Special Presentation
In a special presentation to the A.S. Council, members of the A.S. Voting Task Force recommended the council’s implementation of instant runoff voting in A.S. elections. Eleanor Roosevelt College Freshman Senator Max Harrington, Financial Assistant Billy Ikosipentarhos, Sixth College Sophomore Senator Mike Schoeck and at-large task force member Jamil Khan reported findings from last month’s Voting Task Force mock election, concluding that A.S. adoption of an instant runoff voting system would provide a more accurate representation of students.
Later in the meeting, the A.S. Council initiated an open role call vote on whether to adopt instant runoff voting. The task force members reported that their mock election found that 57 percent of students polled thought instant runoff voting was the best voting system out of approval, plurality and Condorcet methods, and that 81 percent of students polled felt instant runoff voting represented them. According to the presentation, the A.S. Voting Task Force polled just over 100 undergraduate students.
Items of Immediate Consideration
Item E
Item author University Centers Advisory Board Chair James Lynch withdrew the legislation, which proposed the wording of a University Centers Expansion and Renovation Fee Referendum slated to appear seventh week of Spring Quarter. Lynch withdrew the proposal after many council members, including Commissioner of Student Advocacy Brie Finegold and A.S. President Jenn Brown, requested more time to address the wording of the referendum, which currently details a $39 quarterly student fee increase “”to be collected upon completion and opening [of the renovated University Centers facilities] projected for fall 2007.”” Lynch said that he will introduce the proposal as new business the first meeting of next quarter.
Recognition
The A.S. Council recognized individual council members in the following categories:
Ex-Officio of the Quarter: Sixth College Chair Chris Sweeten
Senator of the Quarter: John Muir College Freshman Senator Nam Bui
Cabinet Member of the Quarter: Commissioner of Services and Enterprises Jeremy Gallagher
Council member of the Quarter: Revelle College Junior Senator Bishoy Said
Old Business
Item DD
The A.S. Council initiated an open role call vote on A.S. adoption of instant runoff voting, effective fifth week of spring 2003. The vote was tallied at 11-3 in favor of implementing a system of instant runoff voting at the meeting’s end. Senators have until March 14 to change or report their vote. The item, which will amend A.S. Election Bylaws, needs only a simple majority to pass.
— Compiled by Clayton Worfolk
Senior Staff Writer
