A majority of students who voted in the American University Student Government elections supported referenda calling for the University to divest from corporations and academic programs determined by Resolution 19-018 to be “complicit in the occupation and destruction of Palestinian life and land” and to not arm AU Police Department Officers.
Over 2,000 students, a greater number than in recent fall elections, voted in the Oct. 11 election that also decided candidates for the 20th Undergraduate Senate.
Referendum 19-002, which asked about student opinions on the University’s ties to corporations and whether the Board of Trustees should “rescind AU’s long standing position to oppose boycotts, divestment from Israel, and other related actions.”
65.74 percent of those who voted, voted “yes” to the Board rescinding the University’s position of opposing boycotts and divestment. 64.21 percent of those who voted, voted “yes” to the Board adopting a policy of boycotting, divestment and sanctioning of all complicit corporations as determined by Resolution 19-018. 55.42 percent of students who voted, voted “yes” to the Board adopting a policy to boycott all complicit academic programs as determined by the resolution.
Referendum 19-003 asked students about the options currently being considered in regards to arming the AU Police Department and their trust in AUPD “to protect the safety of yourself, faculty, staff, and other students.” 43.96 percent of the students who voted, voted “yes” to this referendum.
Of the students who voted, 80.17 percent voted “no” for arming AUPD with sidearms, 70.57 percent voted “no” for arming AUPD with firearms in squad cars and 58.67 percent voted “no” for arming AUPD with less-than-lethal weapons including tasers and rubber bullets.
These referendums follow Referendum 19-001 as included on the spring 2024 ballot. The referendum asked students to vote on the rescission of the Jan. 25 directives that limited indoor protests as well as posters, flyers and other such materials in university spaces.
The Undergraduate Senate results are listed below. Unlisted positions had no winner.
Senators-at-Large
Kaden Ouimet
Anousha Khan
Lila Barron
Kasey Bernat
Sumaiyah Alyadumi
Martina Poletti
Quinn Fitzpatrick
Lily Swahnberg
Hanna Hajdu
Asher Heisten
Aasiyah Beamon
Carly Castaldy
Laina Pond
Collin Corkill
Javier Benzan
Que Riggins
Kaleigh Olsen
Tomer Ben-Ezer
Luke Sharon
Benjamin Winokur-Applebaum
Class of 2025 Senator
Sophia Joseph
Class of 2026 Senator
Volodymyr Larin
Class of 2027 Senator
Meredith Baker
Class of 2028 Senator
Lailah Green
School of Public Affairs Senator
Kanha Jain
College of Arts and Sciences Senator
Ahmad Al-Hendi
Kogod School of Business Senator
Teddy Gillman
School of International Service Senator
Cat Volk
School of Education Senator
Paige Abbott
School of Communication Council Vice President
Tamia Devine
This article was edited by Payton Anderson, Tyler Davis and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks.
