As the spring semester kicked into high gear, the Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate voted on budget matters and discussed potential initiatives at their weekly meeting on Feb. 19.
ASUA unanimously voted to fund a ceremony for the Wildcat Forever Memorial, a project started by previous senators to honor UA students, faculty and alumni who have passed away. The ceremony will be the first in a couple of years and is scheduled for March 1.
Additionally, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator Benjamin Jackson introduced a resolution to raise awareness of students’ right to opt out of information services through the university.
Currently, there is a directory containing students’ phone numbers, emails and mailing addresses. This information can be purchased by third-party services, such as political campaigns and businesses. Jackson expressed concerns about how this affects student privacy.
“Only 0.6% of students have opted out, indicating a widespread lack of awareness or understanding among the student body,” Jackson said.
Jackson’s initiative aims to remove some of the steps required to opt out of these services and would provide a more user-friendly interface through sites like UAccess or Cat Cloud, according to Jackson.
Finally, the ASUA senate reviewed a budget request from College of Science Senator Arjun Phull to purchase red cards for campus. Red cards are informational handouts that outline the rights of all people, particularly immigrants, to know how to defend themselves in different situations.
ASUA is exploring ways to produce the red cards while considering the most budget-friendly option. Senators plan to distribute the cards across campus housing and various colleges, contingent on their cooperation.
The issue of red cards on campus is especially relevant during the current political climate. On Jan. 20, the Department of Homeland Security rescinded a standing policy that protected sensitive areas from immigration enforcement, allowing agencies to legally operate on college campuses.
Phull urged fellow senators to discuss student protection measures with their respective colleges as policies continue to change. He emphasized that while the university, as a public-facing institution, may be limited in making a statement, “we as student leaders always have the opportunity to talk to our constituents,” Phull said.
The budget issue of red cards was tabled for next week’s Senate meeting to allow additional time for research on obtaining the cards and finding locations on campus that would be willing to distribute them.
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