This post was updated Oct. 7 at 12:37 a.m.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council held its first meeting of October on Tuesday.

USAC is the official student government representing the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings are open to all students and usually take place in person at the Bruin Viewpoint Room and on Zoom every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Students can find the links for the meetings on the agenda posted on the USAC website or watch a livestream on the USAC Live! channel on YouTube.

Public comment:

• Darion Phan, the former finance chair of the USA Elections Board asked the council about reimbursements and missing stipends for the board.

Appointments:

• The council appointed Bethany Tong, a third-year business economics student, as the chair of the USAC Finance Committee.

• The council reappointed Avantika Mohan, a third-year microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics major, to The Green Initiative Fund as its internal outreach chair.

• The council appointed Valerie Munerman, a second-year psychology student, to the Campus Sustainability Committee.

• The council appointed Caitlyn Kim, a third-year English student, as an undergraduate representative to the Academic Senate Legislative Assembly.

• The council postponed the consideration of Rebecca Robles, a third-year music industry student, for appointment as a student representative to the Academic Senate Legislative Assembly.

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli said his office began a partnership with a merchandise vendor. He added that he met with Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck to discuss UCLA’s revised Time, Place and Manner policies, as well as other policy changes. Tfayli also said he met with Chancellor-designate Julio Frenk to discuss challenges that undergraduate students face and will meet with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Monroe Gorden Jr. on Monday.

• Internal Vice President Josh Garland said he organized a Campus Retention Committee meeting to discuss two proposed bylaw changes and had multiple meetings to discuss a relocation of the Basic Needs Redistribution Center. He added that he is working on two projects, including the implementation of a permanent grocery store gift card program to support international and undocumented students and a learn-to-ride event with UCLA Transportation. Garland will be meeting with Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Development and Health Suzanne Seplow about safety and mental health services on campus, he said.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said they attended the UC Board of Regents meeting to express opposition to what they alleged were systemwide policies prohibiting protests and the approval of the purchase of military equipment for UCPD. They added that they attended an Undocumented Students Program vigil and met with staff of Los Angeles City councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez to discuss the Opportunity for All campaign. Nuñez-Verdugo also said they met with members of the Afrikan Student Union to discuss future collaborations and met with the external vice president of Swipe Out Hunger to support undocumented and international students’ basic needs. They said they met with professional staff from the Bruin Resource Center, UC Student Association and the Disabled Student Union for various projects.

• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo said he also attended the regents meeting to oppose what he called “the increasing militarization of UCPD.” He said he also met with staff of Soto-Martínez and began planning an Undocumented Student Health Fair. Bollo added that he will be collaborating with Swipe Out Hunger to provide support to undocumented students.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras said in his written report that he attended the regents meeting Sept. 18 and 19 to oppose the purchase of military equipment for UCPD and attended the meeting between other council members and Beck.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey said in his written report that he continued working on his and International Student Representative Ahmad’s offices’ Bruin Buddies program. He also spoke at the exchange student welcome held by the International Education Office.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that he intends to increase student engagement with the Academic Senate.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said in his written report that his office is hiring and continuing to screen films.

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said she has been working on her office’s Servocacy Fest, which was held Wednesday, and Volunteer Day, which was held Saturday. She said she was focusing on engaging transfer students during this later event. Wang also said she is continuing discussions on the Basic Needs Center.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Alicia Verdugo said their updates for the week were written. Her written report was not available and Verdugo did not respond to a request to share the document.

• Facilities Commissioner Alexandra Paul said she collaborated with Garland’s office for a “Learn to Ride Event” and is working with UCLA Transportation to host a table at the Sustainable Transportation Fair.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said students can now rent lab coats for free through his office. He said he is currently working with the BruinCard office to discount the cost of replacement BruinCards.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said she is working toward a grocery gift card program to counter food insecurity on campus.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said in her written report that she met with her staff.

• Ahmad said he has been conducting outreach to incoming students and conducted his office’s Bruin Buddies orientation. He added that he is working on the Bruins Around the World project, which will include cultural organizations and speakers and take place in November.

Agenda Items:

• Nuñez-Verdugo introduced a bylaw change that would have the Bruin Advocacy Grant absorb the Grassroots Organizers for Working Students Grant.

• Tavassoli introduced a bylaw change that would require student organizations receiving USAC funding to highlight and promote masking using free campus resources. After receiving feedback from Tfayli, Tavassoli said she would edit it and then reintroduce it at the next meeting.

• The council unanimously approved “A Resolution Calling for the Immediate Demilitarization of UCLA’s Campus and Condemning the Unanimous Passing of Agenda Item ‘C1: University of California Compliance with State Assembly Bill AB 481’ by the UC Regents.”

• The council unanimously approved “A Resolution Condemning UCLA’s Interim Time Place Manner Policies.”

• The council unanimously approved “Resolution Endorsing Ballot Measure DD and LL.” The resolution gives USAC’s support to these ballot measures, which would enable an independent redistricting commission to determine boundaries with public input.

• The council unanimously approved the Student Wellness Programming Fund Application for 2024-2025. There were only minor changes from the previous year’s application. It now states that the SWC logo must be used on publicity for any sponsored event. It also now contains an example to demonstrate an appropriate food-related application.

• The council unanimously approved Arts Restoring Community Referendum Funding guidelines for 2024-2025. Verdugo stated that their office will be more strict about allocations and cap funding at $2,500 per student group per funding period. The guidelines also stipulate that only catering relevant to the event’s themes will be funded.