The student government also funded the Entertainment Council for its staffers to attend an upcoming conference
By VINCE BASADA — campus@theaggie.org
ASUCD Internal Vice President Aaminah Mohammad called the Feb. 6 Senate meeting to order at 6:23 p.m. before reading the UC Davis Land Acknowledgement.
First, the table confirmed several students to the Internal Affairs Commission. In no particular order, they are: Muskaan Bhayana, a first-year political science major, Bryan Antszak, a first-year economics major, Raadha Adusumalli, a second-year history major, Angelina Genigeorgis, a third-year political science major, and Eliot Ticer-Wurr, a first-year undecided major.
Later that evening, the table heard a presentation from the Innovation and Research Lab (IRL), ASUCD’s in-house software and research group, on Unitrans ridership and traffic. The speakers were IRL Associate Director Jeremy Elvander, a third-year data science major, and IRL Researchers Isabella Gonzales, a fourth-year applied statistics major, and Brady Horton, a fourth-year political science and applied statistics double major.
The three spoke of continued issues with Unitrans’ automatic passenger counting systems, noting that the unit has not been able to hire a technical director for the last five years. The presentation was also given to Unitrans leadership, who the IRL team said were aware of the issues raised.
In addition, Bike Barn Business Manager Emilie-A. Roxas, a fourth-year sustainable environmental design and English double major, delivered their quarterly report on internal training and promotions of mechanics and a new micro-loan program in association with the University Credit Union.
As for legislative matters, Senate Bill (SB) #42, allocating $485 for food for a Valentine’s Day event, and SB#43, funding $2,400 to the Office of the Transfer Student Representative for a headshot and resume-building workshop, passed unanimously.
SB#46, requiring ASCUD senators to complete two hours of volunteering a quarter, passed without discussion as well.
Additionally, two fee referenda were placed on the ASUCD spring ballot. The first is a proposed $10 per quarter undergraduate student fee for the Entertainment Council (EC) starting in fall 2025. As detailed in SB#44, the fee will increase by 50 cents every following academic year (e.g. $10.50 per quarter in 2026 to 2027 and $11.00 per quarter in 2027 to 2028) to support the EC and its financial independence from “the variability of the ASUCD budget,” according to the bill’s language.
The second referendum is a proposed Transportation Equity Fee of $5 per student per quarter (with quarterly Consumer Price Index adjustments afterwards). The referendum, introduced in SB#48, will be used for the maintenance of UC Davis Transportation Services and UC Davis Division of Student Affairs programs (e.g. bike registration, Lit Not Hit, Helmet Hair Don’t Care) and to fund a Transportation Grant for commuter students and students with dependents. If passed, it will also be effective starting in fall of this year.
Both referenda will require a minimum voter turnout of 20% of the undergraduate student population and at least a 60% affirmative vote in the spring election for approval. Additionally, 25% of both fees will support financial aid for those undergraduate students with the greatest financial need.
SB#39 was also passed, funding $6,765.80 to the Entertainment Council for its staff to attend a conference in San Diego. The bill was adjusted during the meeting, with lodging plans for the 24 attendees changed from a Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO) home rental to a hotel in accordance with internal ethical spending guidelines. VRBO is a subsidiary of Expedia Group, a company on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions list which ASUCD follows.
The table also approved SB#45, allowing the IRL to publish data for educational reasons in a secure manner without the risk of violating ASUCD bylaws.
After some brief procedural matters, the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Written by: Vince Basada — campus@theaggie.org
