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Black History Month 2025

USAC recap – Jan. 7

By Anthony Folsom II

Jan. 16, 2025 4:38 p.m.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council allocated over $20,000 in funding during its first meeting of the quarter Jan. 7.

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:

  • Leila Salam, the chair of the UCLA chapter of the California Public Interest Research Group, said the organization is conducting campaigns that include forest conservation, addressing hunger and homelessness among UCLA students and advocating for textbook affordability.

Funding:

  • The council allocated $20,387 from the Contingency Programming Fund to one USAC entity and 59 non-USAC entities.

Officer reports:

  • President Adam Tfayli said his officer report was written, but did not update it for the week.
  • Internal Vice President Josh Garland said he met with Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Development and Health Suzanne Seplow to discuss an external review of the Center for Accessible Education. He added that his office has discussed forming a committee to perform a review of housing accommodations.
  • External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said their office met with Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck to discuss how USAC can continue working with the UCLA administration under new Chancellor Julio Frenk, who began his tenure Jan. 2. They said their office is working with the Disabled Student Union to advocate for the repeal of section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which allows employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage.

[Related: From public healthy policy to higher education: Julio Frenk becomes UCLA chancellor]

  • General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo’s written report was not updated for the week.
  • General Representative Tommy Contreras did not update his written report for the week.
  • General Representative Chris Ramsey said he spoke at an International Education Office event to promote his and International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad’s offices’ Bruin Buddies program, which aims to connect UCLA students with international exchange students. He added that his office is negotiating to expand summer storage space for students living on campus. Ramsey also said his office is meeting with UCLA Dining to discuss expanding meal access and promoting a Swipe Out Hunger event.
  • Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said his office is piloting a program with the UCLA Registrar’s Office that would allow students to raise concerns about enrollment and academic support, adding that applications for the program will open mid-January.
  • Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said his office would co-host a Matsuri event Jan. 9 with a performance from Umi.
  • Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said that she attended a Los Angeles Community Engagement Council meeting with community partners and UCLA affiliates to discuss how to better allocate research funding and how to connect UCLA with community partners.
  • Cultural Affairs Commissioner Alicia Verdugo said their officer report would be written but did not update their written report for the week.
  • Facilities Commissioner Alexandra Paul did not update her written report for the week.
  • Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said his office is renting out lab coats and goggles to students for the quarter at no cost.
  • Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said she met with the Healthy Climate Committee to discuss the changes in both the UCLA administration and the federal government and how her offices can better connect students with mental health services and engage with student needs. Frank added that her office is working with student workers and managers to discuss improving working conditions on campus. She also said she met with Beck to discuss the beginning of Frenk’s tenure as chancellor.
  • Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli did not update her officer report for the week.
  • Ahmad said in his written report that he met with Beck and added that he met with members of the Pacific Islands Student Association.

Agenda items:

  • The council approved the transfer of $1,250 to Nuñez-Verdugo’s office for a UC Students Association advocacy trip to Sacramento.
  • Frank introduced a bylaw change to add the “Food Cooperative at UCLA” as an organization within her office. She said this would allow funding for her office to be allocated to the Westwood Food Cooperative.
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Anthony Folsom II
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