The 76th Associated Students Senate adopted legislation creating a mobile food pantry and textbook grant support program at its Feb. 18 meeting. The Senate also discussed support for increased marine protections.
The Senate adopted pieces of legislation, such as the Mobile Food Pantry Pilot High Impact Project and a textbook grant support program. Sherine John / Daily Nexus
Public Forum
Fourth-year environmental science major Matthew Schoen requested $10,000 from the Associated Students (A.S.) Trans and Queer Commission’s rollover to update the Eternal Flame monument with L.E.D. lights and sign Associated Students (A.S.) on to a letter of support. The Eternal Flame was built in 1963 amidst the height of the civil rights movement, and has been a gathering space for student activism.
Trans and Queer Commission Vice Co-chair and fourth-year sociology major Nayali Broadway explained that replacing the monument’s fossil-fuel source with L.E.D. technology would combat the environmental and economic injustices queer, trans and racial minorities disproportionately face. Schoen stated the request needs Senate approval by mid-March to early April at the latest to move forward with the project.
Next, second-year political science major and California Public Interest Research Group member (CALPIRG) Alex Borgas shared the Open Textbook Pilot Program, which has expanded open educational resources by funding professors since 2018, and asked the Senate for a letter of support to bring the program to UCSB. The program is expected to save students from eligible institutions nationwide $250 million in the future. Borgas and several other UCSB students will go to Washington D.C. next week to lobby on the program’s behalf.
Speech Forensics President and fourth-year communication and sociology double major Gohan Huynh returned to request approximately $4,100 to aid the Speech Forensics club with tournament fees, transportation and food for their upcoming regional championship. The Senate previously granted the club $2,000 for hotel costs, but the team requires further funding to attend the tournament. The Senate did not approve the financial request.
Legislation Passed
The Senate adopted a resolution to establish the Health Education Access Resources and Tools Committee. The student-led initiative, authored by Senator and fourth-year history of policy, law, and governance major Vanessa Manakova, plans to develop a “centralized digital healthcare resource hub” to make healthcare accessible to students.
Next, the Senate adopted a Mobile Food Pantry Pilot High Impact Project (H.I.P.) proposal, authored by Senator and fourth-year history and global studies double major Neo Harter. The program aims to minimize food insecurity by providing free non-perishable food to UCSB students with a trailer stationed around I.V.
The Senate then adopted a resolution in support of AB 1650 Slam The Brakes On Ice Act, authored by Senator and second-year political science major Erica Sherkin. The act would prohibit rental companies from renting vehicles to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The resolution will send a letter of support for the act to California Assemblymember Jessica Caloza.
The Senate also adopted a bill to create a textbook grant support program, authored by Senator and third-year economics and philosophy double major Noah Luken. The program will offer students financial assistance for purchasing textbooks and give the A.S. Book Bank Commission oversight of textbook grant requests.
Legislation Proposed
Senator and fourth-year political science major Keizo Ono proposed a resolution to add a constitutional amendment to A.S. legal code on fee provisions for empty Boards, Commissions and Units (BCU) so that the Senate can pause or cancel fees for inactive BCUs. The resolution defines an inactive BCU as any organization that fails to meet quorum by voting membership for two academic school years.
The resolution was referred to the executive committee, and if fully adopted by the Senate, will be voted on by students in the Spring election.
Senator and third-year biology and political science double major Eemaan Wahidullah proposed a resolution to establish the Language Revitalization Grant Program. This resolution aims to financially support students who want to study languages not currently taught at UCSB. Wahidullah stressed that after the passing of local Chumash elder Ernestine Ygnacio-De Soto, more languages are becoming endangered. The resolution was referred to the advocacy committee.
Next, Wahidullah proposed a resolution to establish the Santa Barbara City College and UCSB Coastal Cleanup and Monitoring Partnership Program. The volunteer program will host cleanup events in I.V., UCSB coastal areas and community spaces. The resolution was referred to the liaison committee.
Sherkin proposed a resolution to endorse expanding marine protected areas in support of CALPIRG’s ongoing conservation efforts. Borgas emphasized that UCLA and UCSD have similar resolutions, and with UCSB’s history of environmentalism, “getting a resolution passed here is extremely impactful.” The resolution was referred to the liaison committee.
A bill to update legal code on BCU autonomy, authored by Harter, was referred to the executive community again after concerns from A.S. President and fourth-year Spanish, communication and global studies triple major Le Ahn Metzger. The bill would give the Senate power to issue binding financial directives to BCUs, as there will be a possible consequence of position removal for noncompliance. Metzger was concerned that this bill is an overreach of the Senate’s power and would take away separation of powers within the association.
Reports
Investment Advisory Committee Co-Chair, A.S. Chief Investment Officer and third-year economics major William Fernholz collaborated with A.S. Financial Operations to create an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) binding document concerning changes to UC legal codes. The IPS document sets goals and rules for an external investment manager when potentially investing A.S. reserves.
The IPS advocates for a switch to investing in a diversified multi-asset portfolio, as opposed to the Certificates of Deposit (CD), which have been historically invested in. This change would allow for interest rates of 7% versus the current 3%, bringing in over $500,000 annually. The statement was referred to the executive committee.
Next, A.S. Take Back the Night (TBNT) Internal Chair and third-year history of policy law and governance and sociology double major Kayla Goodin gave an update on lagoon safety. TBNT collaborated with the Senate and Internal Vice President (IVP) and fourth-year history and global studies double major Enri Lala to establish environmentally safe lighting around the UCSB lagoon.
The lagoon has been a hotspot of violent crime for decades, leading TBNT, Senate and other entities to conduct a lighting and safety walk around the area with the UCSB Police Department (UCPD). The Coastal Commission recently approved a 90-day emergency permit filed by the UCSB Campus Planning committee to install cameras around the lagoon, which will be followed by a lighting proposal. TBNT will consequently establish a Campus Safety Officer station on the commencement lawn week one of spring quarter.
Next, the IVP’s Internal Affairs Coordinator and third-year economics and accounting major, Valentina Huynh, presented the I.V. Underground H.I.P. proposal requesting $20,000. The event, which will take place on April 24, will feature performances from several I.V. bands, a beer garden, food and other entertainment on the lagoon lawn.
According to Huynh, the event was created to give student bands an opportunity to perform and to compensate them. The proposal was referred to the executive committee.
Lastly, First President Pro Tempore and second-year political science major Sussman proposed a resolution requesting the cancellation of the Commission on Marginalized Genders lock-in fee because the group has been inactive since 2021. The resolution was referred to the executive committee.
Financial Motions
The Senate allocated $13,500 to the office of the Student Advocate General for general operating costs, $2,000 less than the request due to concerns about food spending within the association.
The Senate then allocated $3,295.55 to the office of the IVP for their upcoming winter quarter retreat.
A version of this article appeared on p. 3 of the Feb. 26 print edition of the Daily Nexus.
