During a four-hour meeting last night, the Associated Students Legislative Council approved a resolution discouraging the possible implementation of the administrative tax on student lock-in fees.

The council discussed the potential tax increase proposed by the administration in response to the current budgetary crisis. The tax would be levied on on-campus entities that do not receive state funding. The council’s resolution opposes the implementation of the tax upon student lock-in fees and proposes that alternative solutions to this budget crisis be suggested.

A.S. Executive Director Marisela Marquez said members should consider adding a clause to the resolution that protects the fees as voted by students.

“You might have other opportunities to do this,” Marquez said. “Very concretely, the issue right now is that students you represented voted for these lock-ins that they’re talking about taxing. It should be noted that fees go to what they were voted on.”

A.S. is holding an open forum tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Corwin Pavilion to discuss the matter.

In addition, the council tabled a bill to create an A.S. Commission on Student Well-Being, which would focus on mental health issues on campus.

Mental Health Intern Gladys Manrique, a fourth-year psychology major, said the committee would offer the campus much-needed education and information.

“There’s a lot of stigma on our campus,” Manrique said. “Students only hear issues such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder exaggerated from the media. We need to put a face on the matter, break down the stigma.”

Although On-Campus Representative Christopher Wendle said he believed the committee would benefit the student body, he noted that A.S. is simply running out of members who can act as committee representatives.

“I really like this committee,” Wendle said. “I’m just saying that we’re starting to run out of members of the board to sit on committees. As these great ideas do come up, it’s still important to look at the logistics behind everything. We are running low with out reps and how much we can support. I’m not saying to stop looking at committees, but look at the committees we do have and perhaps cut down on reps.”

Additionally, Off-Campus Representative Sinead Kennedy said the council should be cautious about organizations’ intentions for joining A.S.

“I don’t want groups to be a part of A.S. to guarantee them funding,” Kennedy said. “We need to be really careful about where our money goes [and] that motives are in the right place.”

Lastly, the council passed a resolution that supports giving students a vote on the Undergraduate Council, which sets standards and policies regarding undergraduate education.