The A.S. Legislative Council met Wednesday night to pass a resolution decrying a possible war with Iraq.

Before discussion moved to Iraq, the Leg Council listened to a report by the executive director, Don Daves-Rougeaux.

The resolution passed with 18 votes in favor, 3 abstaining and 1 against. “We … urge our elected officials to do everything in their power to stop the Bush Administration from going to war with Iraq,” the resolution said.

The Leg Council listened to members of the public speak in support or against the position paper, which, if passed, would be sent to officials such as University of California President Richard Atkinson and President George W. Bush.

Nicholas Romero, a UCSB student, argued against the resolution. “This resolution does not represent the student population,” Romero said.

Sarah Hooper, an off-campus representative, spoke in favor of the resolution. “We’re representing 20,000 students, and they say no [to the war],” Hooper said. “We can’t urge the students to voice their opinion; we are their voice.”

James Young, an on-campus representative, disagreed. “Most of the people I associate with would oppose this resolution,” Young said, addressing the Leg Council. “I would encourage others to abstain until we hear more voices.”

Daves-Rougeaux addressed financial issues such as the A.S. budget. He mentioned consideration of a universal increase to a 10 percent recharge fee on lock-ins, from the current rate of 6 percent. Currently, some on-campus organizations, such as the MultiCultural Center, charge a lock-in fee each quarter. The recharge fee takes a percentage of this money for A.S. funding.

In her report to the council, A.S. President Chrystine Lawson said there would be a meeting regarding revisions to UCSB’s general education requirements. Lawson and others in A.S. have opposed any changes that would alter non-Western culture and ethnicity requirements. The meeting will take place at 4 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the MCC and will be followed by an A.S. proposal at 6 p.m. in the A.S. office.

Finally, the council decided to table the phone voting reform bill, which would narrow the instances in which council members could cast their votes by phone. The bill had already been discussed at Leg Council meetings earlier this school year.

Anthony Flores, an off-campus representative, proposed an amendment to the bill that would streamline the process. The amendment failed to pass, and the bill was tabled to await further discussion.