The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Senate convened in the University Center Flying A Studios Room on Feb. 22 to swear in seven new Senators and hear updates on the construction of the Associated Students Bike Shop. 

Internal Vice President and third-year economics and communication double major Sydney Kupsh chaired a full Senate meeting for the first time during the Wednesday meeting after being sworn in the week prior.

Kupsh swore in seven new Senators: third-year political science major Garrett Green as an Off-Campus Senator, second-year chemistry major Eric Carlson as an Off-Campus Senator, Ephraim Shalunov as an On-Campus Senator, third-year mechanical engineering major Elvy Yao as an On-Campus Senator, Renee Faulk as an On-Campus Senator, first-year political science major Emily von Zedtwitz as an On-Campus Senator and fourth-year computer engineering and statistics and data science double major Robin Wang as the College of Engineering Senator.

Kupsh did not respond to immediate requests for comment on the newly appointed Senators and the duration of their respective terms. 

Associated Students (A.S.) Bike Shop Coordinator Adam Jahnke gave the Senate an update on the construction of the permanent A.S. Bike Shop — a facility providing bike repairs —  located near Parking Lot 15. The project broke ground in March 2022 and is set to be completed and open by this spring quarter, Jahnke said. 

“A new shop means we’ll be able to meet the needs of all the bicycle traffic on campus and continue this not-for-profit mandate,” Jahnke said.

The construction project has cost $5.2 million so far, according to Jahnke, and includes features such as a test track for bikes, a “selfie wall,” increased storage space for bikes, indoor and outdoor waiting areas and a larger do-it-yourself section for bikes.

The Senate did not pass any legislation during the meeting. ‘A Bill to Clarify Legislative Parameters’ was introduced to the Senate, categorizing legislation by impact and giving specific Senatorial procedures for each kind. The bill was tabled for review by the Internal Affairs Committee.

A version of this article appeared on p. 3 of the March 2, 2023, print edition of the Daily Nexus.

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Sindhu Ananthavel
Sindhu Ananthavel (she/they) is the Lead News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Ananthavel was the Deputy News Editor for the 2022-23 school year, the Community Outreach News Editor for the 2021-22 school year and an assistant news editor for the 2021-22 school year. She can be reached at news@dailynexus.com.