By Marjorie Hernandez
Daily Bruin Reporter
The Graduate Students Association Legislative Forum met
Wednesday to discuss various issues for the year, including budget
approval and housing.
The Forum unanimously approved this year’s budget for
programs and the disbursement of last year’s funds.
GSA’s overall budget for this year totals $417,929, with a
surplus of $21,948.
“The budget is in better shape than it ever has
been,” said Jerry Mann, director of Student Union and Student
Support Services for the Associated Students of UCLA.
According to Mann, this year’s surplus was largely due to
an increase in GSA membership and in its fees.
For the first time since the mid-1980s, GSA raised its quarterly
membership fee this year from $5.50 to $7 ““Â a move the
association was only able to execute after graduate students
approved a referendum last spring to increase fees.
The availability of graduate student housing was another item
discussed at the meeting.
Currently, only 13 percent of graduate students use some form of
housing provided by the university, said Vice President-External
Alain Dang.
Several forum members voiced concerns about the lack of
available housing near campus and the rising cost of rent.
“If you talk to a majority of students, where they really
get screwed out of a good education is because … they can’t
get parking on campus and they live so far that they are
educationally disadvantaged from someone who lives next
door,” said GSA Melnitz Movies representative Victoria
Irigoyen.
Though the Southwest Campus Housing, set to open in 2003 or
2004, will place 2,000 additional beds for graduate students and
their families, the new facilities will “make a dent”
but not completely alleviate the demand for housing, Dang said.
Meanwhile, a new state legislative measure may help alleviate
some housing problems.
Last week, Gov.Gray Davis signed Assembly Bill 1611, or the
Affordable Student Housing Program bill, which grants the
California Educational Facilities Authority to include non-profit
community developers to build housing around university
campuses.
The CEFA issues revenue bonds to assist non-profit institutions
of higher learning and authorizes tax exempt bonds.
Vice President-Internal Dorothy Kim said a separate forum
meeting will address further housing issues.
President Charles Harless also discussed his concerns with the
treatment of international students and race relations on campus
due to the Sept. 11 aftermath.
Cabinet members are planning workshops for international and
domestic students to inform them of their rights if they are
approached by law enforcement.
“These issues are affecting all students ““ not just
grads and undergrads, but it affects the whole campus
climate,” Harless said.