The Undergraduate Students Association Council discussed a research project that would determine whether a physical token could reinforce students’ adherence to COVID-19 health guidance. The council also appointed new committee members to the Academic Senate.
Allocations:
- The council allocated $216 to the Students for Community Outreach, Promotion and Education, a community service organization that aims to reduce education and health care disparities.
- The council allocated $250 to Cadenza A Cappella at UCLA.
- The council allocated $85 to the Expressive Movement Initiative, a student organization that teaches therapeutic dance to children with developmental disabilities.
- The council allocated $650 to the Higher Opportunity Program for Education, a Community Programs Office outreach project that provides peer advising and tutoring for youths.
- The council allocated $835 to the Samahang Pilipino Cultural Night.
Special Presentations:
UCLA COVID Token Project
- Jessica Saleska, a postdoctoral fellow at Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, presented the UCLA COVID Token Project, a research project intended to promote adherence to public health measures in the UCLA community. Participants receive a token that represents their commitment to safe behaviors relating to COVID-19, such as social distancing, wearing a mask and more.
- The project plans to test whether a physical token impacts UCLA students and their behaviors relating to health and safety, Saleska said. The project is seeking a $15,000 grant to fund its trial period, she added.
Appointments:
- Hailey Valles, third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student → Academic Senate Legislative Assembly
- Angelina Quint, second-year public affairs student → Academic Senate Committee on Teaching
- Maxine Dimalanta, third-year political science and education and social transformation student →Academic Senate Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools
- Herman Luis Chavez, third-year ethnomusicology and comparative literature student → Academic Senate Committee on Library and Scholarly Communication
- Pablo Luis-Herrera, second-year public affairs and education and social transformation student → Academic Senate Faculty Welfare Committee
- Samantha Schwartz, third-year public affairs student → Academic Senate Undergraduate Council
- Emily Emard, third-year history and gender studies student → Academic Senate Undergraduate Council
Office Reports:
President Naomi Riley
- President Naomi Riley encouraged council members to participate in This Is Bruin Life, a project that showcases student stories for incoming first-years.
- Riley added she was elected chair of the University of California Council of Presidents and is planning to discuss campuses’ divestment from the University of California Police Department with student leaders across UC campuses.
Internal Vice President Emily Luong
- Internal Vice President Emily Luong said the IVP’s office and Student Wellness Commission will collaborate on a COVID-19 public health resource guide.
Academic Affairs Commissioner Breeze Valazquez
- Academic Affairs Commissioner Breeze Valazquez said her office is collaborating with the transfer student representative’s office to create an internship program for high school students in low-income areas.
Facilities Commissioner Sachi Cooper
- Facilities Commissioner Sachi Cooper said she will establish a Disability Culture Center in honor of Lily Shaw, the former Facilities commissioner who recently died.
- Cooper said she is advocating for UCLA to create an outdoor spaces advisory committee that will establish outdoor, collaborative spaces in compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.
Student Wellness Commissioner Christina Read
- Student Wellness Commissioner Christina Read said SWC will host its first Health Equity Summit on Sept. 13, where student organization leaders will discuss their priorities and goals for the year.
- Read added SWC will hold a film premiere of “Unashamed,” an original film about survivors of sexual assault, on Sept. 18 and moderate a discussion with the film’s creators.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council is the official student government representing the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings take place every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and are open to all students. Summer meetings will take place virtually on Zoom; links for the meetings can be found on the internal vice president’s Facebook page. Watch a livestream of the meetings on the USAC Live! channel on YouTube.
