The Associated Students of the University of Arizona Senate met for their Feb. 4 meeting to discuss a range of topics about the colleges, including adopting a statement on how Immigration and Customs Enforcement action impacts UA students.
Appropriations board recap and budget and oversight
Wyatt College of Optical Sciences Senator Bryce Stickley recapped the second appropriations board meeting results, saying that the total money appropriated is over $132,000, adding over $29,000 in the last meetings.
Stickley had no estimate as to what the amount of money left to appropriate was. However, Executive Vice President Benjamin Huffman noted that ASUA had a larger pool of money to draw from this year.
For the budget, ASUA announced three applications. There was a request for $4,395 for the ASUA trip to Washington DC, $700 for a quarter zip for each senate member and $2,340 for the Social and Behavioral Sciences club fair.
This accounts for a total of $7,435 out of the $15,000 budget that ASUA has for discretionary expenses, with the remainder to be used throughout the semester.
ASUA statement on federal activity affecting student wellbeing
In light of strong student and community concern regarding the activities of ICE, ASUA approved a statement to reiterate that they are here for students.
The statement, which ASUA posted on Instagram following the meeting, noted that the “fear, anxiety, grief, and stress” present in the current climate can cause damage to the community. They urge solidarity and encourage aggrieved students to seek counseling.
“Although we don’t have any answers to what campus safety will look like, I know it’s something that students are concerned about,” College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Senator Victoria Gallardo said.
Huffman stressed that ASUA remains a nonpartisan organization and that they are not commenting on federal policy, merely expressing concerns by students on behalf of students.
“It needs some resolution,” Huffman said. “We’re not here to comment on federal policy as an institution, but it’s important that we listen to student concerns, and I think the verbiage accepts that.”
The senators expressed that they hope to advocate for students and connect them to resources with efforts such as these. Huffman encouraged senators to pass the statement around on social media and to tell students that student government is here to advocate for them.
Senator reports
At-Large Senator Katelyn Alvarado spoke about the Bear Down Music Festival. She explained that she hopes to incorporate Campus Closet and Campus Pantry for a food and clothing drive to get students interested in the festival, as well as a possible raffle.
W.A. Franke Honors College Senator Aparna Chandrasekar explained that the North District and the Honors District have been a hotspot for bike thefts recently. She expressed her desire to get funding for bike racks within the Honors Village itself to increase security.
Gallardo reported that the university administration has not released proper admissions numbers to her college in preparation for Admitted Student Day. She added that lots of people are getting rejected, but the Agriculture and Life Sciences College doesn’t have incoming numbers.
According to At-Large Senator Ariane Kometa the UA is having difficulties getting international students in admissions and that she is expecting decline due to the current political sphere.
Kometa added that she is looking into retaining current international students to mitigate this and that the director spoke to her about hosting a town hall for international students.
College of Humanities Senator Louise Taylor told senators that the German department is hiring a new director. She saw a few sessions and noticed that they are heavily involving students in the hiring process.
The 2026 Health Professions Expo will take place on Feb. 18 from noon to 3 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom within the Student Union Memorial Center. The goal of this expo is to help health majors or undecided students prepare for health careers and engage with volunteer opportunities.
Executive Vice President’s privilege
Huffman expressed that he wanted to use ASUA as an on-the-ground communicator for students going forward.
“It’s important for us as student leaders to be able to advocate for student needs,” Huffman said.
For Gun Violence Survivors Week, Huffman stated that ASUA would pursue safety awareness promotion, talking about prevention and awareness pieces to keep people safe.
Huffman also spoke about the ASUA Spring Break Safety Fair as an additional effort in this regard, which will take place this semester.
