David Dahle is the 2002-03 USAC president-elect. Â
By David Dahle
Undergraduate Student Association Council is in a state of
emergency. During the past weeks, USAC officers were informed that
the amount of budgetable funds which will be available for
allocation to the various USA offices, commissions and qualified
student organizations will be reduced by 55 percent.
This year’s projected budget of $57,000 is a far cry from
last year’s budget of $130,000. The majority of the cut comes
from ASUCLA ending its practice of subsidizing nearly $50,000 in
USAC maintenance and utilities costs. The ASUCLA Board of Directors
has indicated that it is eliminating the subsidy because of the
potential costs of the recent push to allow a number of non-student
employees to unionize, which could cost anywhere in the range of
$500,000 to $1 million.
While USAC officers are sympathetic to the financial situation
of ASUCLA, which we recognize will affect everyone at UCLA, we feel
that the ASUCLA Board of Directors must find other ways to cut
costs.
Symbolically, a 55 percent reduction in budgetable funds is
unacceptable. ASUCLA needs to fulfill its commitment to students
because it exists for us. If next year’s projected student
government budget does not change, USAC will be severely crippled.
USAC commissions and student group offices may have lights and
working phones, but almost no money for any programs. Movies,
concerts, resource fairs, culture night shows, community service
programs, educational programs, student advocacy, etc. will all
suffer significantly.
This is why we voted against passing this budget at the council
table last week. USAC cannot and will not accept this budget. This
quarter the current USAC council recognized the need to increase
the amount of USA funds that are allocated to the various offices,
student groups, and commissions. In order to accomplish this
increase, the council agreed that undergraduates should have the
option to vote for or against a proposed fee increase in an
upcoming special election during ninth week. If the fee increase is
approved, it will greatly enhance USAC’s ability to advocate
and program. But there is the possibility that this referendum may
not pass, which is why we cannot accept the ASUCLA subsidy cut.
Last week, council members had an emergency meeting with ASUCLA
executive director Pat Eastman and tried to determine if ASUCLA
could take any alternative measures to cutting USAC funds. No
definitive answer was given, which is why the issue is currently
being brought to Chancellor Albert Carnesale.
We hope that the members of the Board of Directors understand
USAC’s situation just as we understand their situation. There
have to be alternatives, and we need to find them. Next week
students will be voting on the student fee referendum which, if
passed, will continue to expand the good work and programs that
USAC is responsible for. Because we do not know the fate of either
the ASUCLA fund cut or the passage of the fee referendum, USAC has
no option but to fight for both.