Whereas, the UC Irvine chapter of California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) is a registered campus organization in good standing; and, works to civically engage students and further the interests of students and the public statewide by advocating on such campaigns as Textbook Affordability, Clean Energy and Global Warming Solutions, Democracy and Voter Registration, Ocean Protection and Environmental Preservation and Consumer protection; and,

Whereas, in 1998, in accordance with University of California Policy and in conjunction with the Chancellor's Office of the University of California at Irvine, CALPIRG established an Agreement on CALPIRG's Voluntary Pledge System through a fee referendum in which a majority of the students who voted approved the adoption of the CALPIRG Pledge System; and, in accordance with the current Agreement between the University of California Irvine and CALPIRG, CALPIRG must obtain pledges from 10% of the student body. The current contract requires that CALPIRG average 10% over the course of the year – averaging the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters.

Whereas, averaging 10% requires pledging more than 10% of the student body to make up for the newly lower membership in the fall after roughly 25% of CALPIRG’s membership graduates each year.

Whereas, in academic year 2016-2017, CALPIRG missed their threshold of 10% of the campus pledging. That year the chapter was much smaller that it usually is and the position of the full-time campus organizer was open for much of the year and the year prior. CALPIRG is on track to add 2,300 new pledging members this year to their support base, and are on track to catch back up the 10% average requirement by Spring 2019.

Whereas, in accordance with the current Agreement between the University of California Irvine and CALPIRG, when CALPIRG fails to maintain the 10% requirement, the $5 fee may be re-established at UCI through a duly adopted resolution of student government with concurrence of the Chancellor per the UCI Guidelines as the 10% threshold for the voluntary fee system was created to demonstrate broad student support for the program and CALPIRG has demonstrated broad student support this year by educating thousands of students about civic issues, engaging hundreds as volunteers or interns, and recruiting thousands of new pledging members.

Whereas, the support of the ASUCI Senate is necessary as a representation of a consultation process with students to create concurrence with the Chancellor in creating a new Voluntary Pledge System Agreement without going to referendum; and,

Therefore let it be resolved, that the ASUCI supports the reaffirmation of the CALPIRG Voluntary Pledge System and authorizes the UC Irvine Vice Chancellors Office to reestablish the fee and continue the current agreement with CALPIRG.

Therefore let it be resolved, that the ASUCI recognizes that CALPIRG has made a good deal of progress is catching up to the 10% average threshold and is on track to reach it in Spring 2019.

Therefore let it be resolved, that the ASUCI recommends updating the CALPIRG agreement to require that CALPIRG meet the 10% threshold by the end of the academic year (Spring Quarter), rather than requiring an average of 10% over three quarters as how the threshold is calculated at UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside, and UCLA.

Therefore let it finally be resolved, that copies of this resolution be sent to Howard Gilman, Chancellor; Thomas Parham, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs; Brice Kikuchi, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Darlene Esparza Director, Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs to simply improve information literacy on the matter.