USAC recap – April 22

The Undergraduate Students Association Council unanimously passed a resolution urging ASUCLA to not cooperate with law enforcement during its fourth meeting of the quarter Tuesday.

USAC is the official student government representation of the entirety of the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings are open to all students and ordinarily take place in person at the Bruin Viewpoint Room and on Zoom every Tuesday at 7 p.m. Students can access links for the meetings and agenda posted on the USAC website under the Documents tab or watch a livestream on the USAC Live! channel on Youtube.

Public comment:

• Gunnar Roth, the vice chair of the California Public Interest Research Group’s UCLA chapter, said the organization recently had a meeting discussing its Zero Hunger campaign, which is being planned to address food scarcity issues on campus.

• A member of BruiNecessities, an organization within the Student Wellness Commission, said current menstrual products on campus are harmful to the environment and people and asked for support for a resolution to combat the issue, which passed unanimously later in the meeting.

Funding allocation:

• The council allocated $30,100.17 from the Contingency Programming Fund to one USAC entity and 55 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $16,271.79 from the Supplemental Fund For Service to four USAC entities and 14 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,380 from the Student Wellness Programming Fund to three non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $1,175.03 from the Academic Success Referendum Fund to four non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $20,497.62 from The Green Initiative Fund to one USAC entity and three non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $20 from the BruinCard Replacement Fund to two people.

• The council allocated $30 from the UCLA Housing Laundry Fund to six people.

• The council allocated $30,186.73 from the Community Service Mini Fund to 26 non-USAC entities.

• The council allocated $2,500 from the Commuter Parking Permit Grant to 25 non-USAC individuals.

Special presentation:

• Brett Berndt, an undergraduate member of the Academic Senate Undergraduate Council, presented on naloxone and fentanyl test strip access and awareness. Berndt, who is running to be a general representative on the council, suggested an event for resource distribution and education during week zero of fall quarter.

• Aatmi Mehta, an undergraduate member of the Academic Senate Committee on Library and Scholarly Communications, presented on creating new study spaces and increasing open access publishing opportunities for undergraduate students.

Appointments:

• The council appointed George Garzouzi, a third-year political science student, to the ASUCLA Board of Directors.

Officer reports:

• President Adam Tfayli attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week. Tfayli added that he had been updating a different document with his written updates and would add the updates to the document linked on the USAC agenda, but the updates were not on the document linked to the agenda.

• Internal Vice President Josh Garland attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• External Vice President Javier Nuñez-Verdugo said their office is looking to send international and undocumented students to San Francisco to lobby members of the UC Board of Regents. They added that the council met with Chancellor Julio Frenk to discuss budget cuts and visa revocations.

• General Representative Diego Emilio Bollo, who is running to be the council’s president, attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Tommy Contreras, who is running to be the council’s IVP, attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• General Representative Chris Ramsey did not update his written report for the week.

• Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino, who is running for reelection, said in his written report that he is working with Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli to do outreach at local community colleges.

• Campus Events Commissioner Robbie Hall said his office would hold its Hammer Arts Party on April 25.

• Community Service Commissioner Carolyn Wang said she is planning its Project Bruin, Educate Basic Needs Resource Fair and Service Impact Summit events.

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kyland Talbott attended the meeting and said his updates would be written but did not update his written report for the week.

• Facilities Commissioner Joy Huang said the Facilities Commission will be campaigning at Bruin Walk and the Gateway Plaza for the Universal Transit Pass Renewal Referendum. She added that the commission will be at the Coastalong festival on April 26 to advocate for the UPass Renewal Referendum in her written report.

[Related: Bike-powered Coastalong 2025 brings live music, sustainability to Drake Stadium]

• Financial Supports Commissioner Nico Morrone said his office is holding office hours to learn more about funding for student organizations.

• Student Wellness Commissioner Chiara Frank said in her written report that she is working with Huang’s office, Garland’s office and the Disabled Student Union to advocate for better service from BruinAccess and the Center for Accessible Education.

• Transfer Student Representative Mona Tavassoli said she is planning a workshop series for incoming transfer students.

• International Student Representative Syed Tamim Ahmad, who is running to be the council’s president, said in his written report that he met with Sam Nahidi, the director of the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars. He added in his written report that he met with Monica Lin, the executive director of the UC Academic Senate.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved a resolution asking UCLA to stock restrooms with sustainable menstrual hygiene products.

• The council unanimously approved a resolution asking ASUCLA to refuse cooperation with any law enforcement agencies unless compelled to legally or under exigent circumstances.