The council was remarkably adept at moving through the numerous items on the agenda at last night’s meeting, without the usual heavy and circular discussion.
The minutes from the first week were revised to excuse All-Campus Senator David Ritcherson’s absence, on the account of an e-mail communication error.
Transportation and Parking Services Director Brian D’Autremont’s presentation on his office’s workings was eclipsed by the 30 or so members of the public who joined the councilmembers at the Price Center East Forum to speak in favor of relieving the debt of the UCSD co-ops.
‘Not only have we’ve sacrificed the needs of our workers but we’ve also ignored the needs of our customers,’ Physical Sciences Senator Daniel Nguyen said.
With a decisive 25 votes in favor, and one abstention, the council wrote off the debt. Members of the public cheered and literally jumped for joy at the news.
Vice President of External Affairs Lisa Chen discussed the D.R.E.A.M. Act in relation to the UC system, which was followed with a timely yet brief discussion of alcohol policies and ways to thwart crafty undercover police come Sun God 2009.
Associate Vice President of Athletic Affairs Peter Benesch wondered aloud whether it is a good idea to run away if approached with the unattractive possibility of being charged with an alcohol-related crime.
‘Fleeing is never a good idea,’ Associate Vice President of Student Advocacy Frank Carroll replied decisively, before informing everyone in the room of their right to refuse to submit to a search.
Advocate General Chris Rebert motioned to postpone indefinitely the impeachments of Ritcherson and Social Sciences Senator Nicole Carroll, which were approved with surprisingly little discourse. Both senators were in attendance at the meeting.
Since the issue of the changes to the funding process for student organizations was split last week, the creation of the Student Organization Funding Advisory Board was addressed in Unfinished Business.’
Sixth College Senator John Cressey explained that he did not relish the idea of creating a new committee of appointees when the senators are more than capable of undertaking the funding responsibilities.
‘I feel like its really hard and kind of unrealistic to expect anyone from any student org to understand this funding process to such a degree,’ Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Lana Blank said. ‘I don’t think it’s responsible to do this now with a new council coming in. We’re basically writing a new system and saying now you have to deal with it.’
A Finance Restructuring Committee was created with the aim of reorganizing the finance committee so that it could meet the stipulations of the new system of allocating A.S. funds; the committee would dissolve next Wednesday.
President Donna Bean gave the council props for its time-conscious consensus to dissolve the co-op debt, calling it the ‘most efficient decision this council has made.’