On May 27, the Associated Students of California, Riverside (ASUCR) commenced their final Senate meeting of the academic year. It began at 6:44 p.m. following an informal review of the agenda items and adjourned at 8:26 p.m.
The meeting began with State of the Association reports from the Office of the Executive Vice President, the Office of the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Vice President of Finance and the Vice President of Sustainability.
In committee reports, the legislative review committee examined four resolutions and 20 bills — the most set to pass in a single senate meeting this academic year.
The resolutions included SR-S26-007 or “ASUCR’s Stance on Solidarity with Black Students Across the UC System,” SR-S26-008 or “ASUCR’s Commitment to First Generation Student Success” and SR-S26-009 or “Resolution in Support of CA SB 886 and 887,” and called on the Senate to support students with regard to a range of social issues including continued discrimination against black and first generation students as well as the increasing construction of data centers across California.
SR-S26-010 or “Resolution Announcing R’Bus” officially launched the Green Campus Action Plan’s (GCAP) R’Bus service which will provide transportation for disabled students around campus with Global Electric Motorcars and begin operation in coming academic years.
Senate Bills 9 and 14-30 made various amendments to the school’s constitution and bylaws to consolidate functions for efficiency.
This series of amendments removed the offices of the Non-Traditional Student Director, the International Student Director, the First-Time College Student Director and the Transfer Student Director and relocated their respective positions to other offices.
Along with this, the Black Student Affairs Team Chapter, the Student Voice Committee Chapter, the Summer Powers of the Executive Branch Chapter and the Executive Cabinet Eligibility Act Chapter were deleted and an Executive Cabinet Duties Chapter was created.
All resolutions and bills were passed uncontested by the senate.
GCAP then presented both GCAP Grant 026 or “End of the Year Donation Drive $500,” a request for funds to store discarded items from dorms and GCAP Grant 027 or “Reuseable @The Hub- $30,000,” to install infrastructure on campus to support the project. Both grants were approved 14-0-0.
The meeting concluded with a public comment from President Pro Tempore and Jeevan Rao. Rao personally commended members of the senate and expanded on his approach to leadership during his time at UCR, inspired by his twin brother who had passed away.
“I knew I wanted to be a leader that helped people. I knew I wanted to be someone that would make a difference in people’s lives,” Rao shared, “and I think that’s what my brother would have said … Everyone struggles sometimes and acknowledging that is really important for us as student leaders.”
