The Associated Students held its first quarterly ‘State of the Association’ meeting on Nov. 18. Representatives from association entities delivered quarterly reports on budget and ongoing projects.
A.S. holds its first Quarterly State of the Association. Wynne Bendell / Daily Nexus
Second President Pro-Tempore and fourth-year political science and history double major Melanie Jones wrote the Bill to Create Quarterly States of the Association to establish quarterly meetings where all executives, senate committees and Associated Students (A.S.) Boards, Committees and Units (BCUs) give quarterly reports with the consequence of honoraria deductions for absences.
The meeting aims to increase efficiency as the “existing Senate quarterly report system has become inconsistent and ineffective, often failing to encourage genuine engagement, collaboration and sharing of institutional knowledge,” according to the bill. The Senate adopted the bill at its Oct. 15 meeting.
The night began in Corwin Pavilion with opening remarks from A.S. Internal Vice President and fourth-year global studies and history double major Enri Lala, who said the association needed a space “for its constituent entities to get together and hear about one another’s work, ideas, experiences and objectives for the year.”
“The quarterly Senate reports had long failed to live up to the standard. Communication was being lost in the process with the time being put in by BCU representatives in waiting, and written reports not leading to either much attention or fruition,” Lala said. “The collaboration needed to serve the student body needed a platform like this to bring us in one united place that will serve as a durable means of communication.”
Next, the present A.S. entities gave a three-minute report that contained their total budget, estimated quarterly spending and past and future projects for the year.
The Public & Mental Health Commission Co-Chair and fourth-year psychological and brain sciences and anthropology double major Maia Richards announced the commission is working in collaboration with several different entities. The commission is working with the A.S. Human Rights Board on a reproductive justice program, as well as partnering with the A.S. Commission on Student Well-Being to provide mental health first aid training.
The Zero Waste Committee Co-Chair and fourth-year environmental science major Matthew Schoen reported on the success of their shoe recycling program. The initiative has recycled over 2,000 pairs of shoes and diverted 2.5 million gallons of water and over 35,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
External Vice President of Local Affairs and fourth-year political science major E.J. Raad highlighted the “huge success” of his office’s Save Deltopia Town Hall and the ongoing campaign against the Isla Vista Foot Patrol’s proposed noise ordinance that would effectively cancel the unsanctioned festival. Raad is also working to create a Rate My Landlord website in collaboration with the A.S. Senate.
Next, External Vice President for Statewide Affairs and fifth-year psychological and brain sciences major Leiya Kadah announced that the annual Students of Color Conference will be hosted by UCSB this year. Kadah is also working to host town halls, teaching and information events centered around “marginalized and impacted communities under this federal administration.”
Student Advocate General and fourth-year sociology major Sydney Bivins said the fall quarter advocacy of her office focused on undocumented student protections and A.S. direct-to-student resources.
Lala’s office has many ongoing projects, including continued work to reinstate library Late Night Study hours, planning an Interactive Learning Pavilion bike path and the Micheal Ma Service Act to bring a Bloomberg Terminal to UCSB.
Lastly, A.S President and fourth-year global studies, communication and Spanish triple major Le Anh Metzger shared the events she worked on, including the A.S. Kick-Off Fair, weekly coffee with the president meetings and Protect Your Peers training.
