USAC recap – July 8

The Undergraduate Students Association Council is the official student government of UCLA’s undergraduate students. During summer, council meetings take place biweekly on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. in Kerckhoff 417 and are open to all students. Watch a live stream of the meeting on the USAC Live! YouTube channel.

Agenda

• The council approved contingency programming allocations with a 6-0-1 vote.
• The council did not approve allocating a separate stipend for the communications director position. USAC President Devin Murphy said he will work with Facilities Commissioner Carlos Quintanilla on other incentives for the position.
• The council approved the USAC budget after several amendments with a 7-0-0 vote.

Appointments

• The council appointed Cindy Wang, a fourth-year economics student, as the Finance Committee chair with a 7-0-0 vote.

Officer Reports

• Murphy said he met with Roy Champawat, director of UCLA Student Union, and Patricia Zimmerman, student government services manager, on Monday about the council’s budget. Murphy said he met with Graduate Students Association President Mike Hirshman Monday to discuss how the two student governments can collaborate on future student issues. He also met with Kelly Miller, head of UCLA College Library, about Cafe Powell. Murphy said he and Student Wellness Commissioner Savannah Badalich are working on a mental health campaign and hope other councilmembers volunteer their time to help.

• Internal Vice President Avinoam Baral said the USAC retreat is Sept. 19-20. Baral said the Westwood Neighborhood Council plans to discuss apron parking in the North Village at its meeting Wednesday. Baral said he met with Roxanne Neal, director of UCLA New Student and Transition Programs, about USAC’s presence at the transfer student orientation, such as including a USAC information sheet in transfer student orientation booklets. Baral said he is looking for better audio equipment for the council meeting’s live stream.

• External Vice President Conrad Contreras said applications for the University of California Student Association and United States Student Association conferences are available. Contreras said UCSA voted to continue the Invest in Graduations, Not Incarceration, Transform Education, or IGNITE campaign. He said he met with Community Service Commissioner Cynthia Wong to discuss ways to increase voter registration during orientation. Contreras said UCSA passed a motion to start the preliminary investigation on the delayed appointment of Avi Oved, student regent-designate nominee.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Allyson Bach said some of her office appointments still need to be reviewed by the Appointments Review Committee.

• Badalich said she is working with the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center and UCLA Counseling and Psychology Services to train student advisers about mental health and sexual assault topics for orientation. Badalich said the UC sexual violence prevention task force is meeting for the first time 10 a.m. Friday. Badalich said she and Quintanilla will meet with Dana Pysz, assistant director for the Office of Residential Life, to discuss adopting gender-inclusive restrooms in residence halls.

Compiled by Samantha Tomilowitz, Bruin senior staff.