Placing their political differences aside, the Bruin Democrats
and Bruin Republicans are working together to change the
undergraduate student government’s bylaws to give all student
groups the opportunity to receive sponsorship and funding.
Current regulations, which have recently been called into
question by university officials, offer funding and sponsorship
only to Officially Recognized Student Organizations ““ groups
that are not political, religious or ideological in nature.
A proposed initiative would change the bylaws to allow
independent groups to apply for funding and sponsorship from the
Undergraduate Students Association Council, said Bruin Democrats
President Doug Ludlow.
“The idea is that that groups can be funded regardless of
the opinions expressed,” said Matt Knee, a member of the
Bruin Republicans. “There is no conceivable fair funding
policy that can fund some student groups and not others.”
“We feel that we could put political differences aside to
help student groups,” Ludlow said, regarding the decision to
work with a group they would not ordinary affiliate with.
USAC has had an ongoing discussion about their funding policies
over the past few months. The issue has become particularly
relevant in light of new information regarding UC-wide regulations,
which require funding to be allocated on a viewpoint neutral
basis.
An amendment proposed by General Representative Josh Lawson last
fall contains many of the same ideas as the Democrats’ and
Republicans’ proposal. Lawson’s proposal has been
repeatedly postponed and no decision has yet been reached.
There are a few key differences between the two articles, but
“both are seeking the same goal,” Knee said.
Lawson said he hoped to work with the Democrats and Republicans
to change the bylaws.
“We are closer now than ever,” he said, adding that
a coalition would increase the chances of success.
A signature drive will begin this week, Ludlow said, and he
hopes to make a presentation at the USAC meeting next Tuesday.
If the initiative receives enough votes, it will be put on the
spring ballot which will open the decision up to a student vote,
Ludlow said. Close to 3,000 signatures are needed to put the
initiative to a student vote.