Basic Needs

By institutionalizing leisure through the provision of the public bath, the Roman government recognized some important things about our shared needs.

There is no reason why Telegraph Avenue — the street we use most as students to access destinations and meet our basic needs — should be dominated by cars. 

For all workers, a union would provide a direct line to the school to address topics that may be difficult and time-consuming to negotiate individually.

As allegations of bullying and verbal harassment surfaced, Elevate Cal decided to drop ASUC Senate candidate Jake Sim, who is now running independent of any entity, from its coalition. 

After watching her community face a “genocidal threat, physical and mental harassment and isolation,” ASUC presidential candidate Khwal Rafique decided she wanted to help alleviate the pain that marginalized communities feel on campus.

If you are constantly wondering where your next meal will come from, how can you be expected to think about an essay due tomorrow?

Out of sheer luck, I am equipped to tackle my mental illnesses in ways many others don’t have the privilege to, because of issues like accessibility, economic inequality and outside support. 

Last month, an anonymous Facebook post on the Confessions from UC Berkeley page exposed abysmal living conditions in Stern Hall, the only all-women undergraduate residence hall on campus. Despite numerous complaints by students alleging issues of vermin on site, cold showers and broken washing machines, these concerns have yet to be completely resolved.

Students face a number of obstacles in graduating from UC Berkeley –– hunger, malnourishment and homelessness shouldn’t be one of them. The campus must make supporting students’ basic needs a priority for all community members — this referendum will do just that.