Applications for USAC appointed positions due Tuesday by 5 p.m.

By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Reporter

Students can apply for appointed positions within the
undergraduate and graduate student governments ““ an issue
that has been overlooked in recent years ““ by 5 p.m.
Tuesday.

Seats on the 25 committees ““ including the Associated
Students of UCLA Board of Directors, Student Fee Advisory Committee
and ASUCLA Communications Board ““ provide opportunities for
students to have their voices heard by important decision-making
bodies on campus, according to Pat McLaren, division manager of
ASUCLA Student Support Services.

“Every student I’ve talked with who has been on a
committee feels that it is important for them to be there to carry
student perspective and to make sure it is heard,” she
said.

For instance, the Campus Programs and the Community Activities
Committees, which meets in the summer, have significant
responsibilities in determining funding for campus
organizations.

Kei Nagao, a member of the ASUCLA Board of Directors, said the
appointed positions provide a chance for students to broaden their
campus perspective.

“It is important to advocate and to be knowledgeable of
student issues so that students have a better understanding of the
larger campus,” said Nagao, a fifth-year political science
and Asian American studies student.

The BOD is unique because it is a student-majority board with
six out of 10 votes belonging to student members ““ three to
undergraduates and three to graduate students.

Steve Davey, USAC facilities commissioner and a member of the
Campus Facilities Coordinating Committee, said the council has had
a hard time filling positions on the advisory committees in which
student members do not have a direct vote but still provide
valuable input.

“A lot of positions are mainly advisory roles but still
give students a chance to take a part in campus,” said Davey,
a third-year political science student.

The CFCC, chaired by Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student and
Campus Life Robert Naples, consists of representatives from all
parts of campus who set guidelines and provide student recreation
and programming space.

All nominees for appointments are usually selected by the
incoming USAC president, in this case president-elect Karren Lane.
Exceptions are those who apply to the Book Lending Committee, which
falls under the financial supports commission, and the Academic
Senate, which are appointed by the academic affairs
commissioner.

They are then presented to the Appointments Review Committee
““ headed by the internal vice president ““ who
determines nominees’ eligibility.

While the ARC makes recommendations to USAC, the final decision
lies with a council vote.

In the past, students had one week to submit their applications,
but this year, the time frame for applying increased to raise
awareness of the applications and positions available.

“Within the last four months, we have been working with
the (USAC) president and internal vice president to talk about ways
of improving the outreach process,” McLaren said.

The decision was made to begin the application and advertising
process earlier, providing a three-week window to apply. It was
originally slated for four weeks, but postponement of USAC
elections delayed the process.

Applications and the full list of USAC appointed positions are
available at the president’s office in Kerckhoff 317 and the
Center for Student Programming in Kerckhoff 105. Students can also
apply online at http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/AppointmentsApp.html