The Undergraduate Students Association Council held its fifth meeting of spring quarter April 29.

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 California Public Interest Research Group’s UCLA chapter, said the organization will travel to Sacramento for California Oceans Day to lobby for marine protection.

• USA Elections Board Chair Sujana Sridhar provided updates on the current USAC elections and said the board is working to be available for candidates by establishing social media and technology guidelines, campaigning and finance guidelines, and infraction guidelines.

[Related: USA Elections Board disqualifies 3 USAC candidates for failure to submit documents]

Funding:

• The council allocated $30,885.33 from the Contingency Programming Fund for one USAC entity and 58 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $3,639.50 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to two USAC entities and two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,353 from the Student Wellness Programming Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,944.48 from the Academic Success Referendum Fund to four non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $2,378.44 from the Travel Grant Mini Fund to eight non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $17,495.35 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to seven non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $15,853.89 from The Green Initiative Fund to one USAC entity and two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $65 from the BruinCard Replacement Fund to seven individuals.

• The council allocated $30 from the UCLA Housing Laundry Fund to six individuals.

• The council allocated $74,517.90 from the Community Service Transportation Fund to 15 USAC entities and 30 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $6,580 from the Bruin Advocacy Grant to 13 non-USAC entities.

Special presentations:

• Josephine LaCrosse, a member of the Academic Affairs Commission, presented her Rehabilitation Over Retribution initiative, which she said encourages higher education among incarcerated people in Los Angeles County. The program provides textbooks and other learning materials collected from UCLA students, libraries, and outside organizations to prison libraries and classrooms, LaCrosse said.

• Arya Doshi, a member of the Academic Affairs Commission, presented their project, which gathers student donations of clothing, household items and hygiene products. Doshi said that from Feb. 5 to Feb. 12, they worked with the Sproul Resident Government Council to gather approximately 100 items, which they donated to the LA Mission Donation Center fire relief drive.

• Michelle Le, a member of the Academic Affairs Commission, presented on the lack of awareness regarding research programs, resources and fellowships UCLA offers.

• Israa Shamseldin, a member of the Academic Affairs Commission, and Hyerim Yoon, another member of the office who is running to be USAC’s transfer student representative, presented on their project to increase microwave access on campus.

Appointment:

• The council unanimously appointed Jesse Martinez, a second-year environmental science student, to The Green Initiative Fund Committee.

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• Internal Vice President Josh Garland said they met with Chancellor Julio Frenk to express concerns on the lack of transparency regarding increased campus policing.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said in their written report that members of the council met with Frenk on April 25.

• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo, who is running to be the council’s president, did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras, who is running to be the council’s IVP, attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey said his office’s meal swipe drive with Swipe Out Hunger is expected to raise over 10,000 meal swipes.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino, who is running for reelection, said there is no money remaining in this year’s budgets for the Travel Grant Mini Fund and Academic Success Referendum Funds, so applications to both funds will be closed.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said in his written statement that his office is partnering with Art Reach on their end of May art exhibition titled “Cycles,” which is currently taking applications for vendors and art.

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said her office’s Education Equity Conference will happen May 10.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kyland Talbott attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang, who is running for a full term on the council, said her staffers are campaigning for the Universal Access Transit Pass Renewal Referendum this quarter.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone, who is running for reelection, attended the meeting and said in his written report that FSC funding office hours are open for all student organizations, and that Commuter Parking Permit Scholarship recipients have been notified.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said her office is working with the Health Education and Resources Team at the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center on a reproductive health event with the National Plan C Organization.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said her office’s initiative is planning a workshop series and requested that each officer provide flow charts about the structure and focuses of their office.

• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad, who is running to be the council’s president, said he is working with the UC Student Association officers to pass a UC-wide resolution to advocate for accommodations for students impacted by “immigration-related” disruptions.