The Undergraduate Students Association Council passed 18 resolutions during the 2025-26 academic year, but its public resolution document only includes reports for three as of late May.
USAC officers must update resolution reports with documentation on meetings, programming and other follow-up actions taken after resolutions are passed, according to the current USAC bylaws, which also require primary sponsors to provide written and verbal updates after resolutions pass.
The council passed resolutions that addressed issues related to student support, alleged campus discrimination and university funding priorities. However, other than the three resolutions listed, there is little public information from officers about progress.
Failure to update a resolution report without valid justification may be reviewed by the judicial board, which can determine appropriate remedial action, according to the bylaws. The bylaws also direct the internal vice president to schedule a special presentation if required updates are not provided within the prescribed timeline.
USAC also included author and sponsor names in published resolutions, violating bylaws stating no names shall appear.
Former USAC President Diego Bollo did not respond to requests for comment about the enforcement of resolution reporting requirements.
Incoming USAC President Jayha Buhs Jackson, a second-year African American studies and public affairs student, said resolution reports aim to ensure council members follow through on legislation.
“The purpose of a resolution is to make a statement, but it’s also to include action items,” said Buhs Jackson, who served as a general representative during the 2025-26 academic year. “It does not make sense to release resolutions just to release them because that’s being performative, and that’s not actually creating any meaningful change or advocacy.”
Buhs Jackson said while officers often provided verbal updates on resolutions during council meetings, USAC leadership did not consistently enforce written reports. Stronger enforcement of reporting requirements – including potential judicial board involvement when necessary – will be a priority during her presidency, she added.
“It’s unacceptable for council members when we don’t follow bylaws,” Buhs Jackson said. “That’s what we’re elected to do.”
The three resolutions included in the update document condemned alleged anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism, condemned budget cuts to the Academic Advancement Program’s access and retention services, and showed support for Iranian students amid uprisings against the nation’s government.
A Resolution in Defense of SEVP Protections and International Security at UCLA
Sponsor: Former International Student Representative Keya Tanna
The council passed a resolution condemning the revocation of Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification and expressing concern about the politicization of immigration enforcement in higher education May 27, 2025.
The resolution also called on UCLA to reaffirm its SEVP certification status, expand immigration legal resources and develop a crisis response plan for international students in the event of federal scrutiny or SEVP revocation. The Trump administration revoked the visas of at least 19 UCLA students and alumni in April 2025, but the federal government said later that month it would reinstate students’ visas while developing a consistent framework for status termination.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Tanna did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
A Resolution in Support of Save VIPS Initiative and Rejection of Pausing AAP Access and Retention Programs
Sponsors: Former General Representative and incoming President Jayha Buhs Jackson, Afrikan Student Union
USAC passed a resolution that opposed reductions to AAP’s access and retention initiatives. AAP provides counseling and academic advising services to students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds.
The resolution supported the “Save VIPS” campaign, which advocated for the reinstatement of the Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars, a retention program under AAP. AAP paused VIPS, along with several other counseling initiatives, in July following budget cuts.
Buhs Jackson said USAC created the resolution shortly after AAP announced reductions affecting several programs, including AAP’s Freshman Summer Program, which allows incoming undergraduate students to take summer classes at UCLA.
“It created a very pressing matter,” she said. “We knew USAC needed to make a statement on it but also needed to raise awareness on what VIPS is.”
Buhs Jackson acknowledged, though, that the resolution produced fewer concrete results than the sponsors had hoped.
“That was more disappointing,” Buhs Jackson said. “It was a lot more harder to get the demands that we requested.”
Buhs Jackson alleged that limited communication from UCLA administrators hindered USAC’s efforts to advocate for AAP funding, adding that AAP staffing and programming concerns remain unresolved.
The university is committed to supporting students through AAP and VIPS, the UCLA Division of Undergraduate Education said in an emailed statement.
“While campuswide funding constraints have required difficult decisions and changes to some services, AAP continues to serve students as they navigate UCLA’s academic opportunities and resources,” the division said in the statement. “The university will continue working with campus partners to support access, retention, and student success.”
