USAC recap – Feb. 11

By Maia Hull
Feb. 19, 2025 10:04 p.m.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council condemned the UCLA administration near the end of the council’s Feb. 11 meeting.
USAC is the official student government that represents the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings take place every Tuesday at 7 p.m., and they are open to all students. Meetings typically take place in person at the Bruin Viewpoint Room and are also streamed online. Students can watch the livestream on the USACLive! YouTube channel and find the links on the agenda posted on the USAC website every week.
Public comment:
- Leila Salam, the chair of the California Public Interest Research Group’s UCLA chapter, said the organization registered 860 new members and educated 1,936 people on the importance of marine protection. The group is also continuing its campaigns to contribute to fire and homelessness relief, Salam added.
Funding:
- The council allocated $18,029.17 from the Capital Contingency Fund to one USAC entity and 43 non-USAC entities.
- The council allocated $1,672.79 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to three non-USAC entities.
- The council allocated $1,614 from the Student Wellness Commission Programming Fund to four non-USAC entities.
- The council allocated $2,675.06 from the Academic Affairs Commission Travel Grant Mini Fund to nine non-USAC entitles.
- The council allocated $2,000 from the Academic Success Referendum Fund to two non-USAC entities.
- The council allocated $128 from the BruinCard Grant Fund to 18 non-USAC people.
- The council allocated $575 from the Laundry Grant Fund to 115 non-USAC people.
- The council allocated $55,723.93 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to 26 non-USAC entities.
Appointments:
- The council appointed Joy Huang, a third-year environmental science student, as the Facilities commissioner.
Officer reports:
- President Adam Tfayli said his updates were written but did not update his written report for the week.
- Internal Vice President Josh Garland said he met with the Student Fee Advisory Committee to talk about a potential loss of funding to the BruinAccess program and to brainstorm solutions.
- External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said they attended a meeting with Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck and met with the California Undocumented Higher Education Coalition.
- General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo said there will be a town hall the week of Feb. 18, hosted in collaboration with the Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiative.
- General Representative Tommy Contreras said his office is hosting a UCLA Black Caucus on Feb. 18.
- General Representative Chris Ramsey said he is meeting with UCLA Dining in collaboration with the On-Campus Housing Council and Swipe Out Hunger to discuss off-campus meal plans and meal swipe value. He added that he is also working on student options for summer storage, as well as planning career workshop panels for spring quarter.
- Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said his office is currently reviewing applications for its ambassadorship program with the UCLA Registrar’s office.
- Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said in a written report that his office hosted its Talk Love with Leah event and is planning a bouquet-making event.
- Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said her office is hosting an advocacy event called EmpowHER and is also hosting its Nonprofit Networking Night on Feb. 25.
[Related: Nonprofit Networking Night offers UCLA students advice, opportunities]
- Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said two new funding bodies for student laundry expenses launched this week, adding that both have already received many applications.
- Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said she met with the UCLA Health Education & Resource Team and with the ASUCLA Board of Directors to discuss feedback on student worker experiences.
- Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said she is finalizing details for a Hammer Museum trip targeted at nontraditional and marginalized students.
- International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad said in a written report that he is hosting a Lunchin’ & LinkedIn event with the UCLA Career Center next week and added that he attended the meeting with Beck.
Agenda items:
- The council approved the guidelines for Wang’s office’s Robert S. Michaels Leadership in Service Award, which Wang said gives $1,000 to around 10 students every year for outstanding service at UCLA, along with $250 for a student service organization of their choosing.
- The council approved a resolution of no confidence in the Office of Campus and Community Safety. The resolution also condemned the office’s new leader, Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Lurie. The council ultimately approved the resolution, with members saying it did so because it was aimed at the entire office, not just Steve Lurie, as was originally proposed.
[Related: Q&A: New Associate Vice Chancellor Steve Lurie talks campus safety, transparency]
- The council approved a letter to California State Assemblymember Nick Schultz opposing Assembly Bill 85, which requires local law enforcement to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for anyone convicted of a felony.