UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef confirmed his support for ASUCD Senate Resolution 11, which calls on the University of California Board of Regents to change its UC Education Abroad Program policies to allow travel to countries with “less severe travel warnings,” such as Israel and the Philippines.
“We currently have no programs in areas where there is a State Department travel warning,” said the chancellor in a statement. “The University of California systemwide Education Abroad Program does not offer programs in those areas. However, the UC Council of Chancellors has decided to reconsider this policy. I agree with that decision.”
“More specifically, I believe that with proper [precautions] our students should be allowed to study in certain countries now not allowed, including Israel and the Philippines,” he said.
The ASUCD Senate debated for over two hours before passing SR 11 8-3-1 at its Apr. 6 meeting.
ASUCD Senator Pro Tempore Molly Fluet said she was pleased that the chancellor supports revising the UC EAP policies.
“I think that’s great; we had a UC EAP program [in Israel] five years ago. I’m glad the chancellor said that [he agrees],” she said.
ASUCD Senator Eric Friedman, who authored SR 11, said in an Apr. 7 interview that he plans to organize a contingent of students to attend the regents’ meeting at UCSF on May 16 and 17.
While the ASUCD Senate has received support for its passing of SR 11, it has raised the ire of the ASUCD Business and Finance Commission because of its recent passing of Senate Bill 64, which allocated $180 to Hillel at Davis and Sacramento for a Jewish leadership retreat.
The bill sparked controversy at the Apr. 12 senate meeting, when opponents said it was too inclusive and would set a precedent in which any religious organization could attain funds from ASUCD.
Fada Habib, a senior economics and communication double major and BFC commission member, said the senate has not adequately taken BFC’s input into account when passing legislation such as SB 64.
“[Over] the past year, they’ve overrode a number of bills that we’ve failed. It’s really frustrating for those of us on Business and Finance. They appointed us to look at the numbers and see how student funds are allocated and they’re kind of not listening to us,” Habib said.
Habib said the commission was unhappy that ASUCD allocated funds for a retreat that included 12 to 15 students.
“It all came down to numbers. It affected 12 to 15 kids, and I can speak for the commission in saying that we want to see student money affecting a larger number of students. We want to see the money going to the entire population,” Habib said. “Why should ASUCD pay for [Hillel’s retreat]? That money can go to Unitrans, the Coho [and] other units that affect a larger population of student life.”
Habib said he and another BFC member are planning a presentation for the ASUCD Senate on fiscal responsibility.
ASUCD President Kareem Salem said he supports SB 64 but has cautioned senators to spend money wisely.
“I did agree with the overall goal of the senate on the matter, [but] the senate needs to be cautious at what they do pass in terms of fiscal allocations. Money is always a limited resource for the senate and back … when I was a senator it was always, ‘When do we get to the point where we start denying people?'” he said.
“There’s no such thing as a measly $180 in my book at least. We are dealing with students’ money. Every dollar does count,” Salem said.
Some ASUCD senators also questioned the leadership value of the retreat. When asked what students learned during the retreat, Zak Davis, the program director of Hillel at Davis and Sacramento, declined to comment. He said students who attended the “camping trip” will make a report to the ASUCD Senate at a future meeting.
Friedman, who authored both SR 11 and SB 64, did not return a phone call from The California Aggie.
PATRICK McCARTNEY can be reached at campus@californiaaggie.com.
