:link The ASUC Senate was expected to vote on overriding President Will Smelko's March 24 veto of a controversial bill urging the student government and University of California to divest from United Technologies and General Electric.
The bill urges such a move because the companies have supplied the Israeli military with materials used in alleged war crimes.
A two-thirds majority vote of the senate is needed in order to override a veto. The original bill passed the senate by a 16 to 4 margin. A final vote on overriding the veto was not available as of 10 p.m.
International attention has focused on the 20 ASUC senators following the veto.
"People have definitely been trying to sway all the senators-we've received thousands and thousands of e-mails from all over the world,"
SQUELCH! party Senator Emily Carlton and Independent Senator Jonathan Gaurano, co-sponsors of the bill, said they and other senators were invited to a Berkeley Hillel-sponsored forum Hillel employees and rabbis gave a presentation on the history of Israel and what damage the passage of the bill could mean for that nation.
"UC should divest from war crimes," Gaurano said. "I would tell people to come tonight, listen, have clear dialog and make up your own opinions."
Carlton said that she has been pressured because of her support of the bill.
"Some of my closest friends have met with me and tried to convince me (to change my vote)," she said. "Some of them have stopped talking to me altogether."
She added that she has been confronted several times while at parties and had a drink purposefully poured on her.
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