Resolution Calling for the Recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day at UCLA
Sponsors: Former Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras, UCLA chapter of Students Demand Action
The council passed the resolution recognizing June 6 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 3, 2025. The resolution highlighted national and California gun violence statistics and honored victims of gun violence, including Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who was shot and killed in Chicago in 2013. It also encouraged the UCLA community to wear orange June 6 and support community-led gun violence prevention efforts.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Contreras did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Condemning the Campus-Wide and Global Rise of Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Muslim Racism
Sponsor: Former General Representative and incoming President Jayha Buhs Jackson
USAC passed the anti-racism resolution July 8 in response to anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism. The resolution called for solidarity with impacted students and condemned racism on campus and globally.
Buhs Jackson, who served in a UC Student Association role, said conversations with Muslim Student Association leaders and other Southwest Asian and North African student communities inspired the council to create the resolution.
“I was just like, ‘What do you want us to do, and how can we best support you?’” she said. “We started to meet over the summer … to create meaningful resolutions with action items that were possible and could lead to meaningful change.”
The resolution sought to create an institutional impact, including greater university recognition of Islamophobia and improved support for students, Buhs Jackson said.
Beyond UCLA, Buhs Jackson said one of the resolution’s most significant outcomes was helping initiate a statewide SWANA lobby day through the UC Student Association. The event, held in Sacramento, allowed students from multiple campuses to advocate for issues affecting their communities.
“It was a great way to get these communities involved in advocacy and prioritize their voices,” she said. “The fact that we were able to take part in creation of the statewide lobby day for these underprioritized communities … was amazing to see.”
Although the resolution appears in the update document, USAC did not include some implementation details – including organizing efforts and opposition encountered during the process – in the written report.
Resolution Condemning Layoffs and Governance Changes to the Campus Retention Committee (CRC) and the Student-Initiated Outreach Committee (SIOC)
Sponsor: Former External Vice President Sherry Zhou
The council passed the resolution condemning UCLA’s decision to terminate the contracts of five project directors from student-initiated retention and access programs under the UCLA Community Programs Office on July 15. Project directors alleged in a July 2 letter that Campus Life, a division of Student Affairs, said it ended their contracts in response to federal directives that “reinterpret diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as potentially non-compliant with anti-discrimination laws.”
The resolution opposed alleged structural changes to the Campus Retention Committee and Student Initiated Outreach Committee, which oversee student-run retention and access programs serving historically underrepresented students. The programs provide services such as academic support, community outreach, mentorship and student advocacy.
It also called for the extension of project director contracts through the 2025-26 academic year, reinstatement of summer payroll for staff and preservation of student-led governance structures within CRC and SIOC programs.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Zhou did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
A Resolution Condemning President Drake’s Memo Banning Boycotts Against Countries by UC Student Governments
Sponsor: Former Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras
USAC passed the resolution Aug. 5, 2025, condemning a July 2 memo from then-UC President Michael Drake that prohibited UC student governments from boycotting companies based on associations with other countries.
The resolution argued that Drake’s letter infringed on student governments’ First Amendment rights. It cited UC policies on viewpoint neutrality and student autonomy in shared governance. It also called on University leadership to reaffirm protections for student speech and ensure student governments are not retaliated against for supporting boycott efforts.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Contreras did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution to Request the Department of Justice Letter
Sponsor: Former President Diego Bollo
The council passed the resolution Sept. 30, 2025 requesting the UC Office of the President, UCLA administration and UCLA Academic Senate leadership publicize a Department of Justice letter that requested a $1 billion settlement from UCLA to restore $584 million in frozen research grants.
The settlement letter also demanded that UCLA pay $172 million in a claims fund for people impacted by alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, stop offering race and ethnicity-based scholarships and hire new administrators to oversee compliance with the demands.
The UC released the letter in October after a California Supreme Court order mandated it to do so. A federal judge in November struck down the $1 billion fine and barred the Trump administration from freezing or threatening to freeze any more of the UC’s funding.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Bollo did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling for Accountability, Compliance, and Support for Parenting Students at UCLA
Sponsors: Former President Diego Bollo, Bruin Parenting Scholars
USAC passed the resolution Sept. 30, 2025, calling on UCLA to strengthen institutional support for parenting students by complying with California Assembly Bills 79 and 1326. The bills create public service training and establish higher education liaisons, respectively, which help parenting students access public social services.
The resolution urged the university to allocate funding for a full-time liaison from CalWORKs, a California program that provides cash aid and support services to eligible low-income families. The goal is to support students who are parents with case management and benefit navigation and improve outreach to eligible students, according to the resolution.
