Disclaimer: The weekly A.S. Council column is not meant to be a news story but rather an individualized account of what occurs at Council meetings. If the most interesting part of a three-hour meeting is President Suvonnasupa’s haircut or an outburst from Senator O’Neill, the writer has the stylistic freedom to mention that in his column.
Walking into the A.S. Council meeting, it was hard to miss the camera sitting on a stand at the front of the room. As Vincent Pham, Editor in Chief of the UCSD Guardian, would explain during public input, the Council meetings are now being livestreamed via Periscope. So, if this column isn’t enough for you, now the meeting itself is available to watch. If you need some entertaining political drama to binge watch before “House of Cards” come out next week and you’re tired of hearing about Donald Trump, the A.S. Council meeting is your best bet.
The first member of the public to give their input was a man with a familiar face. Three weeks ago, this man had come in to give input about going Division I and his rant seemed to make little sense. Once again, I had no earthly idea what he was talking about. He had handed out posters to the Council which had images of beaches, surfer girls, and soldiers. He explained that one of the reasons that states sponsor college athletics is to produce able-bodied soldiers. This idea, conspiratorial or not, is an interesting point. This is why so many soldiers are privileged college athletes as opposed to those who often don’t have the opportunity to go to college. The man concluded by explaining that UCSD should sponsor sports in whatever ways they can, not just by going D-I. As always, all input is welcome.
Later, A.S. Elections Manager Claire Maniti naturally talked about the upcoming election. She explained that “elections this year will be fair.” That is a comforting thought. Campaigning will start after next Thursday’s general candidate meeting. There won’t be a Donald Trump, but I’m looking forward to this exciting election cycle.
After Claire, members of the South Asian Acapella group Sitaare, Rohan and Neha, explained their plight to the Council. After the deadline for funding had passed, the group had been invited to compete at two selective competitions. Without funding, Rohan and Neha say that Sitaare will not be able to compete. They asked to receive funding right in front of the Council. After A.S. President Dominick Suvonnasupa talked to them outside about reapplying for funding, Rohan and Neha came back in front of the Council to explain how important the opportunity was and how heartbreaking it would be if they didn’t get funding.
The biggest news coming out of reports of members was from Roosevelt Senator Katie Hosch. The UC Fire Marshal is banning hoverboards on campus. This is quite a heavy thing to hear. On the one hand, these hoverboards are incredibly annoying. They’re everywhere. I saw someone riding one inside Starbucks. Why? Why don’t you just walk? On the other hand, they aren’t harming anyone. Except, apparently, when they’re set on fire. I have yet to see this, but I trust the Fire Marshal. Senator Hosch also had HDH news. There are three new housing communities in the works: Raza housing at I-House, LGBTQ housing in Muir, and African-American housing in Sixth college. Hosch also announced an upcoming proposition to keep residential halls open during Spring Break as well as an HDH survey regarding the move out deadline. Later on in the meeting during question time, it was clear that the majority of the Council was in favor of both keeping residential halls open during the break as well as extending the move out deadline. Suvonnasupa explained that having the moveout deadline so close to graduation creates unnecessary stress for students.
Suvonnasupa was meant to give a special presentation, but it was delayed until a future meeting. Instead, the Council moved into a open forum. Associate Vice President of College Affairs Angela Fronda reminded everyone to fill out their FAFSAs, which are due on Mar. 2, and A.S. Vice President of Campus Affairs Taylor Valdivia reminded seniors to file for graduation. But the most important input, of course, came from Senator Roger O’Neill, who asked the most obvious question of the night: who has time to watch a livestream of an A.S. Council meeting? Luckily, you have a talented writer who summarizes the meeting for you.
