Matthew Enger

After about a semester-long departure from campus, former chancellor Nicholas Dirks makes his return to campus — for some not-so-awaited — as a history professor this spring semester.

Change was the buzzword in this year’s ASUC election. Not only did CalSERVE successfully elect its first presidential candidate, Deejay Pepito, in four years, traditionally satirical party SQUELCH! claimed its stake in the campus political scene as a viable third party contender.

During his presidential campaign, David Douglass of the Defend Affirmative Action Party has emphasized a legacy of action and protest, saying that he hopes to revive the “youth-led progressive movement.” If elected, Douglass, aims to lead students against fee hikes, advocate for immigrant rights and double the underrepresented minority enrollment on campus.

As part of the ASUC's attempt to make elections more transparent, three non-ASUC-affiliated students will be chosen this week to head the Elections Finance Commission. The commission, which is the first of its kind, is tasked with monitoring party expenditure during the upcoming election.

CalSERVE has announced Valerie Jameson as its nominee for Academic Affairs Vice President (AAVP) and Spencer Pritchard as its nominee for External Affairs Vice President (EAVP) in the upcoming spring elections.

An ASUC bill that recommended UC Berkeley remove all Salvation Army donation boxes from campus property was one of last semester’s most controversial senate bills.

The ASUC Senate is urging campus administrators to ban Salvation Army donation boxes from campus and university-owned buildings, citing discrimination against the queer community.