Student input necessary for housing issues

Austin is the USAC internal vice president.

By Kennisha A. Austin

For those of us in USAC who are working on the housing campaign
and are supportive of the creation of more triple rooms in the
residence halls, this proposition is less about applauding the
creation of more triple rooms. Actually, we are more concerned
about preventing the future placement of UCLA students in
lounges.

Recognizing the concerns of some of the students quoted in the
Daily Bruin’s article “Residents
may see more triples“ (News, Feb. 21), we agree that
triples are not the most desired scenario. However, when the
creation of more triples is considered against the alternative:
entire floors without study lounges and students living in those
lounges, we feel the need to address the issue.

We are supportive of as many triple rooms being created as
necessary to ensure that no student has to live in a lounge.
Increased security and study concerns of lounge residents with an
additional five roommates instead of two are serious concerns that
drive our efforts to see all necessary double rooms turned into
triples.

A second aspect of these efforts would be to see a commitment
from housing that these triple rooms would become a lot less
expensive to students. This is an issue that USAC is not alone on;
the On Campus Housing Council is also working to ensure that
students do not have to live in lounges.

In regards to the affordability of housing we are progressing
forward with the campaign to change the classification of housing
from an auxiliary service to a university-supported one. A change
in the classification would mean that the university would carry a
greater responsibility in assisting students with financing their
housing. This is a change that could benefit all students in their
ability to pay for housing. Thus, it is an effort that needs
students’ support and help.

Currently, there is a petition available for students to sign
that shows students’ support for this change by the
university and urges them to make it. We are also in the processing
of eliciting greater legislative support for this issue and
engaging in discussion with UC regents to garner further
support.

USAC’s IVP and EVP, in conjunction with OCHC, had a
Quality of Life Housing Fair yesterday in Westwood Plaza. This was
an important opportunity because various community and campus
organizations came together to provide invaluable resources to
students. Students were able to learn more about everything, from
their rights as renters to dispute resolutions to tips on finding
an apartment. From noon to 1 p.m. there was a Speak Out that
provided an important opportunity for students to voice their
concerns and issues with their housing experience.

Overall, your elected officers, in collaboration with other
campus entities, are trying to comprehensively address UCLA
students’ housing concerns. However, this process can never
be complete without input directly from the students. In light of
the necessity of your participation in our campaigns we have
created two important mechanisms to achieve this goal.

First, through the EVP and IVP offices, we have created the
Personal Testimony forms that we are asking students to fill out
detailing their on and off-campus housing experiences. We view this
direct input from students as essential to our campaign’s
success in fully addressing the needs and concerns of students.
These forms will also be available in the EVP, IVP, and
president’s offices and on Bruin Walk during the
offices’ tabling hours.

Second, the IVP office has revitalized the Speak Up! Campaign,
where students can directly provide feedback, questions, comments
or concerns to their USAC elected officers. We have taken the
campaign entirely online by reinstating the [email protected] e-mail
address.

This is a resource students can use not only to engage their
student government about housing issues, but also anything that is
on their mind. Students’ concerns will be brought to the
attention of the council and they will receive some type of
response.

As students, we have the power and ability to truly implement
change on this campus if we simply choose to exercise it. So in
regard to housing and the wide variety of other student issues,
let’s all be the catalyst for change.