The Undergraduate Students Association Council allocated over $200,000 in funding – including to Samahang Pilipino student organizations – during its meeting May 20.

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 held a clothing drive and helped educate people on how to vote in the USAC elections. Salam added that the organization held a benefit concert May 23.

• Lindsey Sambilay, the celebration coordinator of Samahang Pilipino, called for the immediate allocation of emergency funding to cultural programs operating in a deficit. Sambilay also called for a revision of Undergraduate Students Association/Board of Directors Programming Fund guidelines to incorporate language rooted in equity. She added that incoming USAC council members are inheriting a “broken framework” but have an opportunity to invest in equity.

• Alyssa Cosico, the cultural night coordinator of Samahang Pilipino, urged the council to vote in favor of revising the USA/BOD Programming Fund – which helps student organizations secure funding for events – to include equitable language that would recognize the need to support marginalized communities. Cosico added that the current guidelines’ neutrality clauses do not support cultural events.

• Mikha Cabebe, the external vice president of Samahang Pilipino, spoke in support of revising the USA/BOD Programming Fund guidelines to include more equitable language. Cabebe added that she hopes USAC will listen to and value the other groups present for public comment.

• Jasi Bermejo, the president of Samahang Pilipino, said the USA/BOD Programming Fund’s initial allocation to Samahang Pilipino demonstrates the fund’s inequity and spoke in support of revising its criteria. Bermejo added that she stands in solidarity with PUSO West Los Angeles – an organization that works to support the national, economic, political and social liberation in the Philippines – and its resolution in support of Filipino workers and trade union organizers.

• The vice chairperson of PUSO West LA said they were in support of Filipino workers and trade union organizers. However, USAC President Adam Tfayli stopped the vice chairperson during their comments because they were not an undergraduate student at UCLA.

• A member of PUSO West LA continued the statement the vice chair prepared. They spoke in support of the resolution supporting Filipino workers and trade union organizers. They urged the council members to pass a resolution in support of the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would suspend United States military aid to the Philippines until the Filipino government stops committing human rights violations.

• A student spoke in support of PUSO West LA and its resolution supporting the Philippine Human Rights Act as well as Filipino workers and trade union organizers. They added that they believe the UC system profits from the repression of the Filipino people at the hands of their government while claiming the University cannot provide for its workers.

• A student spoke in support of PUSO West LA’s resolution supporting Filipino workers and trade union organizers and the Philippine Human Rights Act.

• A member of the Student Labor Advocacy Project of UCLA spoke in support of a USAC resolution supporting Filipino workers and trade union organizers and the Philippine Human Rights Act. They added that the UC’s investment in war and weapons enables the violence of the Filipino government.

• A student representing Anakbayan at UCLA, an organization that fights for the liberation of people in the Philippines, the U.S. and all people facing oppression, spoke in support of Samahang Pilipino and the resolution supporting Filipino workers and trade unionists. They said the UC enables repression in the Philippines by investing money into weapons contractors that commit human rights violations.

• USA Elections Board Chair Sujana Sridhar requested $6,000 from the discretionary fund to cover the cost of keeping the USAC ballot on MyUCLA. Sridhar added that she had not been previously informed of this fee and apologized to the council for the abruptness of the request.

• A member of Anakbayan said the organization fully supports Samahang Pilipino, Samahang Pilipino Cultural Night and Pilipinx Graduation, adding that the university has neglected these groups. They also showed support for PUSO West LA’s resolution supporting Filipino workers and trade unionists. They added that these cultural organizations help students stay connected with their culture and are important to a well-rounded education.

• A student member of Samahang Pilipino and Gabriela West-LA spoke in favor of an increase in funding for SPCN and PGrad. They added that PGrad is a celebration of resilience against an institution that overlooks Filipino students.

• Mahana Gurung, a member of Samahang Pilipino and Gabriela West-LA, spoke in support of the Philippine labor resolution. They added that the resolution is important to continue empowering the education that informs Filipino students of their cultural heritage and the human rights violations in the Philippines.

