After weeks of deliberation, the ASUC Senate passed a resolution revoking funding and support for the Cal Interfraternity Council, or IFC, at its regular Wednesday meeting.
The resolution cites sustainability concerns and “inadequate action” amid a long history of sexual violence and sexual harassment as reasons for withholding funding and putting IFC on probation until 2023. Furthermore, the ASUC will denounce the UC Berkeley LEAD Center’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Advising department and call on campus to rehire or retrain advisors who “work against the interests of the student body.”
“(The governance committee) moved the resolution to the Senate without recommendation because our interim chief legal officer wanted to pass it by legal counsel,” said Senator Muz Ahmad during the meeting. “They had no issues with it and we’re completely within our bounds.”
The senate approved multiple other resolutions as part of its consent calendar, including one affirming the ASUC’s opposition to campus’s proposed Instructional Resilience and Enhancement Fee.
Discussions between administrators, ASUC executive officers and senators to address student concerns are underway, according to Academic Affairs Vice President James Weichert.
Continuing with student fees, Chief Financial Officer Henry Isselbacher discussed the impacts of static fees and rising inflation on funding for the ASUC and student organizations. Rethinking student fees with an upcoming referendum will be key to augment revenues while remaining fiscally responsible, according to Isselbacher.
“Our slate for the spring includes continued work and priorities from last semester and it is setting us up well for the long term,” Weichert said during the meeting. “Change doesn’t always come quickly, but we’ve had a lot of opportunities and I am thankful that we’ve been able to seize upon a few good ones.”
Weichert noted his office has also worked on reimagining grading policies and reviewing degree requirements, starting with the College of Letters and Sciences.
Weichert’s office is holding discussions with campus administrators to identify mitigation measures in light of the enrollment freeze and the California Supreme Court’s ruling.
ASUC officers and senators then covered personal projects, providing updates on efforts to reform internal onboarding processes and developing a potential labor studies major. Senator Amanda Hill described their office’s harm reduction project and ways to incorporate student feedback, while Executive Affairs Vice President Riya Master highlighted Votechella, an event promoting civic engagement.
“We’re stressing the importance of civic engagement and making sure people know why getting the vote out is critical,” Master said during the meeting. “With midterm elections coming up, students need to make their voices heard.”
