Week 7 / Spring 2026
ASUC Senate Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
ASUC Senate Chambers (510 Eshleman Hall)
The meeting was dominated by a lengthy and emotional public comment session where numerous Iranian students shared personal stories of suffering under the Iranian regime and expressed frustration with a lack of support and misrepresentation on campus. This set a tense and somber tone for the rest of the procedural business.
trackasuc
Attendance
Officer Reports
1 of 5
Verino
President
The President delivered a presentation to the Senate.
Bills Voted On
4 resolutions
Consent Calendar
Floor Votes
Minutes & Agenda Approvals
4 items
Passed Approval of Minutes from February 27th, 2026
Passed Finance Committee Meeting
New Business Introduced
6 resolutions referred to committee
SR 25/26-070 Urging the ASUC to Adopt More Accessible, Transparent, and Structured Procedures for Judicial Council Recruitment govcomm
It was beautiful to see the student rally and students standing together, which made me proud to join a place that cared so deeply. However, while thousands of people are being silenced and shot by the Iranian government, there were only 40 people and two allies at the rally for Iran. For two months we have been asking people to care, but voices only started when the U.S. was involved. Activism should not depend on what is trending.
I came from Iran and share deep history and stories of fear. Women in Iran have been forced to wear strict dress codes. I want to celebrate our roots and celebrate all around me. I hope for women to live without punishment for simply being themselves. I urge you to listen to the stories of your Iranian community.
I wanted to transfer to Berkeley for its strong activism. As I grew up, our stories became more graphic, with women being whipped for simply wearing lipstick at her job. No one talked about what is happening in Iran until it became trending. Now that Iran is finally getting coverage, it is being hijacked by western voices who do not understand the history. Suddenly we are told what we should think about our own country. If you care about justice, listen to the people risking their lives for their freedom.
This is a call for human dignity. Many of us have fear and grief as we go to our classes every day. We are hoping for solidarity right now. Do not ignore Iranian voices. If we believe in global justice, then amplify our voices.
Tonight we hope to share what life under the Islamic Republic is like. It is a reality where speech is restricted. Families speak casually because they fear that their calls may be monitored. Thousands of Iranians have been killed by this regime. Almost everyone we have talked to has lost a loved one. So please be informed, thank you.
Our experiences are not propaganda, they are experiences. Criticism of the regime is not criticism of Iran. There are those who are willing to accept uncertainty for leaders who are willing to kill and silence individuals.
We do not expect everyone to share our perspective but hope that the voices of Iranians will be heard. Tonight we ask Iranian students to share their experiences and perspectives. We are sincerely thankful for the UCB students who came out.
Over the past week, many voices have spoken to what many want and need, but many have not lived under this regime. Many of us have lost family and friends, and we still have people there at risk. If they are truly speaking for victims of war, then we must have room for everyone and not just those who fit our victim narrative. The Iranian people have already suffered too much.
I am Iranian and spent most of my life in Iran. Out of nowhere, everything changed; security forces rushed in and hurt people, and I saw fear replace the music. For many Iranians, this is their everyday life. People used to live freely, and in an instant, that was taken away. Many lost their lives, were thrown behind bars, and executed. Right now, as we stand in the birthplace of the free speech movement, many are putting their lives at risk supporting the freedom movement.
I am here to demonstrate what the existing Iranian republic looks like. It is students being killed, people going to prison, sexual violence, media blackouts, and constant worry. This is what people experience all the time.
I stand here as an Iranian student. While we are discussing the events happening in Iran tonight, it is not a political debate but a call for our lives. People inside Iran have tried everything; again and again, people took to the streets to ask for rights but were met with death and oppression. We are not speaking about theory but from memory. Tonight I am asking for something simple: listen to Iranians. And do not dismiss our questions and opinions, or what is in the Daily Cal newspaper, from not hearing from the people in Iran themselves.
I spent half of my life in Iran and know what it is like to live under their regime. No one ever wants their people to be struck, but this is what we are forced to. Iranians cannot fight when you have military rounds against you, and that is why we must fight to take a strike. We would rather die with dignity even if it means having a few strikes against us.
The reason I am here today is because my family had to flee and lived in refugee camps until I was authorized to come to the U.S. We are here at one of the best universities in the world, and I am feeling proud of our country even though we are facing silence.
I am from the UCB Women's Caucus. If there is any leader in student government who is a woman on campus, I hope you will join to help form this caucus this semester.
Thank you so much to everyone who spoke today. I grew up in America, but my parents immigrated here, and this is so personal and deep to me. Hearing your speeches was so heartfelt. We are actively here. It's sad to see you on your computers, so if you wish to learn more, we should be doing that here. I really appreciate it and hope you take what they said to heart and learn more.
I want you to stand in solidarity with the people who are going through this. The majority of these students are from Iran, and I was raised in Iran. It has been a painful time in our community. Our students should be filled with courage, but they are not feeling supported, and we are disappointed to see how we are not being supported. They were pushed to come to the senate because they feel misrepresented on social media, on campus, and in the Daily Cal. The administration is silent on this, and we need you to listen to what Iranian students are saying.
I want to apologize for the misrepresentation that they may have felt. I am so sorry. I am sorry you felt misrepresented, because that is not the intention. And I'm sorry that is what is happening.