ASUCD Senate creates new special committee at April 9 meeting
The table also passed a resolution endorsing Congressman Mike Thompson’s H.R. 7810, addressing student loan interest rates
By LILY KENROW — campus@theaggie.org
The ASUCD Senate reviewed two bills and one resolution during a relatively short meeting on April 9, all of which passed unanimously.
The first Senate Bill (SB) reviewed was SB#85, which created the Black Leadership and Advocacy Committee as a special committee under the Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission. The committee will include one member from the External Affairs Commission (EAC) and up to six other student representatives.
EAC Vice Chair Caleb Swaby-Pierce, a second-year economics and political science double major, authored the bill and gave comment prior to consideration.
“This bill creates a special committee under the Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission that serves as a platform for consistent representation in ASUCD for the African diaspora at UC Davis,” Swaby-Pierce said. “It’ll operate with the purpose of serving as an advisory board for the community when it comes to drafting legislation, creating events and advocating for basic needs in the Black community.”
The table also passed Senate Resolution (SR) #16 endorsing Congressman Mike Thompson’s House Resolution (H.R.) 7810, the Lowering Student Loans Act, which calls for the reduction of student loan interest rates. If passed, the bill would set student interest rates made on or after July 1, 2026, at 2%; the bill is currently in committee.
During discussion of the bill, International Student Representative Robi Castaneda asked Senator Ezra Rubin, the resolution’s author, about ASUCD’s ability to endorse federal legislation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Castaneda was specifically concerned if passing the resolution would jeopardize the Association’s nonprofit status. However, Rubin clarified that University of California (UC) rules allow it.
“[ASUCD’s Executive Director] sent me the Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) guidelines, and one of the things that it says explicitly that student governments can do is endorse federal legislation,” Rubin said.
Also passed was SB#89, which allocated $324.78 to the Office of Senator Rosa Linda Martinez for providing breakfast at the annual The Caribbean, Latiné, and Chicanx Youth Empowerment Conference. The conference provides mentorship and support to high school students and is held by the SOL y LUNA program within the Student Recruitment and Retention Center (SRRC).
In non-legislative matters, the Bike Barn’s Head of Business Development Alaina Bazo, a third-year biological sciences major, gave the unit’s quarterly report and noted the unit has the largest staff it’s had in recent years. The Bike Barn currently employs 25 mechanics. Also notable was the growth in revenue when compared to the prior fiscal year: up to $415,000 from the previous $362,000. Bazo attributed the growth to both higher taxes and tariffs, as well as an increase in demand.
Bazo also mentioned the Mobile Bike Clinic in terms of it having boosted the Bike Barn’s outreach to students. The clinic services Segundo, Tercero, Cuarto, Orchard Park and The Green at West Village.
“This initiative has strengthened our visibility across campus and has improved accessibility to bike maintenance for students who might not otherwise make it into the shop,” Bazo said.
The meeting was called to order at 6:12 p.m. and adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Written by: Lily Kenrow — campus@theaggie.org
