The Undergraduate Students Association Council banned candidates from campaigning outside of university-managed property at its Feb. 10 meeting.

USAC is the official student government representing the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Meetings take place every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and are open to all students. The meetings are held in person at the Bruin Viewpoint Room and are live streamed and published online. Students can access links for the meetings and agendas posted on the USAC website under the Documents tab or watch a livestream on the USAC Live! channel on Youtube.

Public comment:

• A student representing Anakbayan at UCLA, which calls itself an anti-imperialist Filipino youth and student organization on its Instagram, called on USAC to support a letter asking U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu– who represents Westwood – to examine U.S. military aid to the Philippines. The letter mentioned Chantal Anicoche – a woman from Maryland taken into custody in the Philippines after the Armed Forces of the Philippines dropped bombs on Mindoro, an island with a large Indigenous population that Anicoche was working on, according to CBS News. They added that USAC has a responsibility to protect Filipino students.

• A student representing the Philippines-U.S. Solidarity Organization West Los Angeles – a group focused on protecting Filipinos’ human rights – also urged the council to publish the letter, which also calls for the end of human rights abuses in the Philippines.

• Another student representing PUSO West LA called on the council to support the letter and push for legislative changes to safeguard students’ and student organizations’ human rights advocacy.

• Pranaya Vijay, a third-year neuroscience student, said the USAC Office Space Allocation Committee’s office space application – which includes rentals for office spaces, lockers and mailboxes – closes Feb. 13 and asked USAC to share the information with organizations that may benefit from an office space.

• Leila Salam, a representative from UCLA’s chapter of the California Public Interest Research Group – a student-led environmental advocacy organization – said CALPIRG recently released a national report on textbook costs in the U.S. She added that the report found that 50% of students nationwide do not know they are charged for textbooks through automatic billing.

Funding:

• The council allocated $19,412.33 from the Contingency Programming Fund for two USAC entities and 48 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $3,380 from the Supplemental Fund for Service to five non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $450 from the Travel Grant Mini Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $3,281.90 from the Academic Success Referendum to eight non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,003.40 from The Green Initiative Fund to two non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $36,337.78 from the Arts Restoring Community Fund to 32 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,743.95 from the USA/Board of Directors ASUCLA Programming Fund for three non-USAC entities.

Officer reports:

• President Diego Bollo said he attended the California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance’s annual conference – which covered higher education basic needs policy, research and student support coordination. He added that he met professionals who work to provide basic needs resources across the UC, California State University and California Community Colleges.

• Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras said in his written report that the IVP office will hold the IVPGoods fundraiser Feb. 12 in Kerckhoff 300E. Contreras added in the report that half of the proceeds will go toward student organizations, but did not specify where the other half of funds would go. Contreras also said his office is planning a Basic Needs event for spring quarter, as well as a fundraising 5K and vigil for 99 Ranch Market victims. The Feb. 5 crash, which occurred when a car hit a bicyclist and then drove into a 99 Ranch Market on Westwood Boulevard, killed three people.

[Related: Car Crashes into 99 Ranch Market, killing at least 3 people, injuring at least 6]

• External Vice President Sherry Zhou said her office’s Student Relations team planned and executed a Basic Needs Farmers Market and Health Fair Feb. 10. More than 650 students showed up, and the team distributed about 500 free meals, she added.

• General Representative Talia Davood said her office hosted a self-defense class with the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority Feb. 7 and plans to hold another in the spring. She added that her office is hosting an interfaith lunch Feb. 12 and a petting zoo event Feb. 19.

• General Representative Jayha Buhs Jackson said the Black History Month event she is co-hosting with Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick and the Afrikan Student Union was moved to Feb. 18.

• General Representative Brett Berndt said he is working on a Demystifying USAC Elections series with the Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon, and is hosting events for it Feb. 18 at the Transfer Student Center and Feb. 26 at the Latinx Success Center. He added that he and Zhou collected student testimonies about private housing as part of their efforts to create a comprehensive housing report for students.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino said in his written report that he met with UCLA Housing to plan the “Housing Ambassadorship” – which he did not provide additional details about. He added that he launched a Meet the Commissioner series, which included an initial meeting with the Save Cantonese Club at UCLA – an organization dedicated to sustaining and celebrating Cantonese culture.

• Campus Events Commissioner Daniel Leal said drag performer Sasha Colby’s Feb. 3 visit to campus drew more than 300 attendees. He added that the fourth film in his Oscars viewing series, Casablanca, will screen at James Bridges Theater on Feb. 12, with additional screenings of other films happening throughout the month. His office is also hosting a Valentine’s Day event, “Love You So Matcha,” in the Bruin Reception Room on Feb. 13, he said, which will include free matcha, boba, treats and bouquet-making.

• Community Service Commissioner Edison Chua said in his written report that his office confirmed a Financial Wellness Event connecting undergraduates with financial resources March 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the James West Alumni Center.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick said her office hosted a Benefit Market for Sudan – with half of proceeds going toward civilian aid in Sudan – Feb. 11 on Kerckhoff Patio. Trewick added that she collaborated with Art Series, Word on Wednesday and ARC Community Programs on the event. She also said that the Hip-Hop Congress will hold a film and panel featuring guest speakers Feb. 12 in Kerckhoff Grand Salon.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang said in her written report that her office is advocating for safety improvements on Westwood Boulevard following the Feb. 5 crash – including protected bike lanes and safer intersections – and is urging the LA Department of Transportation and the city of LA to speed up the project. She added in the report that her office is also working with UCLA administrators to secure a temporary and long-term space for the Lily Shaw Disability Culture Center, which would offer study spaces and a community hub for students with disabilities.

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said in his written report that he is working on providing parking grants for commuter students.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Hannah Yip said Bruin Run/Walk’s 5K is scheduled for April 19, with free registration open until Feb. 22. She added that “Joy as Resistance” – a community-building event – will take place Feb. 27 in Carnesale Commons.

• Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon said her office hosted the final “Speak for a Snack” student feedback event Feb. 11 and will hold an “Exploring Research Opportunities and Applying to Labs” Zoom event Feb. 12, followed by a financial aid panel for transfer students Feb. 13.

• International Student Representative Keya Tanna was not at the meeting and did not update her written report.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved amendments to the USA election code, which prohibited campaigning – including distributing materials, flyering and tabling, among other activities – outside university-managed property. The code now permits campaigning only in on-campus areas designated by the Election Board.

• The council passed a letter which asked Lieu, as a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, to ensure U.S. taxpayer funds do not support human rights abuses in the Philippines and instead protect students’ ability to participate in education and activism without fear.