A proposal to restrict funding for political and ideological activities has died in committee.  Senate Bill 829 would have required campuses in the California State University system to “exclude mandatory student government fees as a source of funding for political or ideological activities or organizations.” 

SB 829 finally died after languishing in an interim study committee for over a year. “Our legislature saw the importance of having students involved in policy making decisions,” says Stephanie Rahlff, the chair of CSSA, the California State Student Association.  CSSA gathered letters and legislative testimony to help defeat the proposal.

The California State University administration testified at a hearing about SB 829.  Jeff Vaca from the Office of Governmental Affairs explained that groups like CSSA provide a critical voice in both internal and external CSU matters. 

Representatives from the University of California also opposed the bill.  “What we’re striving to do is create a place where the exchange of diverse ideas can occur.  This would restrict that,” said Carol Wall, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of California at Davis.

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