It also called on UCLA to consult with Bruin Parenting Scholars in expanding services and leadership opportunities for students who are parents.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Bollo did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution to Honor the Life of Professor Kent Wong
Sponsors: Former President Diego Bollo, IDEAS at UCLA, Immigrant Justice in Action Coalition
The council passed the resolution Oct. 14, 2025 to honor Asian American studies and labor studies professor Kent Wong, who died Oct. 8, 2025 at age 69. The resolution recognized Wong’s contributions as the director of the UCLA Labor Center, a labor research and advocacy institute focused on workers’ rights and social justice.
It also highlighted his role in expanding labor and immigrant rights programs, supporting undocumented students and helping establish initiatives such as the Los Angeles Black Worker Center – which advocates for Black workers and economic justice – and the Dream Resource Center, which provides support and resources for undocumented students.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Bollo did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution to Request Course Marking
Sponsors: Ria Babaria, Michelson Philanthropic Foundation
USAC passed the resolution Oct. 14, 2025, requesting that UCLA require professors to disclose necessary course materials at the time of enrollment. The resolution cited students’ financial burdens and pointed to similar policies adopted at other public universities, such as the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Kansas State University.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Babaria and former Academic Affairs Commissioner Cristopher Espino, a co-sponsor, did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
A Resolution in Solidarity with the People of Iran and in Support of the Ongoing Uprisings Against the Islamic Republic of Iran
Sponsors: Former General Representative Talia Davood, Iranian Student Group at UCLA
USAC passed the resolution in collaboration with the Iranian Student Group at UCLA on Jan. 13.
Davood, a fourth-year political science student, said she sponsored the resolution to raise awareness of the Iranian government’s attacks on protesters in the country while supporting Iranian students at UCLA. The resolution cited reports of arrests, violence and other government crackdowns against demonstrators protesting the Iranian government.
“I was over here in the U.S., and I’m thinking, ‘Nobody knows what’s going on in Iran,’” Davood said. “I am in student government. I have a platform to bring attention to this.”
Dina Shirazi, a third-year psychobiology student and ISG director of philanthropy, said her goal was to increase awareness of the experiences of Iranian students on campus and help other people understand the international conflict.
“We wanted to show what our people are going through,” Shirazi said. “If you don’t have family there, you don’t really see how their lives are affected, and you don’t understand how ongoing the oppression that they face is.”
Following the resolution’s passage, Davood said her office collaborated with student groups to publicize the resolution and organized several outreach initiatives, including a fundraiser in which 30% of proceeds were donated to the nonprofit organization National Union for Democracy in Iran.
Davood added that she met with UCLA’s Counseling and Psychological Services and Campus Assault Resources and Education, which provide mental health services to students, to discuss potential mental health programming for Iranian students.
Although ISG members ultimately declined organized programming, she said her office shared mental health resources and compiled a document of support materials for students.
“I did want to go out of my way to schedule that meeting and gather and collect resources and relay it back to the students that might find them useful,” Davood said.
Many ISG members instead preferred emotional support through community gatherings with other Iranian students, Shirazi said.
“They found those to be so much more effective and supportive in their mental health because you’re surrounded by people who are going through the same thing,” she said.
The resolution report documents several of these efforts, including the CAPS meeting, fundraiser and social media resource sharing. However, Davood said she received little instruction regarding how reports should be completed and primarily included major action items instead of informal outreach and ongoing updates.
Davood said she considered the resolution successful because it quickly raised awareness, facilitated conversations around student support and connected students with mental health resources.
“We touched all the bases,” Davood said. “On-campus action, external with the fundraising and also just facilitating awareness.”
A Resolution Calling for Support of UC Students Association Racial Justice Now Campaign
Sponsors: Former External Vice President Sherry Zhou, UCLA Racial Justice Now Coordinator Zooey Lê-Baker, UC Students Association Racial Justice Now Coordinator Trinity Thornton, UC Riverside Vice President of External Affairs Briana Trujillo
The council passed the resolution Jan. 13 supporting UCSA’s “Racial Justice Now” campaign, an annual advocacy effort focused on improving educational and career outcomes for underrepresented students across the UC. It also supported UCSA’s proposal for a UC-wide first-generation workforce development program, which aims to address postgraduation career disparities for students from first-generation, low-income and underrepresented backgrounds.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Zhou did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling for Transparency and Ethical Accountability in Light of Associations Between UCLA Professor and Jeffrey Epstein
Sponsor: Former Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras
USAC passed the resolution Feb. 3, condemning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and called for increased transparency regarding any financial, research or institutional ties between UCLA-affiliated individuals and Epstein or his affiliated foundations.
