USAC needs proper funds; vote for programming fee increase

David Dahle is the 2002-2003 USAC president-elect.  

By David Dahle

USAC is still in a budget crisis. In order for council to be
effective, we desperately need more funds. Please vote YES online
this Wednesday through Friday on your MyUCLA page for the USAC
Programming Referendum. Voting for this USAC fee will not increase
the overall amount of your student fees because the yearly $51
Ackerman Student Union fee that we currently pay is going down to
$7.50. Therefore, we are going to save $43.50 in overall student
fees. Because of this overall fee reduction, council members think
this is the best time to propose an $8.50 USAC programming fee
increase, to be paid per quarter.

USAC has not increased its programming fee, which is used to
fund the operating budgets of USAC elected officers and various
student groups, since the early 1980s. Because the rate of
inflation keeps rising, coupled with the increasing costs of
services, the real dollar amount of USAC funds decrease each year.
Although council members are vigilant in their efforts to keep
student fees as low as possible, we have come to the realization
that without increasing our funds we will face a budget that is
inadequate to serve the needs of the student population.

Because many students do not realize what USAC is, I will give a
summarized view of what we do. USAC is your undergraduate student
government. We advocate the needs of the student body on issues
like parking, housing, student fees, safety and academics to the
proper administrative channels. USAC commissions put on many
programs that you probably enjoy, like this past weekend’s
Jazz and Reggae festival, noon-time concerts, movies at Ackerman,
resource fairs, Children’s Walk for Life and many more.

Council also oversees many community service projects and blood
drives while working to provide money-saving services like the
book-lending program. In addition, USAC also allocates programming
funds to various student groups who put on a diverse array of
programs like culture nights, outside speakers, advocacy and
awareness projects, art shows, philanthropy events, etc. These are
the services and projects that your USAC fee will continue and
expand.

In order for the results of this special election to take
effect, 20 percent of the undergraduate population must vote. A
simple majority of all votes cast will approve the referendum.
Please consider the importance of this vote before you make a
decision. And please take the time to vote starting noon this
Wednesday through noon on Friday. This referendum transcends slate
lines; a yes vote is in the best interest of everyone at UCLA. In
order for USAC to effectively serve you, we need to have the
adequate resources to do our work.