USAC recap – Aug. 9

The Undergraduate Students Association Council discussed the importance of advocating for underrepresented student populations, such as undocumented and transfer students. The council appointed nine students to the Office Space Allocation Committee, the Campus Retention Committee, The Green Initiative Fund, the UCLA Committee on Disability and the Community Activities Committee. The council approved a resolution to introduce reusable dining ware into residential dining facilities.

Public comment:

• Jeffry Umana, a fourth-year history and political science student and internal representative of the UCLA Improving Dreams, Equality, Access, and Success organization, said in a written comment he urges councilmembers to sign a statement of solidarity in response to a July 16 federal ruling stating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act was unlawful. Umana said he feels the court ruling will continue to negatively impact immigrant students economically, academically and emotionally. He said he hopes USAC will advocate for undocumented students.

Allocations:

• The council allocated $650 to the Regent Scholar Society, an organization for students who have received the UC Regents scholarship, for its retreat.

• The council allocated $500 to Samahang Pilipino, an organization advocating for the Pilipinx community at UCLA, for its Summer 2021 Board Retreat.

• The council allocated $400 to Bruins Down Under, an organization bringing together UCLA students from Australia and New Zealand, for digital advertising.

Special presentations:

• Jacob Linder, a third-year computer science student, presented a new digital tool called the USAC Expenditure Viewer to help USAC members view and analyze their spending and allocations.

• Transfer Student Representative Herman Luiz Chavez and Kayla Lam, the TSR office’s director of student activities, presented a training on transfer awareness and said USAC councilmembers should prioritize the transfer student viewpoint in their offices. They added that California Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action, decreased the amount of transfer students in the UC system and many other UC schools do not have adequate support for transfer students, increasing the need for advocacy.

Appointments:

• The council appointed Joycelyn Liu, a fourth-year cognitive science student, to the Office Space Allocation Committee for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed JeiRonemo Thomas, a third-year political science student, to the Campus Retention Committee for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Cheryl Ma, a third-year economics student, to The Green Initiative Fund for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Maddie Wilson, a fourth-year environmental science student, to The Green Initiative Fund for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Grace Leary, a third-year history and political science student, to The Green Initiative Fund for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Ragini Srinivasan, a second-year mathematics/economics and political science student, to The Green Initiative Fund for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Samantha Bodger, a third-year public affairs student, to the UCLA Committee on Disability for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Yesica Guzman, a fourth-year human biology and society student, to the Community Activities Committee for the 2021-2022 academic year.

• The council appointed Simran Athwal, a fourth-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, to the Community Activities Committee for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Reports:

• President Breeze Velasquez said she released applications for the Future Student Leaders of Color Conference and opened an Instagram account for the Student Advocate Board.

• Internal Vice President Cassandra Gatica said she is meeting with student organizations such as the Life Science Student Association, Samahang Filipino, Asian Pacific Center and Bruin Shelter to inform them about funding options. She added her office has created a guide on how to navigate USAC council meetings and is creating a mental health guide.

• External Vice President Sarah Wang said the University of California Student Association is recruiting Systemwide Committee Representatives and is preparing a UC-wide letter in response to the recent DACA ruling. Wang also said the Student Organizing Summit will be taking place Sept. 4 and applications to join have been released.

• Facilities Commissioner Jane Ni said she met with the UCLA Office of Environmental Health & Safety about COVID-19. Ni added that she met with UCLA Dining and the Vice Chancellor of Housing and Hospitality, where they agreed to fund a $150,000 pilot program to begin using reusable containers for take-out meals to reduce waste. She added that she met with the UCLA Disabled Students Union and the Center for Accessible Education to discuss reversing the Academic Senate’s decision to reduce the amount of priority that enrollment units students with CAE accommodations receive. Ni also said she met with the CAE to increase note-taking accommodation for students with disabilities.

• General Representative 1 Hailey Valles said in a written report she met with UCLA Administrative Representative Patty Grijalva to discuss the concerns raised by the UCLA Bruin Guardian Scholars’ letter concerning foster youth students.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Tayloneei Jackson said in a written report she distributed $10,000 in grants to the UCLA LGBTQ Campus Resource Center, Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center and UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services.

Agenda:

• Gatica presented the USAC Statement in Support of Undocumented Students, which condemned the July 16 federal court decision overturning DACA. Gatica distributed the resolution to councilmembers to sign on.

• The council approved a Resolution in Support of Reusable Dining Ware at UCLA, stating reusable dishes will decrease waste, save money and reduce environmental harms.

• The council approved the Facilities Commissioner Bylaw Change, which added UCOD appointments to the list of stipended appointments.

• The council approved the Transfer Student Representative Bylaw Change, which added a TSR representative to the UCSA Transfer Coalition, the USAC Campus Safety Alliance and the USAC Campus Safety Alliance. The approved bylaws also created liaisons that coordinate communication between the EVP, the TSR and the TSR chief of staff.