The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Williams, senate confused by ballot measure

The Associated Students Senate voted to support a possible statewide ballot measure to drop the cost of tuition, which would require it to collect 3,080 signatures.

The confusion began when the meeting started and carried over into the senate’s discussion.

The Senate voted 6-3 to support the measure, though most of the senators were unclear of the measure’s purpose.

“Even I am a little unclear about what it’s about,” said Associated Student Body President Joey Williams.

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Senators said they had a difficult time finding information about the ballot initiative.

Williams came to the meeting with a summary sheet about the measure, but because of what he called “technical difficulties,” he was unable to provide a copy for the other senators.

The senate’s advisor Ann Fryslie tried to clear up any confusion the senate had.

As reported in The Channels on Oct. 19, if passed, tuition fees will drop from $26 to $20 per unit for all California community colleges.

Funding for community colleges will be based on inflation and enrollment size, and more financial power will be given to colleges.

During its discussion, the senate at long last agreed that it should postpone a future vote until Superintendent-President John Romo addresses it on Dec. 2. He is expected to explain the measure to the senate in more detail.

Fryslie had to remind the senate that it had to vote on its original idea, or motion, first before bringing up an alternative plan.

Fryslie tried to help senators. She said the senate could wait to get more information from Romo, or it could vote “yes” on the motion, and get started on appointing a chairperson and collecting signatures.

The senate voted to support the measure.

But quickly afterward, it reversed the vote and decided to postpone action on it until after it meets with Romo.

If the senate supports the initiative next week, it will have to appoint a chairperson and collect 3,080 signatures from registered voters at City College.

Despite the confusion, Williams said he is confident that the senate can collect the required signatures.

“The senate wants to support it, but they want to know a little more about what it is,” Williams said.

The senate is hoping other clubs and campus organizations will get involved and help gather signatures. It meets Friday.

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