The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students Senate convened for the first time this academic year on Oct. 4 in the University Center Flying A Studios Room but did not pass new legislation. 

Fourth-year biochemistry major and Internal Vice President Sohum Kalia served as chair. 

Senators discussed cliff safety in Isla Vista and plan to dedicate Associated Students (A.S.) funds to preventative cliff safety measures like fencing following numerous student deaths from cliff falls. 

Off-Campus Senator and First President pro-tempore Ephraim Shalunov reported speaking with county entities including the I.V. Community Services District and Santa Barbara City College, both of whom agreed to contribute funding.

Discussion around what specific measures will be funded is ongoing and has yet to be finalized. 

“There’s big open questions, like where would our money be best spent? How do we avoid rewarding landlords for having unsafe conditions by paying them to make them safer?” Shalunov said at the meeting.“I just wanted you all to be aware of it, it’s an ongoing project.”

The Senate accepted the resignation of Leon Barhoum as a senator and tabled all remaining Boards, Committees and Units (BCUs) until the meeting of the Internal Affairs Committee. 

A version of this article appeared on p. 1 of the Oct. 12, 2023 print edition of the Daily Nexus.

Print

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.