The A.S. Council voted 17-4-0 at its April 9 meeting to override A.S. President Jenn Brown’s veto on the referendum presented by the University Centers Expansion Task Force.
The vote came after Brown vetoed legislation to pass the referendum produced by UCETF that calls for a $39-per-quarter fee for the expansion and renovation of the Price Center and the Student Center.
“”I think that it [the vote to override the veto] was perfectly legitimate and the senators were upholding their jobs,”” said UCETF Chair Garo Bournoutian.
Before the first roll call vote, Brown presented another version of the referendum, which would have changed the overseeing of construction, planning and design to the A.S. Council and the Graduate Students Association.
“”The implications of these changes would be huge with regards to
student control,”” Brown said. “”The building would still be built on time, with all of the promised parts. The only difference would be that students would have the final say in decision making.””
Arguments against the UCETF recommended referendum were brought up in the last two weeks regarding autonomy of the project.
“”I don’t think we should have overturned the veto,”” said Revelle College Senior Senator Amy Uyeshima. “”Jenn Brown has different opinions from the majority of other council members and I think it’s an important quality because she represents voices that are not being heard on campus.””
Many of the councilmembers also expressed concerns about the implications of student autonomy and on whether the referendum will pass as presented by the task force.
“”I’m not sure if A.S. can handle that,”” Uyeshima said. “”In terms of the expansion, which has been an ongoing thing at our university, it seems that we are in a desperate situation to pass the referendum this year and I’m worried about seeing it fail.””
Brown’s proposal was to have a Building Advisory Committee co-chaired by two students and made up of students appointed by the A.S. Council and GSA.
However, according to Bournoutian, university policies prevent any Building Advisory Committee to be entirely comprised of students.
“”Any Building Advisory Committee needs to have voting members that are not students,”” Bournoutian said.
Commissioner of Student Advocacy Brie Finegold also presented amendments to the UCETF referendum. Council members have expressed their concerns about not asking students whether autonomy is desired on campus. Finegold’s proposed changes would have called for students to vote on who they would like to control the expanded and renovated student centers.
However, after discussions on the amendment and possibilities of a Building Advisory Committee made up of only students, the council moved to vote on the UCETF version.
Some council members such as John Muir College Sophomore Senator Jeremy Cogan abstained during the first roll call vote, but changed his vote for the UCETF referendum.
“”The last time I felt there wasn’t sufficient discussion on the different versions of the referendum,”” Cogan said. “”After hearing all sides of the story, I felt that the original plan was the best way to go.””
With the referendum approved by the A.S. Council, the UCETF will now focus its attention toward publicizing and getting students to vote. The task force’s main goal now is to inform students about the referendum and the reasons each item in the referendum is present.
It also plans to increase membership to include representatives from student organizations such as the Student Affirmative Action Committee, Student Initiated Outreach and Recruitment Commission, and Pan-Hellenic Council as well as others. Representatives from the six colleges will also be extended membership into the new task force.
“”The focus of the task force is simply getting people to vote for the campaign,'”” said James Lynch, UCAB Chair and representative for the UCETF. “”It will be to inform what’s at stake, encourage [students] to vote and to let them make their own decisions.””
