The Undergraduate Students Association Council allocated more than $36,000 in funding and appointed a new Cultural Affairs commissioner during its final February meeting 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:

• Leila Salam, chair of the California Public Interest Research Group’s UCLA chapter, said the organization lobbied legislators for clean water and energy in Washington, D.C., and thanked those who signed the group’s support letter. She added that CALPIRG’s campaign to address homelessness is hosting a donation drive for fire relief support.

• Another member of CALPIRG said the organization is hiring new staff members, and they shared career opportunities the organization can offer for student members. They added that the group has a national network of students who work together to make grassroots changes.

• A member of the Cultural Affairs Commission said they support the appointment of Kyland Talbott, a fourth-year African American studies student, ​​as the council’s Cultural Affairs commissioner. They said his support for the office’s initiatives, including Hip Hop Congress and Bruin Bash, has given him the experience to take on the role.

• A student from the Student Labor Advocacy Project of UCLA said they wanted to show support for a resolution calling for an ASUCLA student worker minimum wage increase to $20 from $17.30.

Funding:

• The council allocated $10,110.08 from the Contingency Programming Fund to 33 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $2,925.71 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to one USAC entity and three non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $810 from the Student Wellness Programming Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $22,683.02 from The Green Initiative Fund to eight non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $225 from the UCLA Housing Laundry Fund to 45 individuals.

• The council allocated $180 from the ​​Replacement BruinCard Fund to 21 individuals.

Special presentations:

• Elsa Duval, a representative from the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, said elections to the council are open to all students. Duval added that the deadline to request a ballot is March 18.

Appointments:

• The council unanimously appointed Talbott ​​as the Cultural Affairs commissioner.

[Related: USAC Cultural Affairs commissioner resigns amid antisemitism allegations]

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli said in a written report that he met with the Campus Safety Oversight Committee and has been planning for the upcoming USAC elections.

• Internal Vice President Josh Garland said he hosted his office’s True Bruins RAISE awards ceremony.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said in their written report that they would be meeting with Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus and Community Safety Steve Lurie alongside Garland and the Campus Safety Alliance last Thursday. Nuñez-Verdugo added that they plan to follow up with Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck about the university’s Time, Place and Manner policies.

[Related: UCLA set to revise Time, Place and Manner policies, expand public expression areas]

• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo said his updates were written but did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras said his updates were written but did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey said he is working on increasing awareness for Swipe Out Hunger’s meal swipe drive.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that he attended a workshop on the Undergraduate Student Initiated Education program.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said in his written report that his office hosted screenings of “Mulholland Drive” and “Mickey 17.”

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said Good Clothes Good People, an organization within her office that runs the Basic Needs Redistribution Center, will be staying in the Student Activities Center.

[Related: Student leaders seek new home for Basic Needs Redistribution Center after eviction notice]

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang said the Disabled Student Union’s air purifier Build-And-Learn event would be postponed to Wednesday.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said he is currently working on collaborations for more scholarship opportunities for students next quarter.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said she met with members from the UCLA Student Health Advisory Committee, the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center, and UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services to discuss monthly updates. She added that she will be delivering items donated to the Bruin Relief Initiative to local centers this week.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said she is currently working on a commuter scholarship with Morrone and is planning a collaboration with UCLA Commuter Support and Programs.

• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad said he met with the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars director, Sam Nahidi, to discuss the Trump administration’s policy changes.

Agenda items:

• The council denied a funding appeal made by Bruin Entrepreneurs for funding from the USA/Board of Directors ASUCLA Programming Fund for the quarter. The funding was initially denied under USA/BOD bylaws because the organization failed to have its application reviewed and approved by a Student Organizations, Leadership & Engagement advisor as required. Morrone recommended the organization reach out to his office’s advising director for assistance when applying during the next funding application quarter.

• The council unanimously approved the candidate packet for the council’s upcoming elections. USA Elections Board Chair Sujana Sridhar said the packet is very similar to previous packets but that flyering hours were extended.

• The council unanimously approved the calendar for the council’s upcoming elections.

[Related: USAC approves 2025 election calendar, candidate requirements]

• The council unanimously approved a change to the USA Election Code that updates the elections board email address.

• The council unanimously voted to approve a change to the USA Election Code that would allow the elections board to set a new reimbursement limit for candidates. The limit had previously been capped at $450.

• The council unanimously approved a resolution calling for a $20 minimum wage for ASUCLA workers. The council had previously called upon ASUCLA in November to provide its workers a $20 minimum wage.