On Tuesday, the 144th Undergraduate Student Government (USG) voted on two resolutions recognizing both Jewish and Muslim students on campus. The vote took place on the same night that newly elected USG members officially transitioned into office.
The first resolution voted on passed unanimously. It will formally recognize May as Jewish American Heritage Month and establish a Jewish community advocacy liaison.
“For the first time in this institution, the Jewish community is not asking for special treatment. We’re asking to be represented,” said Senator Brandon Tavakoli, the bill’s author and a senior in USG. “My legislation is about one word, one thing: representation.”
The resolution cites 15 unfulfilled recommendations from President Carol Folt’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Life, which were developed without direct student involvement.
“The road to getting a unanimous vote from the Senate was rockier than it seemed,” said Tavakoli in a statement to Annenberg Media after the resolution passed. “But I’m proud that, as I leave the university, the real work of uplifting the voices and needs of Jewish Trojans in USG can finally begin.”
The liaison will be nominated by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) in consultation with Jewish student groups and serve as a voting member on USC’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Life.
“We’ve worked so hard to communicate how important this bill is,” said Rebecca Aisenberg, a senior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, just before the USG meeting.
“Additionally, I think concerns about funding have now been resolved, as this position is now funded by the religious and spiritual life office,” said Aisenberg, who is also the vice president of wellness on USC Hillel’s executive board.
The resolution comes amid heightened concerns about antisemitism on campus, including a federal investigation by Trump’s task force into USC for alleged religious discrimination. With Jewish students comprising 10% of the undergraduate population, supporters argue the position would mark a significant step toward equity and inclusion.
“This is not performative. This is not just another month on the calendar,” he said. “This resolution amends USG’s bylaws to guarantee that Jewish Trojans have a seat at the table. ot just symbolically, but structurally.”
Also tonight, a resolution to create a Muslim community advocacy liaison within USG passed unanimously. It outlines a process for appointing future liaisons through ORSL.
Authored by Vice President Dane Sprague and Senator Jad Kilani, the bill aims to institutionalize support for Muslim students by establishing a parallel liaison role. Like the Jewish community liaison, the Muslim liaison would serve within USG’s Advocacy Department and be nominated in consultation with established Muslim student organizations and campus stakeholders.
The bill also authorizes ORSL to nominate additional religious advocacy liaisons in the future without requiring further bylaw amendments, provided the appointments are approved by the dean of ORSL and the chief diversity officer. Both the Jewish and Muslim advocacy liaisons would receive stipends, though funding would come directly from ORSL rather than USG’s stipend account.
“This is outlining the process by which future religious groups can go to Dean [of Religious Life Varun] Soni ... It formalizes the foundation that was laid in Senator Tavakoli’s bill, and it shows us where we can move forward. And that’s why I love this bill, and I think I’m really proud of it,” USG vice president Dane Sprague said.
The resolutions will now proceed to votes by the cabinet in the coming days.