Councilmembers were in definitively lighter spirits than usual this week, with the knowledge that this council meeting wouldn’t last nearly as long as last week’s nine-hour budget meeting.
During public input, President of Student Foundation and Campuswide Senator Katie Hall gave a short talk on Day Tuition Ends, a campaign to promote student fee awareness and advocacy. She also encouraged councilmembers to take part in the Chancellor’s 5K run this Friday.
Warren College senator Alyssa Wing and Sixth College senator Kevin Nguyen presented their council project: Project ROASAS (Revitalization Of A.S. Athletic Spirit). Their goal is to develop stronger relations between A.S. and athletics, and to increase school spirit as well as A.S. visibility at sporting events. According to their PowerPoint, Wing and Nguyen want to “dispel the UC Socially Dead stereotype.”
Campuswide Senator co-chairs Desiree Prevo and Leslie Manjarrez presented information about the 2009 Students of Color Conference that will be held from Nov. 13-15 at UCSD. This year’s theme is “Building our Leaders with Purpose through: Activism, Wellness and the Reclaiming of our Education.” They said they expect about 1000 UC students systemwide to attend.
“Basically, we’re going to shut down UCSD,” Prevo said.
Lauren Weidemann, a student representative from Teach for America, informed councilmembers of the opportunity to teach lower-income students in 35 regions across the nation. Armed with a presentation chock full of “daunting demographics,” Weidemann urged everyone to apply.
President Utsav Gupta informed the council that transfer and freshmen students applying to the council will be selected this weekend. Gupta also proposed a special joint committee with the Graduate Student Association to review the much-anticipated transportation referendum.
AVP Concerts and Events Alex Bramwell told councilmembers to mark their calendars: the Sun God Festival is officially set for May 14, the Friday of Spring Quarter Week Seven.
Gupta hopes to create a Disneyland-type map for the day of Sun God featuring the locations of student organization booths and various events. Gupta also proposed that wristband distribution be moved back to each of the six colleges.
Muir Senator Lynne Swerhone presented her idea for a possible senator project, in which she envisions an athletic facility on campus using energy from treadmills as an alternative energy source.
Campuswide Senator Wafa Ben Hassine sent out an email a few days prior to the council meeting regarding a Transportation and Parking Services information session, which she said only two councilmembers attended. Hassine expressed obvious disappointment with the council for their lack of participation.
As the meeting came to a close, Gupta said out loud what everyone else was thinking.
“Does anyone else feel weird that we’re ending at 8 p.m?” Gupta said.
