After two important referenda discussions, three impeachments on the table, and eight hours after the beginning of debate, the A.S. Council left the fourth floor forum in Price Center East at almost 3 a.m.
During the meeting’s public input session, Marshall Chair Tanvir Dhillon announced the new Marshall A.S. senator Junn Paulino, who was a member of council two years ago as AVP Diversity Affairs.
A.S. President Utsav Gupta said UC President Mark Yudof finally answered Gupta’s email regarding bringing the UC Regents meeting to UCSD “two months after the fact, but decided to refer me to someone else.”
VP Student Life Ricsie Hernandez reminded council of the A.S. Meet and Greet free barbeque event on Library Walk next Friday as an opportunity for “you all to meet your constituents.”
Councilmembers hashed out details of specific language of the Loft and transportation referenda for eight hours.
UCAB Chair and AVP Academic Affairs Jordan Taylor presented councilmembers with the revised draft of the Loft referendum, which the Graduate Student Association rejected on Jan. 25.
After a long discussion about the referendum language, councilmembers failed the Loft referendum 16-10.
Taylor kept his cool, but asked that everyone who voted no on the language of the referendum speak to him immediately. After a break, Taylor asked the council to reconsider their votes, but was denied by Speaker James Lintern.
A special presentation by Athletic Director Don Chadwick broke some of the tension in the room. Chadwick gave a history about the recreational facilities on campus, and the funds generated by them. Chadwick is proposing a $22 student fee to maintain the facilities after the funds expire in 2013.
A.S. members of the Transportation Committee and Brian d’Autremont, Director of Parking and Transportation gave presentations regarding the transportation referendum.
The issue of MTS student bus stickers being subsidized, blue and white UCSD shuttles being eliminated and parking structures were debated.
The council finally agreed to table the motion until next week after another revision of the legislation to clear up language.
Advocate General Parminder Sandhu brought back the resolution of councilmembers’ impeachments. After a debate over whether the council can excuse retroactive absences, Biological Sciences senator John Erhardt was impeached from his position with a vote of 12-4. His impeachment will go before the A.S. Judicial Board, which will make the final decision.
Sixth College Senator Kevin Nguyen’s resolution for impeachment was tabled indefinitely and the Campus Affairs committee excused Campuswide Senator Bryant Pena.
Councilmembers next debated over whether to move the motion to reconsider the Loft referendum into New Business. After a 14-10-1 vote, the council did not move to reconsider the Loft in New Business and the resolution failed.
