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ABOUT ME
HELLO ARTS FAM!
My name is Lawrence and I am so thrilled to be running as YOUR next AUS President.
I am heading into my third year, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Health and Society. My favourite campus food is Honour Roll (the 5pm discount items!) I also love Anderson Paak, and I am currently on Season 7 of The Office.
So why am I running to be your next AUS president?
I want to take this opportunity to give back to the organization that has given me so much as a UBC student. The AUS community welcomed me with open arms as a first-year representative. This past year, I was able to learn and grow so much as the Arts Chief AMS Representative. Along the way, I was able to acquire valuable hands-on experience, garner insight, accumulate knowledge on the structure of the AUS and most importantly, meet amazing people that made me come to love the AUS so much. These experiences within the AUS allowed me to see the many strengths of the organizations as well as identify the areas that can be developed and improved.
This is why I feel confident to say that I will be successful in leading the AUS community back for this upcoming transition year.
MY PLATFORM
My campaign goals can be narrowed down to these three key areas:
COMMUNITY
As the biggest undergraduate society in Western Canada, we must work towards creating a clearer, more direct relationship in how the AUS is working to enhance the student experience of ALL arts students at UBC. If elected, I must bring our events, clubs, services and resources TO the students instead of requiring students to actively look for us. We can then work towards further strengthening the arts community by improving arts pride, creating connections between the faculty and the students, and of course, create an imagine day cheer we can all be proud of.
Encourage AUS collaborations with the faculty, ResLife, AMS, Collegia, and other external organizations to increase our outreach to arts students
Develop and host semesterly experience surveys and townhouse discussions to consult with students on what they are looking for in their AUS
Host more faculty-wide networking events that encourage interactions among all art student’s alike
Emphasis on physical merchandise bundles and giveaways to encourage event turnout and ensure that student fees are going back to the student population
Strengthen the connection between the AUS community through enhancing internal socials and establishing volunteer appreciation initiatives
Develop positive relationships with student leaders from external campus organizations and undergraduate societies to encourage future collaborations on bigger and more impactful events
Create an arts-wide contest and subsequent vote for arts students to determine the next arts cheer we can all be proud of
MENTAL WELLNESS
As a psych student, this is a point that is very personal to me. Whether it be externally or internally, we must promote practices that actively encourage mental health wellness. I plan to provide a variety of opportunities for students to detach from school, partake in wellness events and easily connect with mental health-related resources and professionals.
Enhancing our support for the AUS HEWE team
Work with the faculty to create an arts-based peer to peer support program that offers emotional, social, and informational support to arts student
Increasing awareness for the different mental health resources offered on campus and off-campus by creating a comprehensive resource package of credible mental health resources
Hosting consistent, mental wellness-oriented events around exam season to reduce stress within the student population (More Bunny Yoga???)
Promote more wellness-based educational workshops (internally and externally) that assist students of to prevent, reduce risk and manage mental health in school
Encouraging collaborations with external health and wellness-based groups
Ensuring that the AUS is consistent in maintaining a low-stress work environment for its members!!
TRANSITION
As we approach the end of this pandemic, the AUS must be prepared in moving its day-to-day operations onto a campus of in-person learning. With the lack of proper social interactions this past year, I plan to bring back campus-life with a bang. I will also advocate for a smooth and accessible transition for students from online to in-person learning.
From the exec team to departmental clubs, I will provide the necessary support for all new AUS members during the summer term
Onboard AUS members onto the newly created transition canvas course
Advocate for continued online office hours, lecture recordings, and online formats once we return to campus to ensure accessible learning for all of us who are so used to Collaborate Ultra lectures
Work with the faculty and incoming VP Administration to organize a faculty event to celebrate the grand opening of the Arts Student Center
Further financial support and guidance for the AUS First-Year Committee to create a welcoming atmosphere for the First-Year cohort/ increase support from Studlife to FYC to increase the size of FY events
Target returning second-year students with 19+ second-year focused orientation events that showcase the AUS
Establishing a positive working relationship with the Faculty of Arts to ensures portfolios are adhering to social distancing regulations and provincial COVID requirements as we return in September
Some further initiatives and concerns I hope to address:
Complete overhaul to update the current AUS Code of Procedures to ensure its adherence to our current practices
Establishment of an online system where AUS members can store away documents and reports to ensure its longevity
Increase our social media presence and adopting interactive social media strategies to further engage with the Arts student population
Work to search and implement strategies on how we can increase our engagement and voter turnout for AUS nominations and elections
Here is my favourite dog photo in my phone gallery
RELEVANT EXPERIENCES
Chief AMS Arts Representative
First Year- Representative
Representative to Monthly Faculty of Arts Meetings
Chair, AUS First-Year Committee
AUS Executive Commitee Member
AUS Governance Committee Member
AUS Internal Committee Member
Chair, AMS Human Resources Committee
Chair, AMS Fermentation Lab Committee
AMS Operations Committee Member
AMS Student Life Committee Member
AMS Steering Committee Member
AMS Ethics and Accountability Committee Member
AUS Council Member
AMS Council Member
TPRA Volunteer
HKSA Social Coordinator