The resolution referenced correspondence between Mark Tramo, an associate adjunct professor of neurology who announced plans to retire in March, and Epstein. Tramo communicated with Epstein over email at least semiregularly between 2010 and 2019, with the pair discussing research, philanthropy and at one point, Tramo’s students, according to DOJ documents.
Appearing in the documents does not imply criminal wrongdoing. Several people mentioned in previous releases have denied wrongdoing relating to Epstein.
Tramo said to the Daily Bruin in March that he interacted with Epstein in his capacity as a science philanthropist.
“The Council’s resolution is moot at this point, since I canceled my one Spring course and am retiring in June,” Tramo said in an emailed statement to the Daily Bruin in March. “Unfortunately, up to 100 arts and humanities students won’t be able to earn a Life Sciences core credit by taking my GE course this Spring as a result of the McCarthyism, hysteria, and prejudice promulgated by the media, including the Daily Bruin, and exemplified by the Council’s resolution.”
The resolution also urged UCLA to review donor vetting processes, establish clearer ethical guidelines for faculty and donor relationships, as well as publish any policy changes related to donor oversight and ethical review made since 2019.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Contreras did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling for UCLA to Establish a Firewall for Freedom
Sponsors: Former Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras, Amnesty International at UCLA
The council passed the resolution March 3, calling on UCLA to protect civil and human rights on campus. It urged the university to resist federal demands that, according to the resolution, could pressure universities to cooperate with immigration enforcement agencies, restrict protected political speech and initiatives that aim to create inclusive environments.
The resolution also called for UCLA to implement safeguards against the voluntary disclosure of student information to federal or out-of-state authorities, as well as establish policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement officers.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Contreras did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling on the University of California Regents to Divest from Companies Complicit in Human Rights Violations and Militarization in the Philippines
Sponsors: Former Transfer Student Representative Hyerim Yoon, Philippine-U.S. Solidarity Organization West Los Angeles
The council passed the resolution March 10, calling on the UC Board of Regents to investigate and divest from companies involved in weapons manufacturing and military contracting tied to human rights violations and militarization in the Philippines.
The resolution cited UC investments in major defense and technology corporations and urged the regents to publicly disclose investment relationships, condemn alleged abuses against activists and divest from weapons manufacturing companies.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Yoon did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling on the California State Legislature to Pass Assembly Constitutional Amendment 18
Sponsor: Former External Vice President Sherry Zhou
The council passed the resolution April 7 designating USAC as a co-sponsor of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 18, which would increase the number of voting students on the UC Board of Regents from one to two. It also urged the California State Legislature to pass the measure.
The resolution called for USAC to submit formal letters of support and designate the external vice president’s office to lead advocacy efforts on the amendment.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Zhou did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling on the Adoption of a Zero-Emissions Standard for South Coast Air Quality Management District Rules 1146 and 1146.1
Sponsor: Former External Vice President Sherry ZhouSherry Zhou
USAC passed the resolution April 14, supporting the adoption of a zero-emissions standard for South Coast Air Quality Management District, an agency responsible for monitoring air quality standards in Southern California.
The resolution urged the district to transition to zero-emissions alternatives to reduce pollution and improve regional air quality. It also called on UCLA to formally submit a letter in support of the proposed updates.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Zhou did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
Resolution Calling on the Preservation of Federal Scientific Research Grants and Innovation at UCLA and the University of California System
Sponsor: Former Internal Vice President Tommy Contreras
The council passed the resolution May 19 to recognize the importance of UCLA’s federal research funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Department of Energy.
The resolution highlighted cuts to federal research funding and their impact on undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, workforce development and the University’s broader role as a system of public research institutions.
The resolution was not updated on the report. Contreras did not respond to a request for comment on the resolution’s progress, what actions were taken in response and why the resolution was not updated on the report.
As the incoming USAC president, Buhs Jackson said she plans to more actively enforce resolution reporting requirements, including by publicly requesting updates during council meetings and involving the judicial board if council members do not follow the bylaws.
“We can’t create a precedent of not following our own bylaws,” Buhs Jackson said. “The student body elected us to follow that constitution.”
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