black Academic Society (QBAS), and the ratification of four candidates for the AMS executive elections.

After a brief land acknowledgement, guest speakers from Hillel Queen’s, a Jewish student organization focused on education, advocacy, and community building, were introduced to discuss the importance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which will be taking place on Jan. 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

“We must reflect on how silence, distance, and disengagement allow injustice to grow,” said Amit Rimon, ConEd ’28. “History shows us that oppression isn’t  sustained only by hatred, but by the people who decided it isn’t their problem.”

The Hillel speakers discussed the history of Queen’s University, reflecting on instances in which the University community defended Hitler and were complicit in anti-Semitism during the genocide, citing past Queen’s Journal articles. They invited the Queen’s community to attend their upcoming Holocaust Education Week workshops, discussions, and dinner to ensure such complicity never happens again at the University.

The Assembly sat for a moment of silence in honour of the victims of the Holocaust, before moving on to amend the agenda. Motion seven, which concerned the addition of new student activity fees to the 2026 Winter Referendum ballot based on recommendations from the Student Activity Fee Review Committee, was amended to remove the ReelOuts Arts Project and Power to Change.

The two groups were removed as they’d already passed the nomination phase of the referendum process, leaving the Social Issues Commission (SIC) as the only group under consideration for a new fee at that stage. The amended motion was carried.

Observe reports were limited, as Chairperson Dreyden George was present in his capacity as an AMS presidential candidate, and the Senate Caucus Chair and Undergraduate Trustee weren’t present.

Rector Niki Boytchuk-Hale delivered her report, highlighting the University’s Artificial Intelligence strategy survey circulated to students, as well as institutional supports available to Iranian students, including academic accommodations and wellness resources, amid ongoing political unrest and human rights concerns in Iran.

Motions 5-11

Motion five was presented by the Commissioner of Social Issues (External), Mujeedat Lekuti, HealthSci ’26, proposing a $3.50 student fee increase to be placed on the 2026 Winter Referendum ballot. Lekuti explained that the Commission lost its triannual fee in 2025, resulting in an approximate $30,000 deficit in the SIC budget. While the deficit was offset this year through a one-time AMS board grant, the Commission won’t receive the grant next year, which could result in the loss of awards and student grants for equity-deserving community members. The motion passed unanimously.

Motion six, concerned the Queen’s Black Academic Society (QBAS), who were seeking a $0.60 increase from $0.50 to $1.10 in their Student Activity Fee to offset the rising cost of their core events. The presenters from QBAS, co-presidents Kiana Chabikuli, HealthSci ’27, and Ismael Linton, ArtSci ’27, expressed hopes to expand their reach to the broader Kingston community and to keep their conference free for all students.

The motion passed unanimously.

Motions seven through 11 concerned specifics regarding additions, removals, and logistics for the Winter 2026 Referendum Ballot, and were all passed unanimously.

Executive Candidate Ratifications

Motions 12 through 15 focused on ratifying the candidates running for the AMS executive team. Each candidate was given five minutes to present their platforms and experience briefly, and then had the opportunity to answer three questions from the Assembly.

The two students seeking ratification as candidates for AMS President were Dreyden George, ArtSci ’26, and Alexander McArthur, ArtSci ’27. George expressed a desire to run a student-centred campaign and identified the three pillars of his campaign as affordability, transparency, and engagement. McArthur highlighted a commitment to data-driven advocacy and representation, strengthening transitions for student leaders, and continuing to strengthen faculty-society relationships.

Only one student, Avery Papoulidis, HealthSci ’26, sought ratification as a candidate for Vice-President (Operations). Papoulidis identified the three primary objectives of her campaign as creating a more connected campus and accessible AMS, guaranteeing equal support to all AMS services, and ensuring student-focused, transparent operations.

Edward Sy, HealthSci ’27, was also the only student to seek ratification as a candidate for Vice-President (University Affairs). Sy reminded the Assembly of the AMS’s slogan, “by students, for students,” and presented three pillars for their campaign: accountability, community, and efficiency.

All candidates were ratified unanimously.

Motions 17-19

Motion 17 confirmed that the AMS had received the Sustainability Goal Plan Progress Report. Motion 18 ratified the Queen’s Breast Cancer Awareness Club following an appeal of a previous decision by the Club Advisory Committee.

According to the Appeals Committee, the club was the only one among 13 appeals that warranted action, leading Assembly to overturn the prior decision and approve its ratification. Motion 19 approved the AMS Equity Strategic Framework in principle, and Motion 20 postponed the AMS awards timeline. All motions were passed unanimously.

The next Assembly will be held on Feb. 10 in Wallace Hall.

Tags

AMS Assembly, International Holocaust Education Week, ratification

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