The Associated Students of The University of Arizona, the university’s undergraduate governing body, voted on multiple resolutions and discussed the budget at their senate meeting Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Removing Barriers to Voting Resolution passed
This week the Removing Barriers to Voting Resolution was moved to an action item after being discussed heavily in last week’s meeting. The NextGen Rising liaison came and spoke about the changes made to the resolution with the help of at-large Senator Rocque Perez.
The changes to the resolution made it more clearly bring civic responsibility into ASUA, bringinging more possibility of aligning the resolution with the census, and speaking more clearly to the campus in its entirety.
The Colleges of Letters, Arts, and Sciences has already agreed to no classes or exams on election days, hopefully prompting other senators to consider approaching their deans and encouraging the same action among the other colleges. Perez suggested that a letter could be drafted with the support of ASUA to help encourage the colleges to consider this.
The resolution was brought to a roll-call vote and was passed unanimously.
VOICES Resolution moved to action item and passed
College of Education Senator Joseph Sturm created a resolution made in support of the Native American students on campus after the recent comments made by President Dr. Robert C. Robbins. The resolution was drafted in partnership with two groups — Voices Of Indigenous Concern in Education and Native Student Outreach, Access, and Resiliency —as a way for a UA affiliation to come out in support of indigenous students.
“Throughout this whole process, a lot of people have avoided not being able to speak up,” Strum said. “It’s a cool opportunity for us, as Senate, to put a resolution out there and say that we are in support of indigenous students and the actions they are taking.”
Sturm also emphasized the urgency of this resolution being passed and said that he thought it was sad that most of the campus doesn’t know of the situation even though it happened a month ago.
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator Matt Hernandez moved to make this info item an action item, which was then voted on and unanimously passed by the senate.
RELATED: Senators discuss depleted budget (ASUA Notebook 10/23/2019)
Consent agenda and updated budget
The Senate also discussed the consent agenda from the Appropriations Committee meeting on Monday, Nov. 4. The committee allocated $4,158 to various clubs this week for things like TREND Fashion Club getting new t-shirts and a trip for Model United Nations.
The budget is on track with the remaining balance being $115,000 with a little more than half the year remaining.
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