ASUCM: Senate Discusses High Heels, Beer Goggles, and Funds ICC

Inter-Club Council (ICC) was allocated money, while Bill 52 was passed at last week’s Senate meeting.

ICC was allocated $5,000 out of the ASUCM general fund last Wednesday because there was only $500 left for the rest of the semester. The funds left don’t include the rollback funding from last semester.

This is an issue because ICC is only halfway through the Spring semester and almost all of their funds are spent.

Senator Brendan Smith, ICC liaison, said that six out of 11 clubs were denied funding at the ICC meeting on March 6th because there was not enough money to allocate to everyone.

Some of the senators were hesitant to give ICC more money because they are unsure of how much money will rollback into the ICC account from the Fall semester.

“I would want to know exactly what (how much money) they have left before I gave them more because you don’t know,” said ASUCM Treasurer Keith Ellis, as he was asked for advice.

Different senators and ASUCM officials were concerned that the ICC Treasurer was not doing their job and that was reason they did not know the amount of rollback.   Arguments against allocating funds also included  that the Senate should not be so quick bail out ICC when they don't have their finances in order, in hopes it doesn't happen in the future.

Nine senators voted in favor of allocating money, while two voted against it. Since this vote only required a simple majority, the transfer of funds was allowed.

Bill 52 passed on March 7th with an 8-1 vote and two abstentions. Senator Jennifer Borobia introduced this bill on behalf of Psi Chi and the Psychology club; this was a bill to fund their trip to the Western Psychological Conference.

Senator Jaron Brandon wondered why they proposed staying at the Hyatt, where the conference was being held, rather than a cheaper hotel that was only a few minutes walk away.

One reason President of Psi Chi,William Kyle Hamilton, gave for wanting to stay at the more expensive hotel was because the female students would have to wear heels and those would be uncomfortable to walk in.

Senator Jake Malone didn’t have a problem with the attendees staying at the Hyatt.

“It’s not just the walking, it’s the safety factor and the fact it will be at night, it’s just for all the conveniences that are there, you just have to be there the entire time,” said Senator Malone.

Discussions turned into extended arguments about just high heels with scattered senators and public audience members recalling their experiences in those types of shoes.

Senate debated for over ten minutes on the issue which sparingly brought up the cost of the hotel rooms before it finally went to a vote and passed.

In other ASUCM news, Bill 48 and Bill 51 were tabled for a week.  

Bill 48 is ASUCM’s Code of Ethics; the senators have been working on the last few weeks. This Wednesday’s guest speaker is Evan Heit, a Cognitive Science professor at UC Merced, and he will be talking to the senators about ethics. Senators thought it was important to hear what Professor Heit says before working on the Code of Ethics.

Bill 51: UCMPD Alcohol Awareness Bill was tabled because many of the senators were concerned about the effectiveness of the Fatal Vision goggles or more commonly know as “beer goggles”. They did not want to buy twelve pairs of goggles if they are going to be ineffective.

“I think this is something we definitely should be funding as ASUCM this is raising awareness to our campus and to students”, said Senator Smith.

A few senators, who are supporters of this bill, found studies on how effective these goggles are.

This bill was tabled mainly because Sergeant George Gongora was not able to attend the ASUCM meeting. The senators wanted to ask questions and hear what Sergeant Gongora has to say about the Alcohol Awareness program and the effectiveness of the goggles. He will be at the ASUCM meeting this week for the discussion and decision on Bill 52.