ASUC Bill Would Allow Choice On Membership—But Not Fees

Seeking to clarify the association’s membership rules, the ASUC Senate will consider a bill at Wednesday night’s meeting that will define a member of the ASUC as any student who wants to be a member.

The bill, authored by Student Action Senator Jeff Manassero, would allow registered UC Berkeley and fall extension students to claim ASUC membership if they express interest and take action to become a member.

“It gives people the autonomy to say and decide if they’re members,” Manassero said at the senate’s Constitutional and Procedural Review Committee meeting Monday night.

Currently, membership is determined by voting in the ASUC elections, holding an elected office in the ASUC or by being a member of the Judicial Council or ASUC Store Operations Board.

The bill states that, in order for a student to become a member of the ASUC, he or she must either vote in the ASUC elections, hold any elected or appointed position in the association or claim membership through individual actions or desires, among other qualifications.

The bill stipulates that the individual may define what he or she deems an action constituting membership in the ASUC.

However, if the bill is passed, students would still be unable to opt out of paying the ASUC student fee, even if they do not define themselves as members of the association.

“I don’t expect (the bill) will affect the fee being mandatory for all students,” said Executive Vice President Vishal Gupta.

Currently, the fee stands at $27.50 per semester, according to the Office of the Registrar.

“ASUC activities would continue to be open to all students even if they do not consider themselves members of the association,” Manassero said.

“Membership is claiming a relationship to an organization, it’s a way to identify yourself as part of a group,” Manassero said.

Manassero also said the bill will give students the freedom to choose whether they want to be members of the association.

“If you want to be in (the ASUC), you’re in it. If you don’t, you’re (not),” Manassero said at the committee meeting.

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