A.S. Meeting #2 — May 11

Public Input

Sheryl Diaz, the vice president external of Kaibigang Pilipino, asked the council to approve a resolution in support of a state Assembly bill that would require teachers of Pilipino language classes to undergo accreditation in order to ensure that the programs are staffed by qualified instructors.

Special Presentations

A.S. President Christopher Sweeten presented the second draft of his 2005-06 executive budget to the council. The new version includes a $5,000 decrease of the previous allocation proposal for dues paid to the United States Student Association as well as a decrease in the amount of money intended for college councils.

The freed funds were earmarked for the A.S. Safe Rides program. In addition, the new proposal will allow college councils to apply for A.S. funding through the same process used by registered student organizations. For more details on the budget proposal, see page 1.

Reports

Vice President External Kevin Mann

Mann reported that A.S. Vice President of Academic Affairs Harry Khanna is one of the final three candidates for the student regent position.

Each year, one student from the UC system is chosen to sit on the Board of Regents as a nonvoting regent-designate for one year, followed by one year as a full voting regent.

Old Business

Item B

The council tabled a resolution opposing a state Assembly bill that would limit the level of UC fee increases to 2 percent per year unless the University of California invests one-third of the student fees back into financial aid.

According to the resolution, the bill would not limit increases in student fees if the university met the necessary levels of student aid or guarantee aid if the fees were increased by less than 2 percent. The council will discuss the legislation for one week and hold a vote at its next meeting.

Item C

The council passed a resolution opposing a state Assembly bill that would impose harsher penalties for students at public universities who were convicted or pled guilty to a number of offenses, including rioting, inciting a riot, remaining present at the scene of a riot or assembly for the purposes of disturbing the peace.

Students affected by the policy would be immediately dismissed from the university, prevented from reapplying for one year and would be ineligible for Cal Grants for two years.

Item L

The council rejected an allocation of $750 for the purchase of a computer for the A.S. Senate office.

Thurgood Marshall College Junior Senator Jason Hoskins said he felt the money would be better spent on providing services to students.