SA referenda scheduled for December vote

By Viola Hsia     11/12/24 10:30pm

Campaigning for the four Student Association referenda, targeting divestment and investment transparency, will begin Nov. 20. The voting period will begin Dec. 4 and end Dec. 11 at noon, with the results published Dec. 12. 

According to SA Faculty Advisor Heather-Reneé Gooch, the timeline was determined by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness’ schedule, which will oversee the election as an impartial third party. Gooch said the office will return from vacation on Dec. 2.

“This was something that students had felt very passionate about,” Gooch said. “There [was] a discussion about having a special election, expediting it due to the gravity of what would be voted on.”

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Arman Saxena, author of the referenda, said that although he is worried about voter turnout when the vote will happen during ‘dead days’ — designated study days for students —  he is happy that the vote is happening.

“During this campaign period, [Students for Justice in Palestine] will be working to spread as much education and information on these referenda as possible,” Saxena, a Lovett College junior, wrote to the Thresher. 

Editor’s Note: Arman Saxena is one of the Thresher’s Arts and Entertainment Editors.

SA President Jae Kim said he hopes that the election will set a precedent for future referenda.

“This election will allow us to get every student’s opinion, which I think would be helpful for us in advocating with university administration,” Kim said. “I also want to set a precedent that SA does referenda on questions like this, so when future executive boards want to do direct democracy ... they have a precedent that they can follow.”

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