RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SB 36

FALL 2012

A Bill in Memory of the 20th Anniversary of the Passing of Grace Asuncion

Authored By Julia Dendle, the Pilipino American Alliance (PAA), and Senator Pepito Sponsored By Senator Pepito, Senator Lieu, Senator Vertiz, Senator Jacobo, Senator Pack, Senator Majd, Senator Saifuddin, Senator Huo, Senator Hua, Senator Ma, Senator Bellet, Senator White, Senator Pacheco, Senator Lee, Senator Rajasekar, Senator Kadifa, Senator Chen, Student Advocate Stacy Suh, AAVP Gavello, EAVP Abbasi, EVP Sayarath, President Landgraf WHEREAS, in 1989, after lettering in cross county and track & field and ranking 4th in her class of 400, Grace Rualo Asuncion (hereafter, Grace) graduated from Agoura Hills High School and joined her older brother Mark at the University of California Berkeley; and, WHEREAS, as an aspiring doctor, majored in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) at the University, she was nominated Most Likely to be Found in the Library by the Pilipino community on campus via the Pilipino American Alliance (PAA); and, WHEREAS, Grace was an active member of the Pilipino community, serving as Academics Affairs Co-Chair PAA and became involved with Pilipino Academic Student Services and {m} aganda Magazine; and, WHEREAS, on February 7, 1992, Grace Asuncion was tragically killed in Eshleman Hall; and WHEREAS, Graces passing initiated a University-wide effort to focus on campus safety, bringing about the campus UCPD Emergency Blue Lights and Blue Safety doors of Eshleman Hall; and, WHEREAS, she was survived by her eldest brother John, her older brother Mark, younger sister Danielle, her father Edward, her mother Aida, and extended family; and, WHEREAS, on October 4, 1993, alongside the path between Eshleman Hall and Zellerbach Auditorium, a tree was planted in her memory; and, WHEREAS, in 1997, a bench was placed underneath her tree, bearing a brass plaque with her name and a brief description that reads, In Memory of Grace Rualo Asuncion / Slain in Eshleman Hall / An Intelligent, Vibrant, Committed Student Who Will Always Be Remembered / From Her Friends.; and, WHEREAS, in the spring of 2007, a Senate bill, authored by former Senator Dwight Asuncion, was passed unanimously; and,

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SB 36

FALL 2012

WHEREAS, a printed copy of this bill, along with a picture of Grace, is framed on the wall of Senate Chambers in Eshleman Hall (hereafter, the frame); and, WHEREAS, the Pilipino American Alliance holds a yearly memorial at the site of her bench with the Asuncion family, further keeping her memory and story alive on campus; and, WHEREAS, an act in the Pilipino American Alliances Pilipino Cultural Night 2012 entitled Our Legacy: Ang Ating Pamana was dedicated to telling Graces story with the help of her good friend Charity Nicolas; and, WHEREAS, the Pilipino American Alliance strives to maintain a relationship with the Asuncion family as well as with Charity Nicolas in order to maintain a meaningful and tangible presence of Graces spirit at her yearly memorial and at other community events such as Pilipino Cultural Night; and, WHEREAS, Lower Sproul Redevelopment will cause her memorial and bench to be temporarily relocated in the Hearst Annex courtyard while the permanent memorial is constructed just east of Lower Sproul; and, WHEREAS, February 7, 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of her passing, for which the Pilipino American Alliance will be holding a special memorial program this coming October, including the Pilipino Community as a whole as well as alumni, Graces family, and friends; and, WHEREAS, an extraordinarily beautiful person both inside and out, Grace was, is, and will forever remain a beloved daughter, sister, friend, and more; and, WHEREAS, on this 20th anniversary of her passing, her memory remains alive and vibrant, reflecting her compassionate soul, inspiring diligence, and her eternal place in the heart of this campus community; and, WHEREAS, the projected expenses for the new frame and matting are outlined in the following budget:
Category Frame Frame Item DAX Black Wood Poster Frame White Matting Purpose To replace current frame For display Price/unit $29.99/Frame $45.00/Matting Quantity Total Total requested $29.00 $45.00

1$29.99 1$45.00

Total Amount: $74.99

Total Requested: $74.99

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SB 36

FALL 2012

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) commemorate the tremendous impact of Grace Asuncions story on this University by replacing the current frame with a new frame and matting that totals $74.99 paid from the Senate Only Fund; and, THEREFORE IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, the ASUC transfer ownership of Graces framed 2007 bill and picture to the Pilipino American Alliance to maintain its possession during the demolition of Eshleman Hall; and, THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the ASUC ensure that Grace Asuncions story is not lost during Lower Sproul Redevelopment and her frame is hung in the new building of Eshleman Hall after its reconstruction in 2015.