The A.S. Council created an ad hoc task force to examine the current college-based representation structure of the A.S. Council and research other possible structures during its last meeting of fall quarter on Dec. 3.
“”I think it’s a step in the right direction to begin looking at our representation structure,”” Eleanor Roosevelt College Senior Senator Jordan Rosenfeld said.
The creation of the task force, which was spearheaded by A.S. President Jeremy Paul Gallagher, is intended to look into inconsistencies between the size of various groups on campus and their corresponding representation on the A.S. Council.
“”Something like one in five or one in four students on campus is a transfer student, but we’ve got like one in thirty transfer students as the representation on council,”” All-Campus Transfer Association President Chris Terry said. “”So obviously, they’re not getting adequately represented.””
Rosenfeld pointed out that even though he is the only transfer student in the A.S. Senate, his constituency is limited to the seniors at his college.
“”I’m the only [transfer student] on council and my job is not to represent transfer students at all,”” Rosenfeld said. “”So that was just an example of why [Gallagher] feels that we need to look at our representation.””
The task force was created “”in an effort to further promote the council’s ability to better serve the students of UCSD,”” but it is not clear that the current system of representation will be changed.
“”I think a very important point is that the creation of a task force doesn’t necessarily indicate that there’s any problem with the current system that we have,”” David Goodwin, chair of the Student Council at ERC, said. “”I think it’s good to look into and do evaluations of anything that you’ve got and not necessarily stop or hinder that by needing to say that any existing system isn’t working. “”
Sierra Catcott, Thurgood Marshall College senior senator and senate chair, said that the council wanted to ensure that current representation structure wanted to was the best.
“”If [representation] is lacking in a certain area, if there is a large constituency that is not being represented, then the task force can make that recommendation to the A.S. Council and hopefully can then take the appropriate action to implement those suggestions,”” Catcott said.
The task force to examine representation structure was originally submitted by Gallagher at the council’s Oct. 1 meeting.
However, action on the task force was postponed due to concern that other committees and task forces created by the council had not yet been filled.
“”In the end, Jeremy Gallagher said the people who want to do this are there … and it needs to be done,”” Rosenfeld said. “”He made a promise to us and said, ŒLook, it will be done. If that’s your main objection, don’t worry about it.’ And we said, ŒOK, we’ll take your word on this.'””
The task force charter incorporates a clause which will automatically dissolve the task force if it is not filled by the third week of winter quarter 2004.
Two commuter students, two transfer students, and two on-campus residents will be appointed by the A.S. president and approved by the council to serve on the task force. Each college council will also appoint a representative.
The task forceas recommendations must be submitted to the council no later than week 10 of winter quarter.
“”There’s people who spend their entire lives doing these kinds of things,a Goodwin said, referring to the study of the governmental structure. “”I think this is the first step, and an exploratory step at that, into looking at things.””
