UGS passes bill affirming solidarity with walkout against ICE violence

The Undergraduate Senate (UGS) passed the Joint Resolution in Solidarity with the Nationwide Student Strike and Opposition to Federal Immigration Enforcement Violence during its Wednesday meeting. The bill expresses the Associated Students of Stanford University’s (ASSU) support for a campus-wide walkout and teach-ins on Friday — part of a nationwide strike in response to violence by federal immigration enforcement officers, particularly in Minneapolis. 

Speaking on the UGS’ decision to take a position on the walkout, UGS Chair David Sengthay ’26 noted that the association can take a stance on issues that directly affect Stanford students.

“The actions of ICE and federal immigration enforcement agencies directly implicate these issues by contributing to fear, trauma, and material harm within our student body and the communities they come from,” he said. Sengthay added that he believes it is the ASSU’s responsibility to advocate for the safety of the campus community.

Sabrina Deriche ’26, who is from Minneapolis, read a statement on behalf of Iman Deriche ‘27 in support of the campus-wide walkout and teach-ins, and the nationwide strike at large. 

Deriche described the atmosphere in Minneapolis as one of fear and grief due to federal immigration enforcement operations, as well as unity and organization in response. “Shut it down for every student living in fear,” she said about schools and workplaces under the nationwide strike. “Shut it down until ICE is no longer on anyone’s streets.”

The bill will now move to the Graduate Student Council (GSC) for a vote.

“This is calling for collective amplification that turns moments of grief, anger, fear … [into] a demonstration, shutting it down this Friday,” Sengthay said.

Alongside the Joint Resolution in Solidarity with the Nationwide Student Strike and Opposition to Federal Immigration Enforcement Violence, the UGS also introduced a bill to amend the bylaws of the ASSU to reform the election certification process. The bill amends Sections 8 and 9 of the Joint Bylaws of the ASSU, clarifying the processes of certifying and invalidating the election and affirming the final authority of the Constitutional Council. 

Under the new bylaws proposed in the bill, legislative bodies will have 14 days to adopt by a two-thirds vote a motion to invalidate the election if there are proper grounds. Otherwise, the election results will be automatically certified. If the motion is adopted in a timely manner, a replacement election will be scheduled within 10 days. In the event an election cannot be held by the end of spring quarter, the Constitutional Council will have final authority.

Chair of Administration and Rules Dan Kubota ’27, who is a contributor to The Daily, also announced that the Administration and Rules Committee will host a screening of “SAVE: The Katie Meyer Story” on February 15. The documentary screening will feature director Jen Karson-Strauss as a guest speaker. 

Katie Meyer ’22 passed away in 2022 due to suicide after an OCS investigation was opened threatening her removal from the university, according to a lawsuit filed by the Meyer family. Stanford recently settled the lawsuit, announcing a new mental health initiative and the Katie Meyer Leadership Award in a joint statement with the Meyer family. 

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