Like many others I’ve grown disillusioned with the ASUC Senate. Despite being a part of a university renowned for its political activism, the ASUC Senate fails to address the real needs of students. The problem isn't just that voter turnout is low, it's that the ASUC has become disconnected from the very people they are supposed to represent and help.
Last semester, I worked for an ASUC Senator, helping write bills. After polling random students at Sather Gate, I realized through those I polled that the ASUC Senate doesn’t serve the average student; it just passes symbolic legislation which does nothing to help the average student. With only ~20% voter turnout for ASUC elections, something clearly isn’t working.
Most ASUC Senators are in fraternities or sororities, turning elections into a sort of popularity contest. Many ASUC Senators also seek the position of Senator solely for the sake of filling out their résumé. The voting process is equally meaningless. In order to vote for an ASUC Senator, students must rank over some 30 odd candidates from first to last, an unnecessarily confusing process. Not only did this not make sense to me, but it got me thinking. Why do we even need 20 senators? Why can’t we have 9 senators that do the same job quicker? This is where I decided to draft a bill that called for the reduction of ASUC Senators from 20 to 9. Yes, this is a radical change, but at an extremely politically active university, only a ~20% turnout is abysmal.
When I proposed my bill, my superior ASUC Senator ridiculed it as "extremely unrealistic." Other Senators, of course, harshly dismissed it. Naturally, they wouldn’t want to cut their own positions, making it harder to win another election. There is a conflict of interest. Instead of tackling real campus issues, the ASUC takes weeks to pass resolutions condemning Israel and mandating plant-based food at ASUC mixers. Whether you agree with these positions or not, what do they actually do for students? What do you and I get out of this?
I love UC Berkeley, but let’s be honest: Students don’t care about the ASUC Senate because it doesn’t help them. We students care about campus safety, housing, and free speech, not symbolic policies.
As a Political Science student, I understand how governance works. But when I read ASUC’s lengthy resolutions on so-called “problems”, I can’t help but feel disappointed, even embarrassed. As a Cal student I hold myself and my peers to a higher standard. I even wanted to reach out to a few ASUC Senators to address this issue, but all of my messages were either ignored, or I was told to add myself to their calendar and wait. I’m sorry, but why do I need to wait to talk to those who represent me? It's simply just not about the students. It’s all just a show.
I want to call on you, the student, to petition for the reduction of ASUC Senators. By reducing the number of ASUC Senators, the remaining seats will become more competitive, which will incentivize the alignment of Senators interests to those of the students.
The ASUC should serve students, not itself. If you’re frustrated with its inaction, demand change. Contact your ASUC Senators, challenge the status quo, and hold your student government accountable. We deserve a student government that represents us, not one that serves itself and pads résumés.
