A.S. Meeting #12 — Nov. 9

Public Input

John Muir College alumnus Bryan Barton performed a rap in which he called councilmembers “clowns” and “bitches and gentlemen.” He made reference to A.S. Council legislation to take “Koala TV” off the air and expressed his discontent on the subject, and alluded to a petition by John Muir College senior Steve York and others to overturn the council’s decision.

John Muir College senior Steve York, the center of the controversy over pornography, spoke briefly to the council and apologized for Barton’s comments. He said that he felt the student government was no longer the body to blame in the dispute, and that instead discontent should be leveled against campus administrators.

Earl Warren College senior Daniel Watts, whose taped interview with York led to the shutdown of Student-Run Television, explained his side of the story regarding the incidents on Nov. 3. Like York, he expressed frustration with the administration’s decision to ignore A.S. President Christopher Sweeten’s request to turn the station back on. “This council played right into the administration’s hands, and I hope you all realize that now,” Watts said.

Former interim Vice President External Samantha Peterson, who had previously maintained a neutral stance on the issue, spoke of her “outrage” at the events that had transpired, including Barton’s earlier rap and derogatory references to the females in the A.S. Council.

“We need to remember that this is still an ethical issue,” Peterson said.

Items of Immediate Consideration

Item C

Councilmembers passed a resolution condemning the UCSD administration’s decision to keep SRTV off the air despite Sweeten’s request to turn it back on. The resolution states that the administration has violated its “good faith agreement” with the council over a student issue. Many councilmembers argued over whether or not it was reasonable to claim the administrators’ action was a violation of free speech, as the original title suggested. Ultimately, the title and several clauses were amended, and the resolution was passed 21-1-2.

Old Business

Item A

The internal committee indefinitely tabled a bill that would amend ASUCSD bylaws to block the vice president internal from calling future unscheduled council meetings. The issue became controversial when questions arose over the legality of the special meeting called by Vice President Internal Angela Fornero on Oct. 23. According to the current constitution, the vice president internal cannot call these meetings, but the A.S. bylaws give the vice president that power.