The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Senate swore in executives and senators of the 73rd Senate during a Senate meeting on May 22.
The swearing in occurred following the 72nd Senate’s final May 18 meeting, which entered a recess and was not adjourned on May 18.
Internal Vice President Bee Schaefer began the swearing in on May 22 by stating that the 72nd Senate adjourned their meeting through an email vote the same day.
Schaefer read aloud a statement from Chancellor Henry T. Yang — who was not able to attend the meeting — addressing the 73rd senate.
“For those of you who are taking your oath of office today, this marks the beginning of a shared chapter for you and the university,” the statement read. “Your selfless service as an elected student representative demonstrates the strength of the public university.”
“I look forward to a year of working with you and your projects and legislative efforts to improve UC Santa Barbara.” the statement continued.
Incoming president-elect Gurleen Pabla was unable to attend the swearing-in, and Schaefer told the attendees that Pabla would be sworn in by her predecessor Yuval Cohen at the 73rd Senate’s upcoming meeting this week. Schaefer will be sworn in for her second term at the same meeting.
The swearing-in ceremony then commenced, with past executives swearing in their successors. Hailey Stankiewicz was sworn in as External Vice President of Local Affairs, Marvia Cunanan as External Vice President of Statewide Affairs, Kristen Wu as Student Advocate General (S.A.G.).
Schaefer then swore in the 73rd cohort of senators. Following the swear-in, she reopened the agenda of the May 18 meeting and had the senators take the Student Code of Conduct Oath, which states that senators will “refrain from engaging in Abusive Conduct and Bullying.”
Schaefer said senators will also be required to put their signature on a form signed off by the S.A.G. and kept as record by the Office of the Student Advocate. Following the reciting of the oath, Schaefer concluded the meeting.
“Every word [of this oath] carries significant weight,” Schaefer said, “And I ask that you hold this to the same regard that you do your swear-in.”
