The AMS executive looks back on the fall term, making strides as the first de-slated team in 151 years.
Following the winter break, The Journal caught up with AMS President Owen Rocchi, Vice-President (Operations) Ayan Chowdhury, and Vice-President (University Affairs) Ruth Osunde, to recount their progress from the fall term and their plans for the new semester.
Team OAR navigated a semester full of challenges and advocacy for accessible and diverse programs for students, from orientation to daily bus rides, all while managing personal relationships, academics, and governmental duties. And with the AMS executive election approaching, they look forward to ing the torch to their successors.
“I think that you can kind of break up the experience [of being in student government] into the fact that we’re students as well, and that’s something that a lot of people forget when it comes to our roles and student government,” Osunde said.
JDUC
Just a day before sitting down with The Journal, the AMS and SGPS issued a t statement on Jan. 16, stating they no longer trust any completion dates provided by the University for the JDUC. Instead, they’ll hold off on announcing a new date until both student organizations can confirm the space is fully ready to their services. Rocchi emphasized he was done letting his team down.
“Quite frankly, we’re done disappointing our team and disappointing students. These delays do come from the project team, and there’s ittedly nothing the AMS can do to accelerate the project, as much I’d love to get in there and build it myself,” Rocchi said.
Built in 1949 and owned by Queen’s, the JDUC has been managed by the AMS, excluding the student residences. The revitalization, which began in 2015, was officially launched in 2018 in collaboration with the Society of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS).
READ MORE: BREAKING: AMS and SGPS voice frustration over JDUC delays
When asked about the impact of these delays on AMS services and operations, Rocchi reassured services will continue as usual without interruption or impact on the livelihood of AMS employees. He emphasized he won’t allow any further disruptions until a verified date is set for the JDUC move-in.
“We’re the first de-slated team the organization has seen in 151 years. I’m the first Black woman who’s ever held a role in the exec team. We come with a lot of changes. […] whoever comes after we will see a completely new building that took years of student advocacy and was so important to getting there,” Osunde said.
Orientation
Coming into her role, Osunde shared she initially thought Fall Orientation would be something she’d struggle with, as her own experience was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In her first year, she felt orientation wasn’t inclusive to her as a Black student. In response, this year, she sought to create a change, for instance, through the Orientation Roundtable Mystery Concert.
“The concert this year was great, we had really wonderful . The mid-liner was Aqyila, who’s a Black artist, and she brought the R&B vibes and the afro beats vibes, and from what I heard from Black students was they were so excited to hear [that] because you don’t hear that often at Queen’s,” Osunde said.
READ MORE: Rain couldn’t dampen the energy, DJ Dillon Francis electrifies first-year crowd
Osunde spoke about the creation of “Black Orientation,” a new initiative created in collaboration with the Queen’s Black Clubs Caucus and the Yellow House. She reflected on wearing multiple hats on campus, with her role as a Black student leader being one of the most significant. As the first Black woman to hold her position within the AMS, she acknowledged the unique responsibility her position carries in shaping campus initiatives and furthering representation.
When asked to elaborate on “Black Orientation,” Osunde expressed her willingness to discuss it further in a future interview, with the Queen’s Black Clubs Caucus and Yellow House included in the conversation.
Osunde highlighted the importance of orientation affordability. To address this, she noted the AMS reached out to similar-sized schools like Western University, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Waterloo to learn how they managed their orientations, revealing other schools utilized sponsors more than Queen’s does.
For 2025-26 orientation, Osunde confirmed finding sponsors will be a priority.
Osunde stressed the importance of finding sponsors who align with the AMS’s principles and values. While they’re open to partnering with companies that approach them, they remain committed to upholding their values and principles.
Homecoming and “Fauxcoming”
The AMS executive described Homecoming and “Fauxcoming” as a success.
Osunde defined a successful homecoming as one where students are safe, and noted the roadway to achieving that is by raising awareness about the police liaison team, who are officers that focus on educating students about bylaws rather than enforcing laws.
For instance, according to Osunde, a police liaison can inform a student about relevant bylaws, such as the noise bylaw, and explain how they’re enforced. However, the police liaison isn’t in a position to tell students they’ve broken the law or to threaten arrest.
Osunde highlighted the importance of collaboration and alignment within the AMS to ensure a successful homecoming. She noted the Campus External Affairs Instagram was posting information about bylaws, the work of the Social Issues Commissionpromoting the “Know Your Rights” campaign.
The campaign was organized by the Social Issues Commission (SIC) which aims to ensure students are well-informed about their legal rights and responsibilities.
READ MORE: A potentially larger than normal Fauxcoming brings both the AMS and the City into new territory
Looking ahead to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Osunde explained while FryWay was the primary provider for Homecoming, they plan to more local and diverse businesses.
Bus-it Program
While communication with Kingston Police has been ongoing, discussions with the City of Kingston remain unclear as the AMS negotiates a new deal for their Bus-It Program, which is set to expire in August 2025.
The Bus-It program, which began in 1974, is a partnership between the AMS and Kingston Transit, providing Queen’s students with discounted access to the City’s buses. Every three years, the fee is reviewed by both organizations, with any changes presented to students for a referendum vote. With an exception in 2021-22 academic year when AMS decided not to reinstate the Bus-It Program due to COVID-19.
READ MORE: Bus-It Program terminated for 2021-22 academic year
Chowdhury said although fee increases are typically not drastic, Queen’s students pay the lowest transit fee in the province at $122, compared to Laurier students who pay about $229 and the University of Ottawa students who pay around $600.
Chowdhury clarified that the City and the AMS haven’t reached a mutual agreement. He added that he cannot share any further details until an agreement is made.
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Team OAR remains energized as they near the finish line, completing the projects they’ve taken on and ing on their valuable experiences to the incoming executive team.
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