This year’s final A.S. Council meeting saw the new group’s first resolution – and the first indications that this group is as particular with its wording as any other.
The resolution condemned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s handling of a May incident at UC Santa Barbara. After checking the documentation of an Iranian student, I.C.E. agents – assisted by UC police – questioned the student’s Korean roommate, arresting her after she was unable to provide adequate documentation. The resolution criticized the I.C.E.’s departure from procedure and the involvement of UC police, calling on Chancellor Marye Anne Fox to denounce the event.
The only objection was raised by Eleanor Roosevelt College Senator Stephanie Usry, who questioned whether it was out of the UC police department’s domain (as the resolution stated), to enforce federal laws in cooperation with federal authorities. The inquiry touched off a grueling and largely hypothetical debate about whether local peace officers should enforce federal statutes.
Some councilmembers had reservations about passing the resolution when key questions remained unanswered – like what exactly happened at UCSB, who has final authority over the UCPD and who the I.C.E. should turn to if not the UCPD.
“”Do we really want city cops traipsing onto campus for these kinds of things?”” All-Campus Senator Taylor Stuart said. “”It makes sense that [I.C.E.] went to the UCPD, the agency that has the most familiarity with the area and with the needs of students.””
When the curd was separated from the whey, the question before the council was whether the UCPD had compromised its ability to serve students. Roosevelt sophomore Grecia Lima argued that if international students were worried about facing I.C.E. inquests, they would be less likely to seek help from UC officers.
“”We should be encouraging the chancellor to ask UC police not to help (or restrict) immigration enforcement, but to have nothing to do with it,”” Lima said.
The council bogged down again after Usry recommended a seemingly innocuous wording change from “”took the liberty of using”” to “”used.”” The rhetorical fires were again kindled, until an exasperated Vice President of Student Life Donna Bean rattled off the Freedictionary.com definition of “”to take the liberty,”” and the alteration was eventually voted down.
Eventually, the council came to a general accord.
“”The purpose of this resolution is that students – international or not – should not be afraid to attend a UC campus,”” Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Long Pham said, a theme echoed by many.
After amending the resolution to more accurately reflect the council’s stance, it was passed with a lopsided vote – and a grateful sigh.
“”Also, we only approved half of the budget last week, so we need to finish that up,”” A.S. Speaker Emma Sandoe said earnestly, filling the room with an apprehensive silence.
And then, after a pause: “”Sorry, I’ve been waiting to do that all week.””
