The Undergraduate Senate (UGS) unanimously approved a joint resolution calling for the reinstatement of Terra and Synergy as co-ops at their Wednesday meeting amid the University’s push to convert both houses to self-ops.
Synergy is a co-op founded in 1972 focused on alternative living while Terra is an unofficial queer and trans-themed co-op founded in 1970. When the houses failed to attract enough pre-assignees to fill their rooms, they were given the option to convert to a semi self-op model, retire and shut down the houses entirely or merge the two co-ops into a single house.
Terra and Synergy chose the option of conversion to a semi self-op model, but before they could work out an implementation plan with ResEd, Michele Rasmussen, the assistant vice provost of Residential Education (ResEd), informed them that the houses would be “sunset,” or shut down, despite the houses’ willingness to work out a plan for semi-self-op status.
Jules Gittin ’26, a current Synergy resident and future Resident Assistant (RA) for the house, criticized a lack of communication from the University about co-op statuses. Gittin attributes the lack of pre-assignees to the current pre-assignment process.
In a 27-page letter petitioning for Terra and Synergy to remain as co-ops, residents of the houses pointed to the lack of a ranking system in pre-assignment, the short window for pre-assignment and changes to the University housing system as reasons for the low pre-assignment numbers.
“What we have right now is unsustainable. There are no student voices in it,” Gittin said regarding the current pre-assignment process.
The UGS also confirmed Rebecca Kristy Tjahja Harvey MBA ’26 as a new member of the ASSU Elections Commission. The new appointment arose from concern over the possible need to hold a special election after the Graduate Student Council (GSC) voted against certifying the 2025 ASSU election results. Before Harvey’s confirmation, there were only two members serving on the Elections Commission, leaving one vacancy.
UGS senator Jared Hammerstrom ’27 raised concerns about getting the undergraduate population to turn out for a second election. Harvey said she couldn’t promise the same turnout but believed voter education was key and that she wanted to “meet [undergraduates] where [they] are,” acknowledging the influx of other events besides an election at the end of spring quarter.
The UGS postponed voting on confirming Gloria Ye M.S. ’26 as assistant elections commissioner. The GSC confirmed along with Harvey on Monday.
The UGS also deliberated on a resolution to encourage the creation of the ASSU Executive Multicultural and Religious Council. According to UGS chair Gordon Allen ’26, the resolution formally encourages the ASSU Executive Office to bring in leaders from cultural and religious Voluntary Student Organizations (VSOs) to create initiatives and programming for Stanford’s identity-based communities.
“Given how much enrollment has also failed amongst Black and Brown people here, I just think it’s essential that we have a dedicated effort to ensure that these communities feel heard,” Allen said.