ASUC Demands Connerly Resign, University Cede Control of Funds

Clipped of the ability to dole out money, ASUC senators instead took radical stances on three issues Wednesday night-calling for UC Regent Ward Connerly's resignation and demanding the UC Berkeley administration stay out of ASUC coffers.

A third bill called for the ASUC to endorse a boycott on Coors beer for an alleged campaign contribution to Connerly's October ballot initiative, Proposition 54.

All three bills passed were written by Defend Affirmative Action Party Senator Yvette Felarca.

The most prominent bill asked for the administration to "respect the autonomy of the ASUC by ceasing to tamper with the business" of the ASUC.

Some ASUC officials opposed last month's university-imposed fund freeze and investigation into the Graduate Assembly's $35,000 allocation for the "No on 54" campaign.

"It violated our duties to represent the students and carry out their will," Felarca said.

Felarca argued that the ASUC is autonomous from the university and student government officials can spend ASUC funds however they desire.

"As the ASUC, we have to represent the students," Felarca said. "We are not a prom committee."

However, some senators felt that the senate should not take a position against the university.

"We're biting the hand that feeds the us," said Student Action Senator Lauren Hubbert.

Chancellors can discontinue student governments and revoke student fee money, according to UC policy.

Another bill called for the removal of Connerly, who spearheaded two controversial ballot initiatives, Proposition 54 and the 1996 Proposition 209 that banned affirmative action statewide.

Although the bills passed without much debate, a few senators worried that taking such strong stances would disenfranchise students who disagree with the senate's positions.

"When the senate takes policy stances, it goes nowhere and turns people off," said APPLE Senator Paul LaFata, who opposed all three bills.

LaFata added that a proper amount of research had not been conducted on the proposals.

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