Funding:

• The council allocated $4,238.49 from the Contingency Capital Items Fund to two USAC entities and two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $35,809.72 from the Contingency Programming Fund to two USAC entities and 65 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $4,446.77 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to one USAC entity and four non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $960 from the Student Wellness Programming Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $2,255.08 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to one USAC entity and one non-USAC entity.

• The council allocated $12,027.40 from The Green Initiative Fund to one USAC entity and four non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $25 from the Replacement BruinCard Fund to three people.

• The council allocated $55 from the UCLA Housing Laundry Grant fund to 11 people.

• The council allocated $14,840.43 from the Community Service Transportation Fund to six USAC entities and nine non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $121,581.72 from the USA/BOD Programming Fund to one USAC entity and 30 non-USAC entities.

Special presentation:

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli and 2025-2026 transfer student representative-elect Hyerim Yoon gave a presentation on transfer student demographics within USAC. Tavassoli said transfer students – even those with prior experience in student government – are disproportionately obstructed from executive or director positions. Yoon added that the TSR office will launch an initiative in the next academic year to provide resources to incoming transfer students to allow them to serve full USAC terms while adjusting to life at UCLA.

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli said his time in USAC has been a great developmental opportunity.

• Internal Vice President Josh Garland said his and other USAC offices are collaborating with the Undocumented Student Program, a program dedicated to “know your rights” resources and mental health services.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said it is important that the incoming council members, particularly the EVP, adopt an outspoken mindset in regard to their role in USAC.

• General Representative Diego Bollo, the 2025-2026 USAC president-elect, thanked his colleagues for their work and dedication throughout the year.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras, the 2025-2026 USAC internal vice president-elect, said he looks forward to seeing what his successor, Jayha Buhs-Jackson, does in office.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey said his office made contributions to the UCLA community through all five of the platforms he campaigned on: affordability, summer storage, career support, USAC accessibility and meal access.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino, who was reelected as Academic Affairs commissioner, said he is excited to collaborate with the incoming members of USAC.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said his office is holding a student film festival in the James Bridges Theater on Friday.

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said her office held a service impact summit to celebrate service work from students across campus May 23.

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

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang, who was elected to a full term as Facilities commissioner, said her staffers gave 37 class announcements about voting that reached 5,297 students throughout campus. She added that she feels empowered to continue ensuring accessibility on campus.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone, who was reelected as Financial Supports commissioner, gave well wishes to the departing council members.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said her office continued large-scale campus mental health and basic needs programming throughout the year.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said USAC can be a catalyst for positive change in students’ lives. She added that diverse representation within USAC is important. Tavassoli also said those who are continuing to work in USAC should make their staff applications as open and inclusive to transfer students as possible.

• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad said his office held an international student prom May 23. Ahmad also thanked his staff and colleagues for their work throughout the year.

Agenda items:

• The council approved a change to the USA Bylaws. The change would make the Student Advocacy and Policy Administration a permanent USAC committee. The change also made the SAPA chair a position appointed by the USAC president. It also added internal vice chair and external vice chair positions for SAPA.

• The council unanimously approved an allocation of $15,204.10 from the USAC Discretionary Fund to SPCN.

• The council unanimously approved an allocation of $598.17 from the discretionary fund to Samahang Pilipino PGrad.

• The council unanimously approved a resolution in support of Filipino workers and trade union organizers. The resolution calls on the UC to condemn the human rights abuses by the Filipino government and express support for the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would put limitations on providing assistance to the police or military of the Philippines.

• The council unanimously approved a statement on the 2025 amendment to the 2020 Good Clothes Good People Basic Needs referendum. It revises the language of the original GCGP referendum that was passed in 2020 to include that GCGP now has full discretion over how to use its funds.

• The council unanimously approved a resolution that calls for the “demilitarization” of mental health support on campus. The resolution advocates for the creation of a 24/7 mobile UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services unit to have mental health professionals available during high-need hours.

• The council unanimously approved a change to the USA Election Code. The change expands on the language of on-campus campaigning rules to make them clearer by changing the language of the Election Code to permit the distribution of campaign materials as long as said distribution does not inhibit the normal flow of traffic.

• The council unanimously approved a discretionary fund transfer of $5,500 to the Elections Board for ballot costs.

• The council reviewed the 2025-2026 USAC election results.