Editorial: New funding committee lacks fresh perspective

Undergraduate Students Association Council President Allende
Palma/Saracho has sent the wrong message with his most recent
committee appointments.

Following Palma/Saracho’s lead, a majority of the council
approved the Constitutional Review Committee appointments of Budget
Review director, Tracy Ohara, Finance Committee chair, Ma Raissa
Corella, Community Service commissioner, Crystal Lee, and General
Representative, Anneli Villarin.

The four appointees will form the bulk of the committee, which
was created to review UCLA’s student group funding
process.

The appointments are questionable because all four individuals
comprised the committee that decided this year’s allocation
of student group funding. During Tuesday’s meeting,
Palma/Saracho correctly mentioned that these four individuals are
very knowledgeable about the funding process.

But he and the majority of the council have ignored concerns
that the appointees are too involved in the allocation process and
have a conflict of interest when it comes to reviewing student
group funding.

A review of funding should be executed, but it should be done by
individuals other than those who made the original funding
decisions. It’s hard to believe this group will produce any
new insight into the process.