The UC Santa Barbara Associated Students 75th Senate passed a bill on June 5 prohibiting its funds from being used to purchase from companies on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions list. Since the bill went into effect on July 1, Senators have announced updates to its conditions and reminded student organizations of the bill’s enforcement measures.
In accordance with the bill, all campus groups are prohibited from using A.S. funds to purchase products found on the BDS list. Nexus file photo
“A Bill To Ensure Ethical Spending Practices Within ASUCSB” passed with 18 votes in favor, four against and two abstentions. The bill passed after two consecutive Senate meetings, during which dozens of students voiced their opinions during public forums, causing some contention.
In accordance with the bill, all campus groups are prohibited from using A.S. funds to purchase, order, reimburse, fundraise from or promote products or vendors found on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement’s list. The BDS movement is a nationwide effort “to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law,” according to their website.
All nine undergraduate UC campuses have now passed bills, resolutions or amendments that call for the divestment of their Associated Students (A.S.) funds from being spent on companies on the BDS list.
The bill follows the Senate’s divestment resolution, called “A Resolution Demanding UCSB Divest from Organizations Violating Palestinian Human Rights” passed at the May 29 Senate meeting. The resolution does not give the Senate power to move A.S. funds around — it simply expresses the Senate’s condemnation of the University’s financial ties. Meanwhile, the bill directly affects the use of A.S. funds.
Prohibited companies include Airbnb, Coca-Cola, Chevron Corporation, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Papa Johns and more, as they are all “complicit in upholding Israel’s apartheid regime, occupation, and ongoing genocide of Palestinians,” according to the bill.
Alternatively, the Senate recommended students purchase from companies such as Fairbnb, Chipotle, IHOP, Freebirds, Yelp and Proton Mail, which are companies without financial ties to Israel.
According to an email sent by third-year computer science major and College of Engineering Senator Aryaman Singh, the Senate will be “strictly” enforcing the policy, as they believe it is in line with their ethics. Groups that violate the bill’s policies may face not getting reimbursements, transgression fees or suspension from using A.S. funds.
“This change is crucial as UCSB AS is committed to supporting human rights and ensuring that our financial practices reflect our ethical standards,” Singh said.
Both the passing of the bill and divestment resolution were the first major points of action taken by the 75th A.S. Senate after a year of equivocation on the same topic from the 74th Senate. A divestment resolution had been introduced to the Senate but failed a number of times in previous years, amounting to the June resolution and bill, endorsed by over 40 student groups.
How does the new policy balance the concerns of free speech and the Buckshot Roulette desire to promote ethical spending practices within the A.S.?
It is so cute the way you children actually think you are doing something.