AMS Primer: VP External Bahareh Jokar
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Ubyssey (The University of British Columbia)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2014/08/17
Bahareh Jokar is working to make transportation easier and more accessible to students.
As the current VP External, Jokar’s job includes dealing with the political aspects and outreach of the AMS.
When asked about her new duties and responsibilities, Jokar said the the majority of her work will focus on thematic issues that the AMS will continue to focus on throughout the year.
“Those issues include addressing student needs on a provincial level, public transportation, and the U-Pass program,” said Jokar.
Jokar also manages aspects of government relations to post-secondary students. Some of these services include childcare, education, immigration, financial aid and transportation.
Other initiatives include the OutreachAMS, the Alliance of B.C. Students and the Financial Aid/Student Debt Advocacy.
But in what is perhaps her biggest project of the year, Jokar will continue working towards making the transition from the U-Pass to the Compass Card.
“For me, specifically this term, I am focusing on the upcoming municipal election, the potential public transit referendum,” said Jokar.
Jokar said that she will be looking at the Broadway corridor and the mayor’s council proposal to have a Broadway line that extends beyond Arbutus and out to UBC.
According to Jokar, this will include “working with UBC administration and the City of Vancouver to push to have the line extend out to UBC.”
During her time as VP External, Jokar hopes to divide her time efficiently between all these different commitments. A few of these commitments include chairing Get-On-Board B.C., a coalition of stakeholders advocating for greater funding for public transit, and the Alliance of B.C. Students.
Through her participation in many different projects and initiatives, Jokar hopes to address some of the overarching concerns of UBC students.
“I see large trends, which seep into various issues that we are trying to address like public transportation, like student issue reform around accessibility and affordability,” said Jokar.
At the same time, Jokar feels that addressing these concerns comes down to learning more about the core issues of civic process and student engagement.
“If we put in more today, future AMS members will be able to reap the benefits of uniting and engaging in the process to push for student issues, and making our communities a better place,” said Jokar.
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