USAC Recap – Aug. 4

The Undergraduate Students Association Council approved eight new appointments and discussed plans to financially support students following increased Bruin One Access fees at its August 4 meeting.

USAC is the official student government representing the undergraduate student body at UCLA. Council meetings are open to all students and are usually held in person at the Bruin Viewpoint Room and on Zoom every Tuesday at 7 p.m., though the council will meet virtually every other week over the summer. Students can find links to the meetings in the agenda posted on the USAC website or watch a livestream on the USAC Live! YouTube channel.

Public comment:

• No public commenters spoke.

Appointments:

• Tessa Hao was appointed as the USA Board of Directors Funding chair for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Jaelyn Han was appointed to the Community Service Mini Fund for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Jennifer Dao was appointed to the Community Service Mini Fund for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Isaac Chan was appointed to the Campus Programs Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Malaika Nyende was appointed to the USA Judicial Board for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Kaitlyn Uesugi was appointed to the USA Judicial Board for a two-year term.
• Bouchra Alioua was appointed to the Student Fee Advisory Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.
• Zulaykha Ahmadzada was appointed to the Student Initiated Outreach Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.

Officer reports:

• President Jayha Buhs Jackson said in her written report that her office is discussing reinstating meal swipes as payment at more ASUCLA Dining Services with Pouria Abbassi, ASUCLA’s chief executive officer and executive director. She added that Abbassi is working to issue grants to offset the price increase to Bruin One Access. Increased cost of maintenance for ASUCLA services, such as electricity, caused the price increase, Buhs Jackson said in her report.
• Internal Vice President Gabrielle Trujillo said in her written report that she attended the inaugural Latinx Welcome Planning Committee meeting. Trujillo added in her report that she plans to establish permanent funding to the Latinx Success Center, which hosted the event. Her office is also planning a meeting with associate vice chancellor of campus and community safety Steve Lurie and UCPD chief of police Craig Valenzuela to discuss transparency in weapons reports, as well as adding a student representative to the Campus Security Authority, she said in the report.
• External Vice President Cecilia Choy said in her written report that she attended the UC Student Association Student Organizing Summit in Pomona, California, where she advocated for test-free admissions in the UC system and student representation in city councils. Her office is also working on a statement for implementing SB 98 – a state senate bill that would require schools to notify students, faculty, staff and parents whenever immigration enforcement is present on campus – she said in the report.
• General Representative Evan Salazar said in his written report that he discussed the alleged inaccurate representation of USAC in the “UCLA Initiative to Combat Antisemitism Action Group Report” with associate vice chancellor for campus life Mick Deluca and Chris Weber – a representative for the report and the Chancellor’s Office Director of Strategic Plan Initiatives. Salazar added that the report has since been updated. Salazar said he voiced concerns for conflation of antisemitic and anti-zionist sentiment in the report, adding that he and Weber will continue discussion of the topic throughout the year.
• General Representative Pranaya Vijay said in her written report that Assembly Bill 2212 – which asks UC campuses to have student orientation, training and crime-reporting resources for technology-facilitated sexual harassment – was placed on suspense file with a unanimous vote, and the bill’s status will be announced Thursday.
• General Representative Susie Turner said in her written report that her office attended UCSA’s Student Organizing Summit. The office is continuing to finalize executive and director applications, she added in the report.
• Academic Affairs Commissioner Angela Ledesma-Grattarola did not update her written report.
• Campus Events Commissioner Salem Walsh did not update her written report.
• Community Service Commissioner Maya Gheewala said in her written report that her office is collaborating with ASUCLA on the fall CalFresh Registration event and Financial Wellness night.
• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick did not update her written report.
• Facilities Commissioner Paige Zwerner said in her written report that the office is interviewing and working on outreach with The Green Initiative Fund, which funds environment and sustainability-focused projects.
• Financial Supports Commissioner Corea Kim said in her written report that her office has continued to work on a new Financial Transparency Viewer, a “live” document that will make USAC’s budget more transparent to students and be updated.
• Student Wellness Commissioner Daniela Castro said in her written report that her office’s budget handbook is submitted and hiring is complete. The office is transitioning to new leadership, she added in the report.
• Transfer Student Representative Ashley Ma said in her written report that the office is collecting data on transfer student presence and inclusion in student organizations.
• International Student Representative Charbel Chehade did not update his written report.

Agenda items:

• The council unanimously approved a bylaw change brought by the Constitutional Review Committee, adding four groups to the Community Service Commission, including Bridge2Healthcare and the Emergency Medicine Club. The change also removes three groups from the commission, including Bruin Hope and Kids Korner.