The Undergraduate Students Association Council allocated more than $20,000 in funding and approved a resolution demanding improved services for BruinAccess during its final meeting of the quarter March 11.

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:

• Cora Murray, a fourth-year political science student and an outreach director for the 2023 Universal Access Transit Pass referendum, spoke in support of renewing the referendum’s funding, saying that the U-Pass supports students’ well-being. The pass allows students to use unlimited travel on public transport in Los Angeles County, including the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver City Bus and LA Metro for a fee that is currently $3.41 per quarter.

• A member of the Disabled Student Union and the USAC Facilities commission who did not give their last name spoke in support of the resolution to demand increased funding to BruinAccess. They said that they rely on accommodations to continue being a student and hope that USAC will continue supporting disabled students.

[Related: Disabled students report chronic delays, frustration with BruinAccess van service]

• A member of IGNITE at UCLA who did not give their name spoke in favor of the Bruin Emergency Relief Referendum, saying that the Campus Assault Resources and Education Program is fully committed to helping survivors of assault and provides a trauma-informed space for survivors of assault but is underfunded.

• Karli Oppenheimer, a third-year political science student and the policy director of IGNITE at UCLA, spoke in favor of the Bruin Emergency Relief Referendum – which, if passed, would levy an additional student fee that would go toward CARE and other organizations. Oppenheimer, who is a member of the Daily Bruin, added that CARE desperately needs funding and provides a valuable service to sexual assault survivors across campus.

• Leila Salam, the chair of the California Public Interest Research Group’s UCLA chapter, said that the group lobbied legislators in Sacramento to advocate for environmental protections during UCSA student lobby conference on March 8 and 9.

• Megan Cai, a fourth-year communications student and the president of Bruin Dine, said her organization hopes to receive more funding through the Bruin Emergency Relief Referendum – which, if passed, would levy an additional student fee to fund Bruin Dine. Cai, who is also a Daily Bruin staffer, said without this referendum, Bruin Dine may not be able to hold its food distribution events on campus.

• Joanne Sarsam, a fourth-year computational and systems biology student and an internal vice president of BruinDine, said the funding from the referendum would help expand the program and help create long-term stability for the program.

• Justin Xu, a first-year civil engineering student, said he supports the Universal Access Transit Pass Renewal Referendum, adding that the pass is environmentally beneficial and helps commuter students.

• A second-year civil engineering student who did not give their last name said they use the U-Pass to travel back home, to attend important appointments and to explore LA.

• Natalie Ramos, a second-year mechanical engineering student, said the Bruin U-Pass is essential for students who do not have a car to travel through LA.

• Roxas Haze, a third-year disability studies student and a coordinator of the Disabled Student Union, spoke in support of a resolution demanding increased funding to BruinAccess, adding that disabled students have faced long wait times, ride unavailability and abrupt cancellations.

• Nilaya Kanuri, the chair of The Green Initiative Fund and a former USAC Facilities commissioner, said the transit pass renewal referendum can provide students with better access to public transportation.

Funding:

• The council allocated $330 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to one non-USAC entity.

• The council allocated $1,435 from the Student Wellness Commission Programming Fund to two USAC entities.

• The council allocated $6,500 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to three non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $8,200.05 from TGIF to one non-USAC entity.

• The council allocated $30 from the Replacement BruinCard Fund to three individuals.

• The council allocated $145 from the UCLA Housing Laundry Fund to 29 individuals.

Special presentation:

• Marvin Smith, the executive director of UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships gave a presentation on the new Bruin Financial Aid system. Smith said the system uses cloud-based technology. He added that this new system will mean financial aid notices release more quickly for students, and they will automatically be eligible for summer financial aid after registering for classes. Smith also said the new system will not impact financial aid eligibility.

Appointments:

• The council appointed Sophia Suh, a fourth-year sociology student, as the vice chair of the USA Elections Board.

• The council unanimously appointed Niki Aghili, a third-year political science student, to the USA Judicial Board.

• The council appointed Ayesha Syed, a third-year psychology student, as the elections board’s director of investigations.

• The council unanimously appointed Simra Mirza, a third-year biology student, as the external relations director of the elections board.

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli said his report would be 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 advocate for BruinAccess.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said the UC Student Association lobbied for Cal Grant reform, grants for undocumented students and disability services funding during its Student Lobby Conference.

• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo said in his written report that he contacted UCLA Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiative student liaisons, asking them to present to USAC during week one of spring quarter. He added that he also hosted and co-led the Latine Lobby Day informational webinar with Nuñez-Verdugo’s office.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras said in his written report that he held a public comment workshop in partnership with Nuñez-Verdugo’s office. The comment was preparation for the UC Board of Regents’ March 18-20 meeting at the Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center, he said.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey said in his written report that he met with Smith.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that his office is making progress on his office’s Bruin Archives program.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said in his written report that he is planning for next quarter.

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said in her written report that she met with Ramsey and BruinDine staff members to discuss the Bruin Emergency Relief Referendum.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kyland Talbott did not update his written report for the week.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang said in her written report she met with members of SFAC, UCLA Transportation and Garland’s office to discuss BruinAccess funding for the 2025-2026 year.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said his office’s commuter parking permit guidelines are finished.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said in her written report that she met with BruiNecessities, an organization within her office, to discuss a potential resolution to call for improved accessibility and sustainability of menstrual products on campus.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said in her written report that the UCSA Transfer Coalition has first meeting and discussed its 2025 Transfer Lobby Day.

• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad said in his written report that he met with UCSA International Student Officer Adeeba Mohamed-Ali to discuss a proposal for a UC International Student Alliance.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved a resolution calling for increased funding and improved services for BruinAccess.

• The council unanimously approved the addition of the Universal Transit Pass Renewal Referendum to the 2025 USAC elections ballot. If passed, the referendum would renew the Bruin U-Pass program but increase the student fee for the program to ensure financial viability.

• The council unanimously approved the addition of the Bruin Emergency Relief Referendum to the 2025 USAC elections ballot. If passed, the referendum would levy additional fees to each student of $4 per quarter to fund organizations such as CARE and BruinDine.

• The council approved guidelines for Morrone’s office’s scholarship program for commuter students to purchase parking permits.

• The council unanimously approved an allocation of $4,902 to Espino’s office’s Books for Bruins program, which provides financial support for low-income students to purchase textbooks.

• The council unanimously voted to sign a letter of support for renaming of the Student Activities Center to Dolores Huerta Hall.

• The council unanimously voted to sign a letter opposing the Westwood Neighborhood Council’s boundary expansion proposal which, if passed, would expand the council’s boundaries to include the Westwood Village which is currently overseen by the North Westwood Neighborhood Council.

• The council approved a discretionary funds transfer of $3,800 to Nuñez-Verdugo’s office for a trip to the United States Student Association conference in D.C.