The Undergraduate Students Association Council held its third meeting of November 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:

• An UCLA Store at Ackerman Union employee – who did not give their last name – asked the council to pass a resolution calling on ASUCLA to raise its minimum employee wage to $20 and offer its employees paid sick leave. The employee also alleged that ASUCLA employees often face unsafe working conditions.
• Another ASUCLA employee who said they were a fourth-year student and did not give their last name spoke in favor of the minimum wage resolution, adding that they have seen many fellow employees struggling to cover their tuition using ASUCLA stipends. They also said students should be able to prioritize academics over their jobs.
• Another ASUCLA worker who did not give their name spoke in favor of the minimum wage and paid sick leave resolution, adding that their working hours have exceeded legal limits.
• A third-year student and ASUCLA student worker who did not give their last name spoke in favor of the resolution. She said that during her time at UCLA, she has had to work two jobs to afford tuition and was unsure of how she would pay for her tuition next year.
• A member of the Student Wellness Commission and General Representative Tommy Contreras’ office said they worked on the ASUCLA minimum wage resolution and urged the council to vote in favor of it.
• A member of the Student Labor Advocacy Project, who did not give their last name, spoke in favor of the minimum wage increase resolution. They alleged that the UC does not adhere to California labor law and that ASUCLA workers do not receive the proper compensation or benefits provided to most California workers.

A spokesperson for ASUCLA said in an emailed statement that employee safety is a priority, adding that mechanisms exist for reporting and addressing safety issues. The spokesperson added that ASUCLA Human Resources is “unaware of any legal infractions.” The spokesperson also said ASUCLA hoped to raise its workers’ wages via a referendum – which failed to pass – in the spring.

Funding:

• The council allocated $6,073.33 from the Contingency Programming Fund to five USAC entities and 17 non-USAC entities.
• The council allocated $1,453.99 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to three non-USAC entities.
• The council allocated $1,340 from the Student Wellness Commission Programming Fund to one USAC entity and three non-USAC entities.
• The council allocated $21,774.03 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to 17 non-USAC entities.
• The council allocated $18,936 from the Community Service Transportation Fund to 20 non-USAC entities and one USAC entity.

Special presentations:

• Jacob Wasserman, the secretary of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, gave a presentation on elections to the council, adding that two seats on the council are reserved for undergraduate students. He said students who are interested in getting involved in local government should apply through the council’s website.
• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo presented a recap of the November UC Board of Regents meeting. Nuñez-Verdugo said the regents’ meeting included discussion on campus investment plans and basic needs funding. The board also recommended tuition increases for nonresident students, they added. Nuñez-Verdugo also said the regents were also asked to approve a land acquisition of a nature reserve and did not recommend a consultation from local Native tribes to receive input on how this land should be used. Nuñez-Verdugo added that the regents discussed the pandemic and task force reports on antisemitism and Islamophobia.

[Related: UC Board of Regents recommends tuition increase for out-of-state students]

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli said he met with Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt, Yolanda Gorman – a senior advisor to Hunt – and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Monroe Gorden Jr. to discuss UCLA’s Time, Place and Manner policies, planning for the 2028 Olympics and the regents’ meeting.
• Internal Vice President Josh Garland said in his written report that he is planning a week 10 ”know your rights” town hall for students and an off-campus housing fair for winter quarter.
• Nuñez-Verdugo said that in their meeting with Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety Rick Braziel and other members of the UCLA administration, they received a verbal commitment to discuss ways to better equip students with resources regarding campus policing and police misconduct. They added that the UC Student Association is looking for nominations for a vice chair role and applicants for a transfer student role.
• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo said his office’s resource fair for undocumented students was successful.
• Contreras said he would a financial literacy night Wednesday to provide organizations with information on how to obtain funding and on-campus grants.
• General Representative Chris Ramsey said he is currently working on his meal access platform, including advocacy for Swipe Out Hunger, the movement to end college hunger.
• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that his office held two meetings that week.
• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said he believes his office’s Basically Unfiltered event and screening of “Gladiator II” were both successful. He added that his office would host its Noon Tunes concert Thursday.
• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said her office is hosting a basic needs holiday drive starting Thursday. She said donation bins for students to give basic necessities have been set up in the Bruin Fitness Center, the John Wooden Center, and in other locations on the Hill and near university apartments, adding that her office is looking for donations via Venmo for the drive.
• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Alicia Verdugo said their office would have a diversity tour with the East African Student Association on Sunday. She added that her office’s Made with Love art gallery will be presented week 10.
• Facilities Commissioner Alexandra Paul did not attend the meeting and did not update her written report for the week.
• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said in his officer report that he met with UCLA Housing to discuss ASUCLA meal vouchers and meal plan changes. He added in the report that he is currently working with UCLA Housing to announce those changes before housing contracts are due and is still negotiating a BruinCard discount program.
• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said she met with Bruin Dine to discuss sustainable food recovery efforts. She added that her office will be hosting a week 10 town hall for health and wellness.
• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said in her written report that her office is holding two more events this quarter, a study habits workshop week nine and a de-stressing event week 10. She added in the report that she is currently planning a transfer advocacy open house for the winter quarter.
• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad said his office held its Bruins Around the World event and International Networking Night.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the regents’ recommendation of a tuition increase for nonresident students.
• The council unanimously approved a letter to members of the UC Board of Regents and Hunt in support of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 strike.
• The council unanimously approved a resolution calling on ASUCLA employees to be offered a $20 minimum wage and paid sick leave.