By MIHIR ZAVERI and LISA LEFF Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO—The University of California’s governing board confirmed its first Muslim student member Wednesday, despite some Jewish groups’ claims that she marginalized Jewish students and promoted an anti-Israel agenda.

Regents voted unanimously to ratify UC Berkeley student Sadia Saifuddin’s nomination, with one regent, Richard Blum, abstaining from the vote.

Saifuddin’s critics had urged the regents to reject the nomination, pointing to a student government proposal Saifuddin co-sponsored calling for the university to divest from companies with economic ties to the Israeli military or Israeli settlements on the West Bank. The critics said it was evidence she is unqualified to represent all of the UC system’s more than 222,000 students.

Saifuddin, 21, said the divestment bill was a big issue with the constituency she represented at UC Berkeley. She said after the vote that she expected opposition and hoped that people would look beyond her political activity to other things she has done.

“My capacity was to represent that specific community and the views of that community,” she said. “My capacity as student regent is very different.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs, conservative commentator David Horowitz and others had called on the board to reject Saifuddin’s appointment.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_23679191/uc-regents-confirm-muslim-student-board

Sadia Saifuddin waves to fellow board members after taking her seat following confirmation at a University of California Board of Regents meeting Wednesday, July 17, 2013 in San Francisco. The University of California’s governing board confirmed the first practicing Muslim student member to the board on Wednesday, despite opposition from some Jewish groups. UC regents voted in favor of UC Berkeley student Sadia Saifuddin’s nomination. One regent, Richard Blum, abstained from the vote. At right looking on is student regent Cinthia Flores. ((AP Photo/Eric Risberg))