Truly, running for president has changed my life in ways I never thought possible lmao. Before running for president, I claimed that I would stop going to AMS Council meetings. After all, I’ve been to more AMS Council meetings than most (maybe all????) of the student politicians who currently represent us. Can’t I retire?

Apparently not. Because The Ubyssey’s opinion editor has wanted an AMS columnist for a hot sec. In all honesty, since writing our opinion piece as joke candidates, I suspected this day would come. All it took was the opinion editor calling me “qualified” and an “ideal candidate.” (I’m blushing.)

Congrats Spencer. You got your AMS Columnist. Happy to be on board.

Anyways, introducing Point of Inquiry!

I’m very excited. There has been a lot of… rancid vibes (?) these past couple years, so I’m trying to come at this from a more compassionate angle. (My editor used fancy words such as “post-polar” and “likening councillors to monkeys might not be the most effective strategy.”) I’m super happy for folks to disagree with me and think I have L takes — I just hope that most folks feel like I haven’t just written them off as “the bad guys” who have nothing redeemable about their perspective.

Aaaaaannnyyyyyways. I’m mostly gonna yap about the graphic this newsletter. Ayla did it and I love it so much. I don’t think she’s on this newsletter (yet 👀) nor do I think I’ve had any interactions with her, but I’m going to gas her up anyways. Just be aware that graphic design is only my passion, so I’m just saying vibes :D.

I was super curious what the vibe was going to be since a lot of her previous Ubyssey visuals have been mostly illustrations. (These are some of my recent favourites.) I was curious if it might be something like this piece which depicts the little chairs that AMS executives sit in because I well and truly had no idea what type of illustration would fit the vibe.

Turns out, it wasn’t an illustration! It was a cool collage thingy! And I think it’s perfect. (I would say that though. I’m biased :D)

I’m a big fan of the council agenda in the background with the little crumbled up paper texture (is it bad that I could immediately tell that it was the recent May 17 Agenda?). I don’t know why, but the shade of yellow she chose hits so hard. It’s a little bit giving manilla envelope? Like a pop of colour so it’s not all greyscale, but not making council more exciting than it actually is. And, it’s a little bit of a connection to my days pretending to be a bee — though I’m told there isn’t an intentional connection there. Even so, I like it as a little nod, but not consuming the whole thing.

At first I was a little turned off when I saw the photo of the council because it predates my time being an MKF Frequent Flier. But after thinking about it for a second, I realized it actually really worked and was for the best. Ultimately, the column shouldn’t be Fuck Riley Huntley Hour (I think that would be a conflict of interest by any reasonable definition), and I think disassociating it from the modern era of AMS politics is really healthy for the column. Plus, I’m sure Ivran and ?asneet are great people.

I also think it looks incredible as a banner. The other column banners look cropped (because they are), but the POI one looks like it belongs. It fits perfectly with the lowest + highest parts of the MKF photo scrap thingies. I’m a big fan. Obsessed even.

Thank you so much Ayla! I love all the stuff you’ve made for The Ubyssey, and I really feel like the Point of Interest graphic is super rad and I feel super lucky to have had your touch on it. Sorry you’re sick D:. Hope you feel better soon!!! (I’m trusting that one of the Ubyssey people on this newsletter will forward this to you.)

Annnnyyyy ways, I totally promised Sam Low there would be more on the column’s name today, but I realize I need a newsletter for Sunday (I’m out of town starting Thursday, and I truly don’t have time) so… oops I lied. I’ll tell y’all more about the name I chose for the column Sunday — as well as share the long-list of names. Spoiler: most of them are absolutely abysmal.

Big Ubyssey is Censoring My Truth

Other News

u/bonelander-69 are you there?

I’m just wondering if you still read these. Since presumably you’ve read at least one of them! I dunno, I just hope you’re doing well. Living a good life. Hopefully far away from AMS politics (we can all dream). Or maybe you have an informant on this newsletter. That’d be fun. If you are the aforementioned informant, you should totally email me it would be funny. :)

Poor Santa :(

He’s too woke for Florida. Too much DEI action. It’s always sad to see a man to a complete 180 on his stated values for only a 15% increase in his base salary (still 200k in real dollars). And then, of course, fail to get the job. He should have brought his two bobble heads, I’m sure that would have sold the deal.

Also, the US President’s son said about Santa that “This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California.” Which is… hilarious.

From the Archive

March 22, 1951 — the province grants UBC $200,000 to increase professor wages

That’s All!

Gonna go immediately put together Sunday’s newsletter so I don’t have to deal with that while I’m out of town. Read my column if you haven’t yet! I really appreciate everyone who’s told me what they think of it. It’s super sweet! All you nerds are the best.

Until Sunday at 10:03 pm, buzz on, my busy bees!

Trapped in the MKF since 2025