2015-2016 USAC year in review

The Undergraduate Students Association Council is the official student government representing the undergraduate body at UCLA. Former USAC president Heather Rosen led 41 weekly council meetings from May 6, 2015, to May 10, 2016. After the election of the new council, president Danny Siegel led his first meeting on May 16, 2016. Here are some highlights from this year’s council.

Special presentations

USAC offices held several events over the course of the year to promote campus issues or provide services to students.

• Football viewing party on November 21, 2016

The General Representative 1 office hosted a viewing party, sponsored by Target and UCLA Athletics, for the football game between UCLA and Utah in November. The party was open to all undergraduate students.

• reFRESH Campaign beginning on February 15, 2016

The USAC Student Wellness Commission office held a month-long campaign in February to help promote better hygiene on campus, such as providing free flu kits and encouraging students to improve their health and discuss hygiene-related issues like dental care.

• USAC Election on May 6, 2016

The 2016 election had the highest voter turnout since 2009, at 40 percent of eligible voters. It featured two new slates, Waves of Change and MakeUCLAGreatAgain. The election had eight contested positions and passed four referenda.

• UC Women’s Caucus Leadership Conference on May 21, 2016

The former president hosted delegates from five other University of California campuses at the first annual leadership conference to discuss the goals for the new UC-wide women’s caucus.

• JazzReggae Festival on May 30, 2016

USAC’s Cultural Affairs Commission hosted the JazzReggae Festival for only a day this year, instead of the traditional two days. The office decreased the festival’s budget because the event has run a deficit since 2012. However, Cultural Affairs commissioner Amy Shao reported the event earned a profit this year for the first time since 2011.

• Bruin Strong Vigil on June 2, 2016

USAC organized a candlelight vigil to honor the late mechanical and aerospace engineering professor William Klug, who was killed in a murder-suicide on June 1. More than one thousand students, faculty, administration and local leaders attended the vigil.

Agenda items

The council changed multiple bylaws this year and also passed several resolutions taking positions on a variety of student related issues.

• USAC approved a $4,589,811 budget for the 2015-16 academic year

In July, the council approved a budget of over four million dollars, which included an increase in council member stipends and a decrease, for the third year in a row, in the Student Organizations Operational Fund, or SOOF. SOOF provides student groups with funding for supplies for advertising and events.

• USAC withdrew from USSA

In August, the council voted to withdraw from the United States Student Association, a national student-led lobbying organization. Former external vice president Zach Helder argued the change would free up funds previously used to pay USSA fees. In November, USAC launched Bruin Defenders, a new program that allocated $50,000 for student lobbying groups this year.

• USAC passed a resolution against Safe Campus Act

In December, the council unanimously passed a resolution against a federal bill that would not allow universities to investigate sexual assault claims or take immediate disciplinary actions until victims reported the incidents to law enforcement.

• USAC passed resolution supporting automatic student voter registration

In March, the council showed its support for automatic student voter registration by unanimously passing a resolution endorsing the University of California Student Association’s proposal to automatically register students to vote when they enter college and enroll for classes.

• USAC approved a student grocery store

In May, the council voted to establish a food co-op for students which would be located in the Election Board office on the fifth floor of Kerckhoff Hall. The student grocery store was part of former president Heather Rosen’s platform to address students’ food security issues and will open starting next year.

• USAC Election Board sanctioned the Social Justice Referendum

In May, the election board sanctioned the referendum for exceeding the allowed $750 spending cap and failing to disclose the source of some of the extra funding. The election board suspended a second sanction after some council members and representatives created a petition.

• USAC amended bylaws to change election code

In May, the council mandated that the order of the candidates’ names on election ballots be randomized. The change also required the Election Board to respond to campaign violation complaints within 24 hours.

• USAC amended bylaws to alter roles for council members

In May, the council amended the bylaws to add student safety as one of the internal vice president’s responsibilities. The council also added a new bylaw stating that the Academic Affairs commissioner should address academic inequities.