During the Undergraduate Students Association Council meeting on Jan. 11, USAC President Breeze Velazquez discussed concerns about rising COVID-19 cases within the UCLA community. In response to the high campus test positivity rate, the university will continue to address course accessibility issues and accommodations for hybrid learning.
Public Comment:
Radha Patel, chair of the California Public Interest Research Group Students at UCLA, said CALPIRG is spending the first two weeks of winter quarter recruiting new students. She added that CALPIRG has made announcements in over 50 classes and received about 500 interest cards from students and 600 petition signatures. She said CALPIRG’s kickoff meeting will be happening virtually on Wednesday.
Special Presentations:
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Esmeralda Quintero-Cubillan, University of California Student Association president, presented UCSA’s yearly report to the council. Quintero-Cubillan said UCSA is currently pursuing four campaign goals: ACQUIRE, Fund The UC, UCweVote and Racial Justice Now. She added that UCSA’s plans will further advance its mission of advocating on the behalf of students across the UC system.
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Jane Ni and Sachi Cooper proposed $2,500 and $2,000 stipends for students spearheading the Disability Cultural Center project, which would create a physical space on campus for the disabled student community. The council will be voting on whether to fund this year’s stipend by week five.
Allocations:
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The council allocated $5,760 to four USAC and two non-USAC entities located in Kerckhoff Hall.
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The council allocated $4,946.92 to eight non-USAC entities for reimbursement of cancellation fees.
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The council allocated $3,909 to three non-Community Service Commission organizations.
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The council allocated $2,000 to the Academic Success Referendum Fund for the Afrikan Student Union, an organization that advocates for Black Bruins on campus.
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The council allocated a total of $2,600 to the Travel Grant Mini Fund, a fund that provides grants for student travel to UCLA events, for the Saving Hearts Foundation and ASU.
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The council allocated $848 to the USAC Facilities Commission for furniture.
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The council allocated $998 to the USAC Office of the External Vice President for furniture.
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The council allocated $1,324 to general representative 2 for a computer.
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The council allocated $2,000 to the transfer student representative for a computer and $120 for furniture.
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The council allocated $273 to Vietnamese Community Health at UCLA, a student organization that addresses preventive health issues, for furniture.
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The council allocated $197 to UCLA Circle K, a collegiate community service organization, for furniture.
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The council allocated $750 to the Muslim Student Association, a group that advocates for Muslim students at UCLA, for MSA Sisters’ Retreat cancellation fees.
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The council allocated $750 to MSA for MSA Brothers’ Retreat 2022 cancellation fees.
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The council allocated $650 to Cadenza A Cappella, a student-run female a cappella group, for a winter retreat.
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The council allocated $34.92 to Pilipinos for Community Health, a student organization that provides health education and services to underserved communities in Los Angeles, for the PCH Winter Conference.
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The council allocated $350 to the Japanese Animation Club, a group dedicated to the appreciation of Japanese culture and anime, for JAC Winter Formal.
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The council allocated $744 to Icarus Contemporary Dance Company, a community of dancers at UCLA, for the Icarus Contemporary 2022 Retreat.
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The council allocated $525 to the Malaysian Students Association, a student organization that represents the Malaysian community on campus, for a Lunar New Year dinner.
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The council allocated $493 to Medicine and Art, a student organization that provides a space for students interested in the intersection of creativity and STEM, for medicine and art T-shirts.
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The council allocated $650 to YOUTHphonics A Capella, an a capella group focused on music and mentorship, for YOUTHphonics Winter.
Reports:
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Velazquez said her office met with the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force, which stated that the campus test positivity rate is over 6%. She also said that Pauley Pavilion will accept only presale tickets, reduce its audience capacity from 13,000 to 8,000, enforce mask mandates for students, staff and players on the sidelines and allow no food or drinks, except water, inside the building.
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External Vice President Sarah Wang said that the UCSA is in the process of potentially creating a fifth campaign focused on environmental justice. She said that CalFresh, which was approved by UCLA, is testing to see if electronic benefit transfer cards will work at the registers in different dining hall locations. She added that her office is working with CALPIRG on its new voters project to provide voting guides for the upcoming election.
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Academic Affairs Commissioner Angelina Quint said her office is in the process of drafting a letter to the Undergraduate Council to communicate why hybrid learning is necessary. She added that her office is in the process of emailing departments and professors to change their in-person requirements, and they plan to release a forum where students can share which professors have been accommodating to hybrid options. She said that her office’s disability, justice and education and access and equity committees are working on a guide that shares resources, tips and opportunities at UCLA for students with disabilities.
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Internal Vice President Cassandra Gatica said in a written report that her office is planning the Off-Campus Housing Fair for winter quarter, which will prioritize providing information on accessible housing. She said that the application to nominate students for the True Bruins Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Service and Excellence award has been extended until Tuesday.
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General Representative 2 Passa Pungchai said in a written report that Academic Success and Retention will be sending out recruitment for an open-source textbook initiative. She also said her office is advocating for better quarantine conditions for students.
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General Representative 3 Carl King said in a written report that his office created a survey for students to gauge the amount of interest in creating a minor or major. He also said that his office partnered with the Student Wellness Commission to launch the “You Belong” Campaign.
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Financial Supports Commissioner Emily Yu said in a written report that her office received approval from Student Government Accounting to use Financial Supports funds to purchase 200 N95 masks for student workers, which were distributed on Wednesday. She said that the UCLA Store launched a test supplies program, which will provide students with free blue books and Scantron sheets.
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Transfer Representative Herman Luis Chavez said in a written report that his office met with the director and assistant directors of New Student Programs to discuss ways to make the New Student Advisors training more transfer inclusive.
