U.C. students seek to lobby Legislature

Senate Bill 1931, currently on Governor Pete Wilson's desk awaiting his signature, could restore to the University of California Student Associations (UCSA) the ability to lobby in front of the state Legislature - something it has been unable to do since January.

That's when a California State Supreme Court ruling took effect that removed funding for the UCSA's lobbying and political activities.

The ruling, which involved the 1993 Smith vs. Regents case, said that mandatory student fees could only be used for educational programs. As a result of that decision, the UCSA has been virtually nonexistent in political affairs and lobbying at the state Legislature and the Board of Regents, said Anne Blackshaw, consultant to Senator Tom Hayden.

"A good majority of what studen t associations do is represent student concerns in front of the Legislature, the regents and the executive branch based on policy set by the board," Blackshaw said.

SB 1931 would allow the UCSA to be funded through the annual budget act. The bill, authored by Sen. Hayden, is meant to restore the students' voice in the capitol.

Backers of the bill point out that just as taxes go to funding the policies of representatives elected by a democratic process, so should student fees fund policies o f its representatives.

"That would be like saying that my freedom of speech was violated for 12 years because I disagreed with Reagan and Bush," Blackshaw said, "which personally I feel it was."

Blackshaw also pointed out that this could happen to the Cal State University system.

Assistant Press Secretary Jesus Arredondo said Wilson will most likely read over the education bills this week. Arredondo did not indicate which way Wilson will decide on SB 1931.