Wednesday’s council meeting marked the first official meeting for the 2013–2014 council, and Hayley Ryan read a brand-new roll call.
“I’m asking that you correct me on your name tonight, and keep correcting me on your name in the next few weeks,” she said. “Or else you will have a new name.”
Council then took nominations for speaker, and veteran voice John Weng got the job.
Public input highlights included a Prezi from SOVAC regarding its plans to register more student voters during a year without a presidential election. Among those plans are animal-themed pins to make voting more fun, because as a group of educated young adults, we need mascots like Egalitarian Eagle and Freedom Falcon to spark our political efficacy.
Special presentations kicked off with the Student Services Center, headed by Weng, and a presentation called “The 411 on the Office of Student Services.”
One of the office’s major victories was a vending machine in Geisel Library, from which students will be able to buy Scantrons, blue books, and, presumably, fabricated doctor’s notes. And in the future, they’ll be working on installing a Wii in the commuter lounge.
Former VP External Affairs Olamide Noah and her chief of staff Bruno Huizar presented a wrap-up presentation of the goals of the UC Student Association and the United States Student Association. They pointed out that it was essential to a student government to take an interest in USSA issues, such as student loan debt.
The new council passed its very first resolution condemning the acts of racism recently seen on the UC Irvine and Cal State San Marcos campuses.
My bestie, AVP College Affairs-emeritus Leonard Bobbitt, came to hang out with me in my corner of the Forum. He told me I looked like a J. Crew model — I told him he could be a model for everything. I’ll miss you in the 2013–2014 council, Leonard.
This meeting was particularly short (it ended by 8:15 p.m.), because councilmembers planned a retreat to learn the basics of how a council functions. Major props to our fearless new leaders for stepping up and going through this training, as I’m sure there are better ways to spend a Wednesday night than learning the ins and outs of Robert’s Rules.
