USAC Recap – Aug. 6

The original version of this article contained multiple errors and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council is the official student government of UCLA’s undergraduate students. Council meetings are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Kerckhoff 417 and are open to all students.

Agenda

• In an 8-1-0 vote, councilmembers decided to increase their own stipends this year to $672 per month, reflecting a 20-hour work week at California’s minimum wage. USAC Internal Vice President Avi Oved was the only councilmember to vote against the stipend increase.

Officer Reports

• USAC President John Joanino said he is in talks with UCLA librarians to make the Charles E. Young Research Library open 24/7. Joanino also said he appeared on CNN Tuesday morning to talk about a recent report on the travel expenses of UCLA officials.

• Internal Vice President Avi Oved said he recommends councilmembers involve their staff more by inviting them to attend USAC meetings and give the council updates about their work.

• Maryssa Hall, USAC external vice president, said her office is preparing for the University of California Students Association’s UC Student Congress, which is meeting Thursday.

• USAC Academic Affairs Commissioner Darren Ramalho’s chief of staff, Heena Doshi, said Ramalho talked with Jan Reiff, chair elect of the UCLA Academic Senate, about online education and a potential diversity curriculum requirement at UCLA. Ramalho scheduled a meeting with Pat Turner, UCLA dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, in September.

Special Presentations

• UCLA student delegates who attended the 2013 United States Student Association National Student Congress last month presented to the council about their experiences at the conference. The students developed administrative resolutions for schools across the nation to pursue, such as bringing more culturally relevant curriculum to multiracial students and reforming education to keep students in school.

Appointments

• The council unanimously appointed Kimberly Horn, a third-year communication studies student, to the Associated Students UCLA Communications Board.

• Luis Sanchez, a third-year sociology student, was unanimously appointed to the USAC Community Activities Committee.

Compiled by Amanda Schallert, Bruin senior staff.

Correction: USAC Academic Affairs Commissioner Darren Ramalho’s name was misspelled. Ramalho spoke with Jan Reiff, chair elect of the UCLA Academic Senate.