ASUC News

ASUC update

A taste of campus politics

By Christopher Page
From the October 2005 Print Edition

As the school year gets into full gear, the Patriot brings you the latest in what the ASUC senators have in store for the semester. The issues of extending voting rights to UC Berkeley Extension students and hurricane relief were the only major topics during the September 7 meeting. Senate meetings are known to drag on late into the night, though the September 7 meting was only three and a half hours long and praised for its brevity.

In case your knowledge of campus institutions is a bit foggy, the Associated Students of the University of California is the official voice of the student body. Its controlling body, the ASUC Senate, is comprised of 20 students elected each spring. It directs a budget of almost $1.5 million, which it receives from student fees.

In search of cash

Berkeley City Councilman Kris Worthington addressed those present as a guest speaker. He spoke about instant runoff voting in the city and how most students could miss special elections that are held during school breaks. Worthington also told the ASUC Senate of a provision in the state budget regarding student housing, purporting to have found millions in funding which are unclaimed as of yet and offering to help the ASUC request the money for the university.

Fun ’n’ games

The most spirited figure in the room was Squelch! Senator Ben Narodick, who broke up the marathon of monotony with a game of strip hangman. Aside from his quirky meeting interludes, however, Narodick was one of the finer speakers in the room, capable of thinking on his feet. In debates on bills and senate discipline policies, those listening could follow and understand his reasoning even if they disagreed with him.

Hurricane relief

The most prevalent topic during the meeting was the relief effort for people affected by Hurricane Katrina. While many student groups started their own drives for donations, the ASUC wanted to do its part by organizing all the campus efforts into one unified front. However, this was critically challenged by Narodick, who told his fellow senators, “You don’t have to be the leader.” By this he meant that the ASUC should help but does not need to go out of its way to organize all efforts, especially since many groups have already begun collecting money and clothing very successfully.

This brings up the recurring question of what the proper role of the ASUC is. Should it be the director of everything that occurs on campus or a benevolent force that focuses mainly on linking students to campus administrators? The senators themselves are divided over this question. Some want to keep the ASUC’s scope narrow so it can focus its resources to specific areas, such as student projects, whereas others believe they have a mandate to represent everyone possible.

Keeping it simple

Narodick began an effort to simplify the ASUC election bylaws. The entire election procedure, with rules for campaigning and guidelines for filing lawsuits, is contained in 29 pages. Narodick wants it to be rewritten so it is easier to understand and follow, which would result in fewer lawsuits being leveled against candidates. These lawsuits have delayed election results for weeks and even months.

Extending voting rights

Another issue discussed was extending voting rights in ASUC elections to UC Extension students. A UC Extension student is one who is not regularly enrolled at UC Berkeley as an undergraduate or graduate, such as spring-admitted students who take classes in the previous fall or people who take classes after they have a degree. It was argued that UC Extension students live very similar lives to regular students, have to deal with the same issues, and would benefit from incorporation into the ASUC.

Yvette Felarca of the Defend Affirmative Action Party said that voting privileges should immediately be extended to all UC Extension students. Even though those in the Extension program do not pay the $55 ASUC fee that regular students pay to fund activities, Felarca advocated extending the right to vote to them, noting that their participation in ASUC elections should precede the responsibility of funding the ASUC. Felarca hinted that the proposed arrangement would not be permanent, suggesting that this is an “opportunity to gather more fees.”

The bill was tabled so that more debate on the subject may take place before a final decision is reached.

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