passed by unanimous consent
moved by De Miguel,
seconded by
Yang
8 more passed
Appointed
16 people spoke
A representative from the Daily Californian urged the ASUC Senate to support placing the Independent Student Press Initiative on the election ballot to renew and increase the student fee supporting the newspaper. The speaker emphasized the paper's financial independence from campus administration, rising operational costs, and its vital role in providing local news and student journalism training.
A transfer student expressed disappointment at the lack of campus support and low attendance at rallies for human rights in Iran compared to other global causes. They urged the campus community to show consistent solidarity regardless of whether a topic is trending or involves the United States.
Lexi Rahm, an Iranian-American student, spoke about her family's immigration after the Iranian Revolution and the ongoing oppression of women in Iran. She called on the Berkeley community to listen to Iranian stories and stand in solidarity with the Iranian community.
A first-generation Iranian-American student shared personal family accounts of oppression under the Iranian regime and criticized Western activists for speaking over Iranian voices. They urged the audience to listen to and amplify the voices of Iranian people fighting for freedom.
Kimia Natar, co-president of the Iranian Students' Cultural Organization, spoke about ongoing state violence in Iran and the grief and harassment Iranian UC Berkeley students face while speaking out. She urged ASUC leadership and the campus community to show solidarity, amplify Iranian voices, and reject selective global justice.
Speaking on behalf of Iranian undergraduate international students at UC Berkeley, the speaker expressed full support for the statement delivered by NMR and ISCO. They described human rights abuses and violence under the Islamic Republic regime in Iran and urged the audience to be informed about these realities.
The speaker urged recognition of the Iranian regime's role in regional violence and instability, emphasizing that criticizing the regime is distinct from criticizing Iran itself. They highlighted the isolation felt by Iranians who face false accusations for speaking out against regime repression.
The speaker asked that Iranian students be given the opportunity to represent themselves and share their experiences without having their perspectives dismissed. They also expressed gratitude for being students at UC Berkeley and for being welcomed into the country.
The speaker urged attendees not to selectively apply outrage or align human suffering with political ideologies when discussing Iran. They emphasized that true advocacy for Iranian freedom and dignity requires acknowledging every victim of violence and war.
Orion shared a childhood memory of Iranian security forces violently attacking peaceful citizens to highlight the ongoing repression in Iran. He urged the council to stand in solidarity with young Iranian students fighting for basic freedom and human rights.
The speaker shared personal and shared accounts of human rights abuses under the Islamic Republic of Iran, criticizing members of the campus community for mourning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They asked the ASUC and community to allow Iranian students to speak about their trauma without labels, dismissal, or being told how to feel.
A speaker recounted personal and collective atrocities suffered under the Islamic Republic of Iran, criticizing members of the community for mourning Iranian leadership. They urged the assembly to respect Iranian students' lived experiences and allow them to speak out against their oppressors without labels or dismissal.
An Iranian-born student urged the Senate and community to listen to the lived experiences of Iranian people rather than treating the situation as a theoretical geopolitical debate. They asked that Iranian voices calling for change not be silenced or misrepresented in campus media.
Drawing on personal experience living in Iran, the speaker argued that U.S. military strikes are a necessary evil to liberate Iranians from an oppressive regime. They stressed that civilians lack the means to defend themselves against government violence and would rather risk foreign military action than continue living under extreme oppression.
A UC Berkeley student read a statement on behalf of Jennifer Torrey highlighting the severe persecution of Baha'is and refugees in Iran. The speaker urged the council to pay attention to the suffering of the Iranian people and recognize their pain.
A speaker representing the Cal Law Caucus asked interested attendees to share input and help build their group this semester. They directed listeners to their Instagram account and flyers for more information.
Senator Talia Golshani thanked public commentators who spoke about Iran, sharing her personal connection to the issue as a child of Iranian immigrants. She reminded fellow ASUC members of their duty to actively listen to student voices rather than being distracted by their computers.
Senator Anamaria Abnusy asks everyone present to stand in solidarity with the Iranian people.
Vice President Isha Chander apologized for issues with question filtering during an earlier session with administration present. She explained the back-end process used to manage questions while expressing regret for any perceived silencing or harm.
