The Undergraduate Students Association Council approved a letter of support for a California bill that would make it easier for the UC to employ undocumented students at its Jan. 6 meeting.

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, a representative for California Public Interest Research Group, said the group is working on five campaigns this quarter, which have goals of expanding ocean protections in California, addressing fashion waste, encouraging young people to vote, making public transit more accessible for students and fighting student hunger. She added that a law banning plastic grocery bags in California went into effect Jan. 1 following CALPIRG’s efforts.

• A representative for the Sikh Student Association said the group applied for the Community Service Mini Fund and that it was under review by board administration. They added that, if allocated, they would use the funds to provide homeless children with care packets.

Special Presentations:

• Orlando Luna, an administrative representative for USAC, gave a presentation on the 2026 student fee referenda timeline and guidelines, including the timeline for petition-based student fee referenda and council-sponsored student fee referenda for winter quarter. He also presented an overall timeline for spring quarter, including estimated USAC election dates.

Funding:

• The council allocated $18,326 from the Contingency Programming Fund to one USAC entity and 48 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $12,111.69 from the Student Finance Solutions Fund to two USAC entities and 12 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $830 from the Student Wellness Commission Programming Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $3,771.88 from the Discretionary Fund to the Hispanic-Serving Institution Task Force for the annual HSI student town hall, if the organization was not approved to receive it from the Undergraduate Students Association/Board of Directors ASUCLA Programming Fund.

Officer Reports:

• President Diego Bollo said in his written report that he uploaded winter fellowship applications for his office and had a meeting with UCLA Athletics.

• Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras said in his written report that his office has continued work on multiple advocacy and transparency initiatives. He added that his office reached out to the Afrikan Student Union to plan a Black History Month event and that he has a meeting with vice chancellors next week to discuss the history of campus resource centers in preparation for a “Latinx Success Referendum.” He also said that through the Basic Needs Bold Future initiative, his office has begun outreach to campus organizations to participate in the annual housing fair Jan. 28.

• External Vice President Sherry Zhou said Transfer Lobby Day will be next quarter. She added that her office, in collaboration with the Transfer Student Representative’s office, is recruiting volunteers for the event.

• General Representative Talia Davood said she will have a welcome back table Jan. 15 at Bruin Plaza.

• General Representative Jayha Buhs Jackson said the Southwest Asian and North African Health Alliance Lobby Day committee – which organizes the advocacy event held by the SWANA – is launching and is looking for a chair. She added that her office is hosting a Black History Month edition of Black Wednesdays in collaboration with the Afrikan Student Union and the Cultural Affairs Commission. She also said her office will be holding a Black caucus and that it will plans to partner with the American Indian Student Association for an Afroindigenous event.

• General Representative Brett Berndt said his office is working with the Student Homes Coalition, which advocates for solutions to the student housing crisis, to start a UCLA chapter of the organization. He added that his office will have an event with the external vice president’s office and the Student Homes Coalition on SB79, which allows higher-density housing near major transit stops – including in Westwood.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that he discussed potential ambassadorship opportunities with UCLA Housing and held his first commission meeting of the quarter. He added that he held an AAC Executive Board meeting and discussed his office’s progress and platform with the Daily Bruin.

• Campus Events Commissioner Daniel Leal said his office will be holding an indie rock concert in Kerckhoff Grand Salon Jan. 16 and that he is working on two speaker events for the quarter. He added that his office is looking for vendors for AfroFest, an Afrobeats festival in collaboration with the Nigerian Student Association.

• Community Service Commissioner Edison Chua said in his written report that his office is working with the Volunteer Center and the Career Center on a nonprofit networking night to connect UCLA students to organizations that can offer internships. He added that CSC’s Houselessness Days of Service are coming up. He also said his office is planning for Project Sandbox, an initiative encouraging volunteer organizations to collaborate on larger-scale service activities, with the best proposals receiving funding from the commission. Chua added that his office is working on a video guide on how to submit funding applications for the Community Service Transportation and receive student fee support. He also said he plans to meet with the Community Programs Office regarding the Student Risk Education Committee, which focuses on issues related to student risk and liability.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick said her office’s vision board night would be held Jan. 7 and that the commission is starting a radio show called CACtivated: Cultural Affairs on Air, which will air every Sunday at 5 p.m. She added that CAC is planning a hip-hop appreciation month and their first Black History Month gallery.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang said her office is hosting an event celebrating accessibility, sustainability and transportation advocacy Jan. 9, as well as town halls about academic, physical and health accessibility.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said the USA/BOD ASUCLA Programming Fund applications are due Friday and that the commission is holding its quarterly lab coat rental program.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Hannah Yip said her commission posted its fall 2025 impact reports on Instagram and that the Peer Support Lounge, which is located in Kerckhoff 308 and is a space for students to destress, is open. She added that the PSL will be hosting a welcome event with the Latinx Success Center on Jan. 12 offering free conchas and cafe de olla to students and that Massage Mondays will continue through the quarter.

• Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon said in her written report that her office has begun work on external relations events, including a tabling event, focus groups on housing and food insecurity, and a town hall focused on lobbying. She added that her office discussed a potential financial aid panel and a second-year transfer Q&A panel and has started planning two in-person visits to community colleges in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Yoon also said her office is finalizing details for a UC Regents public comment workshop and that her office is reaching out to partners for a How2Housing Night while finishing materials and securing a venue for the event. She added that her office is planning a board game night and is bringing back its collaboration with Bruin Buddies, a mentorship program for transfer and exchange students. She also said that her office is brainstorming four transfer wellness events, with two scheduled during midterms and two during finals. Yoon said her office is working on a monthly transfer opportunities newsletter, which she expects will be released by the end of week one, has begun planning an alumni networking event with Postgraduate Resources and is finalizing a room for a pre-law panel. Yoon also said her office is dividing outreach responsibilities among staff to improve transparency and internal communication with USAC offices regarding transfer representation and inclusion, is working on contingency and reimbursement forms to support other committees.

• International Student Representative Keya Tanna said her office will hold its first event of the quarter with student legal services at the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars on Jan. 13.

Agenda Items:

• The council unanimously approved a letter of support for a new amendment to California Assembly Bill 713, which makes it easier for undocumented students to be employed by the UC, California State Universities and California Community Colleges. The council said in the letter that it supports the amendment, as undocumented students’ lack of access on-campus employment decreases their ability to remain enrolled and meet their basic needs.