USAC, GSA haven’t provided housing answers

Soteros-McNamara is a fourth-year political science student.

By Thomas Soteros-McNamara

As a former member of the On Campus Housing Council, I had to
applaud the intelligent and careful argument made by Undergraduate
Students Association Council External Vice President Evan Okamura
and Graduate Student Association EVP Alain Dang (“Inadequate
housing hampers education,” Daily Bruin, Oct. 4). The
crisis they both address is very real, and for student leaders,
intensely frustrating.

The article is correct to point out that the problem is bigger
than the university, extending to the state law prohibiting the use
of general funds for housing bonds for either undergraduate or
graduate residences.

Nevertheless, from my perspective as one-time campus relations
commissioner for OCHC, I cannot explain why USAC and the GSA have
decided to act on this issue at this juncture. Though I cannot
speak for either sitting council, I can tell you that the spectre
of the De Neve Plaza project has inconvenienced on-campus residents
since 1997.

The various governments that have occupied Kerckhoff Hall had,
from time to time, attempted to work with OCHC on small projects,
only to grow bitter, then resentful, then aloof.

In addition, USAC seemed more concerned with the repeal of SP-1
and SP-2 and other agenda items, while OCHC was not considered a
pressing issue in the lives of on-campus residents.

Try as OCHC has through channels such as the Policy Review
Board, ameliorating life on “the Hill” is a tough
task.

There are some inconsistencies in the article that Okamura and
Dang should clear up. You see, Okamura and his predecessor, Portia
Pedro, argued vehemently for more funding to be directed toward the
state lobby for students, the University of California Student
Association.

There is nothing wrong “eo ipso facto” with USAC
being a member, but to those in the know, the article almost seems
as if Okamura and Dang are vindicating the money thrown
UCSA’s way. It seems to be a battle cry to student advocacy
groups to support UCSA now more than ever.

The reason this is questionable has more to do with the fact
that the authors do not seem to propose any other alternative to
solving the crisis than state-level lobbying. While current
legislation being considered by the state assembly will undoubtedly
make new on-campus housing construction more advantageous, it is
but one part of the solution.

Curiously, it appears that neither party is interested in
suggesting measures that could further help ease the housing
problem. Namely, reducing the number of freshman admitted seems
like a good idea to slow demand for housing. Another effective
solution might be to have economically disadvantaged students
receive a rebate from USAC to help keep students living in
Westwood. Yet another might be to tackle the city government of Los
Angeles and the Westwood Homeowner’s Association head on.
Even simply suggesting that the university purchase more apartments
to rent to students gives one reason for hope.

Yet, I promise you ““ state legislation may indeed take
flight, but the crisis will not end. In the same breath that
Okamura and Dang will argue for more housing, they will also tell
you that the UCs should move toward a policy of open admissions.
Those two ideas are not as compatible.

Also, I doubt that the retention programs for USAC will tighten
their belts to give student rebates.

Another consideration is that ASUCLA as well as USAC have
benefited from the local government’s commercial policies,
and is loathe to upset them for fear of being shut down by
“concerned homeowners and constituents” of the Fifth
District.

Finally, USAC and the UCLA administration do not have a working
relationship. Still it appears that Okamura and Dang must be
talking to the suit-and-tie crowd at Murphy Hall, because nearly
all students that attend UCLA are very much affected by the lack of
available and affordable student housing.

OCHC battles every year to balance the individual’s rights
with the greater good on the Hill. No one is optimistic about the
future in this area, everyone is nervous.

Therefore, my complaint happens to be best articulated by
Okamura and Dang themselves: “Granted, this is better than
nothing. However, this is a very small step in the right direction.
If the university is to help the housing crisis, officials must
start putting students and student housing first.”

Although I doubt a major research university would ever do that,
there is still hope that Kerckhoff Hall might.