A multiweek debate drought has left the A.S. Council without
any substantive disputes among its members lately, and that trend continued
last night. Parking was the primary item of discussion, along with some chatter
about the best way to make colored eggs.
The prospect of a new parking structure at UCSD has been a
recurring issue at council meetings this year because of concerns about
sustainability and rising permit costs. Councilmembers have repeatedly voiced
opposition to the proposal, but Earl Warren College Senator Peter Benesch
reported that at least one administrator is trying to keep hope alive for a new
heap of concrete and rebar.
According to Benesch, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student
Affairs Edward Spriggs was “disappointed” with the council’s decision to favor
the expansion of alternative and public forms of transportation in lieu of a
new parking structure. Councilmembers revisited the debate about the
$30-million structure, although the discussion was understandably one-sided.
The consensus was a standard-issue complaint that
administrators weren’t putting students’ interests first. Councilmembers also
feared that the multiple $30 fee hikes that would be necessary over the next
few years would price students out of parking permits.
To some extent, administrators have framed the proposed
parking structure as essential to realizing their wet dream of a new bustling
downtown district in the soon-to-be-finished
All-Campus Senator Meghan Clair pointed out that the Gilman Parking Structure
usually has hundreds of free spots after
An emerging administrative movement in favor of a parking
structure could be particularly troublesome for councilmembers because faculty
members outweigh undergraduate students in the world of Transportation and
Parking Services decision-making.
To that end, Thurgood Marshall College Senator Kyle Samia
implored the council to raise student awareness about the issue to discourage
administrators from going forward with the project.
Parking wasn’t the only important issue that the council
addressed, however. Councilmembers also opened a dialogue about scrambling
together a celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday with the august history of St.
Patrick’s Day by serving green eggs at the A.S. Pancake Breakfast on March 17.
The council has not yet decided if the eggs should be
colored by the use of food coloring or basil and cilantro. Perhaps a new
committee is in order.
In addition to a deep respect for childhood foodstuffs, the
council’s limited days left in office also became apparent. Vice President of
Student Life Donna Bean censured certain unnamed councilmembers for failing to
show up at a recent retreat that covered the specifics of the transition
process that the council will undergo next quarter.
Associate Vice President of College Affairs Tanya
Piyaratanaphipat leveraged her dessert-making prowess to encourage students to
participate in a flyering offensive in
elections. Expect to find any councilmember with a sweet tooth taping up
handouts next week.
