Public Input

Several members of the public addressed the A.S. Council regarding the disqualification of Students First! slate members. Representatives from several student organizations, many wearing Students First! campaign shirts, questioned the integrity of the A.S. Elections Committee’s ruling. Many, including A.S. President Jenn Brown, expressed their fear of the current campus climate. Thurgood Marshall College sophomore senator and elections committee member Jeff Le spoke on behalf of the committee. See page 1 for more details.

Items of Immediate Consideration

Item C

The A.S. Council unanimously issued a recommendation to the University Centers Advisory Board for the allocation of University Centers Reserve funds to the University Centers Expansion Task Force. The funds are to be used to advertise the upcoming University Centers Expansion and Renovation Fee Referendum. The initial wording of the recommendation held that funds would also be used for the UCETF’s “”running”” of the special election. However, it was amended out of the recommendation after several council members argued that the election falls under the jurisdiction of A.S. Election Bylaws and thus must be run by the A.S. Elections Committee.

Several council members also were concerned that UCETF control of the election would create a conflict of interest, since members of the task force have vocalized their support of the referendum. UCAB Chair James Lynch and UCETF Chair Garo Bournoutian argued that campuswide rules for special elections already exist and maintained that the task force would be neutral in the running of the election. The amendment passed unanaimously.

Item E

The A.S. Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Student Affordability Act, an assembly bill that would establish student fee committees in the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems. Introduced by Assemblyman Manny Diaz, Bill 550 would ensure that “”student fees and student fee policies are developed collaboratively,”” according to the resolution.

Old Business

Item F

The A.S. Council failed an amendment to increase the stipend of a KSDT Engineer from $25 to $50 for a short period of time in order to compensate a KSDT worker who was under the impression that he was being paid for his work in fall quarter. Council members argued that the A.S. Council cannot issue stipends retroactively, and in the past has not compensated senators who missed their pay with a temporarily increased stipend. The item failed by a vote of 2-13-5.

Reports

John Muir College junior senator Ian McLean

McLean reported that performers at this year’s Muirstock will include B-Side Players, Pinback, F.o.N., Soma and Scapegoat.

New Business

The A.S. Internal Committee will look at a proposed amendment to election bylaws that would require a three-quarters vote of the A.S. Elections Committee for the disqualification of a candidate or slate found guilty of violating elections bylaws. The item was submitted by Muir College sophomore senator Jeremy Cogan and Earl Warren College sophomore senator Kirsten Bowen.

— Compiled by Clayton Worfolk

Senior Staff Writer