Wednesday, 2/26/97
Changes made to representation of Greek system
Alterations in bylaw remove IFC, Panhellenic from duties
By Stefanie Wong
Daily Bruin Contributor
Questions of exclusion and elitism have been raised by the Greek
system with the recent change to the duties of the Undergraduate
Student Association Council (USAC) general representatives.
At the Feb. 18 USAC meeting, changes were made to the council
bylaws that removed the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the
Panhellenic Council from the duties of the general
representatives.
But, despite the change, the IFC and the Panhellenic Council are
still represented in USAC as student advocacy groups (SAGs).
The changes to the bylaw were made because the general
representatives believed that their duties needed to be
updated.
"We’ve looked into the history of when the original duties of
the general representatives were written and they were written in a
way to best gauge the interest of the student body," said Michelle
Gosom, the USAC general representative who worked on the wording of
the changed bylaw.
"At that time, four large groups existed that the general
representatives could monitor and get the student body interest,"
she added.
The change was made in an effort to increase and broaden the
representation of organizations on campus, according to Gosom.
"Now we have more student advocacy groups and regular student
organizations that represent more of the campus populations, so I
think it was time to expand (our representation) to other
organizations," Gosom said.
However, IFC President Brett Bouttier believes that a broader
representation cannot be achieved because there was an inadequate
representation in the first place.
"If (broadening their representation) is the true intention,
then I can’t imagine an intention more flawed because that would be
assuming that they have extended any of their resources to IFC in
the past, which they have not," Bouttier said.
"If they want to change the bylaws and actually practice the
inclusion, then I commend them but until I see it, I won’t believe
it," he added.
Both the Panhellenic Council and IFC believe that the bylaw
change will not have a major impact on their representation to USAC
because poor communication has existed over the past two years.
Before the changes, the bylaws said "that general
representatives should maintain ongoing communication. Well, that’s
never really happened in the past," said Whitney Jones, president
of the Panhellenic Council.
"I don’t really know how much the effect is going to be because
it’s not like they were liaisons to the council before," she
added.
One main area Bouttier and Jones believe USAC has failed to
represent IFC and the Panhellenic Council is in regards to
funding.
"They repeatedly ignore IFC and Panhellenic’s request for
funding for education programs that are good and open for the
entire campus," Jones said.
An example that both Bouttier and Jones cited was a date rape
awareness program that took place earlier this quarter. According
to Bouttier, the organizations requested $2,400 for the program but
USAC only allocated them $100.
However, according to the Finance Committee Chair Robert Rhoan,
the request for funding was an honorarium and USAC bylaws state
that only $100 can be given regardless of the organization.
In general, both groups see the change as another way for USAC
to exclude the Greek groups from UCLA.
"I’m tired of USAC being an exclusive body that decides to
represent who it wants to and only allocates it resources regarding
outreach to a certain number of groups," Bouttier said.
"I have seen elitism practiced in the halls of Kerckhoff," he
added.
But USAC Internal Vice President Glenn Inanaga disagrees and
believes that the student council has in no way tried to exclude
the IFC or Panhellenic Council.
"IFC and the Panhellenic Council are still sponsored
organizations in USAC and they are still registered organizations
at this university. Student government has not turned its back on
any student organization this year," Inanaga said.
Gosom also notes that she has worked with the Panhellenic
Council on a voter registration campaign and that both groups
received resource guides, which were available to all SAGs as well
as to registered student organizations.
"I’ve been more than willing to work with them if they would
like me to work with them …" Gosom said. "I guess I’m wondering
why they haven’t come to me specifically if they had any special
needs or interests …"JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS
Whitney Jones, head of the Panhellenic Council.