Although it’s only been in office for two weeks on paper, business of the new A.S. Council appears to be moving along quite smoothly. One might have expected difficulties in the transition between the two councils after a few former officers — to borrow council terminology — “checked out,” but it appears that the new group is active and eager to change the fundamentals of council policy that have failed over the past year.
Senators discussed this week changing the terms for certain offices and passed several bylaw changes to improve the Student Organization Funding Advisory Board process, giving the meeting a distinct “out with the old, in with the new” feel.
The council caucus, proposed by Revelle College Senior Senator Rachel Corell, revolved around the efficiency of starting the new council terms in the middle of spring quarter. Corell wanted the council’s opinion on either allowing elected officials to finish off the academic year in their positions and starting the new council in the fall, or keeping things the way they are now.
“Changing mid-quarter seems to cause a lot of ruckus,” Corell said.
She said that transitioning was especially difficult for outgoing senior senators, who are often split between preparing to graduate as well as finishing off any last-minute senator projects.
“I think it’s really important to have a set group of people you’re working with and have the five weeks to make the contacts you need to make,” said Commissioner of Enterprise Operations Sydney Goldberg, one of many voices that argued that it would prove an even more difficult transition if the dates were to be altered.
Ultimately, a majority of senators and cabinet members voted to keep things running on the same schedule in a straw poll in which only five councilmembers in total were in favor of the change.
Moving to fiscal matters, the council approved five amendments to the financial bylaws designed to clear up the gray area in the SOFAB process. Senators and students alike have called the board’s policies confusing and contradictory after the numerous funding controversies last year.
In reports, Commissioner of Programming Di Lam announced that this year’s Sun God festival brought in the largest crowd in the event’s history, with the first-ever official Sun God count placing the crowd at about 12,000 students. Along with the high number of attendees came a correspondingly high number of arrests, at 200 students.
“That’s a record!” Lam said proudly, to cheers and hoots from other councilmembers.
However, not everyone seemed to be approving of the newer, more functional council. An unidentified student decided to provide his valuable opinion of how the council is run, screaming out “A.S. blows!” in the middle of a report being given by Vice President External Eddie Herrera. The heckler continued to walk by the Price Center ballroom and was unavailable for comment.
For now, it seems that this council is handling complex matters with smiles on its faces — but never fear drama lovers, there’s always the possibility of more run-by philosophy around the corner.
