USAC Recap – Aug. 18

The Undergraduate Students Association Council unanimously approved a letter urging UCLA to preserve its childcare program at its Aug. 18 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:

• President Jayha Buhs Jackson said she appointed herself to the Bruin Learn Working Group – a committee advising UCLA on its learning management platform – for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Sofia Bruno, a rising third-year psychology student, to the Data Governance Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Andrew Campuzano, a rising third-year labor studies and political science student, to the Community Service Mini Fund for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Danielle Nabong, a rising third-year political science student, to the Campus Retention Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Vincent Kwan, a rising second-year history student, as chair of the Oversight Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Academic Affairs Commissioner Angela Ledesma-Grattarola to the Academic Senate Executive Board for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Summer Lai, a rising third-year international development studies student, to the Academic Senate Undergraduate Council for the 2026-27 academic year.
• The council appointed Allie Quan, a rising fourth-year environmental science student, to The Green Initiative Fund Committee for the 2026-27 academic year.

Officer reports:

• Buhs Jackson said her office discussed with the Middle Eastern Student Association – a cultural organization serving Southwest Asian and North African students – about advocating for a Southwest Asian and North African resource center at UCLA.
• Internal Vice President Gabrielle Trujillo said she met with other USAC officers and incoming UC Student Association President Candice Phan to advocate for the retroactive removal of incomplete notations from student transcripts. She added that her office received 52 applications for director positions and that she co-authored a statement supporting test-blind admissions.
• External Vice President Cecilia Choy said her office is working with UCSA to prepare for the September UC Board of Regents meeting. Choy said her office’s priorities include compliance with Senate Bill 98 – a law requesting UC campuses to notify their communities if immigration enforcement activity is confirmed on campus – and funding for Underground Scholars programs across the UCs, which support students who were formerly incarcerated.
• General Representative Evan Salazar said he met with the Live Like Braun Foundation – a nonprofit that promotes awareness on the risks of impaired driving in memory of Braun Levi, who was killed May 4, 2025, at 18 years old after being struck by an alleged drunk driver – to discuss initiatives supporting students traveling through Westwood at night. Salazar said potential initiatives include distributing free water and naloxone and funding volunteers who walk students home.
• General Representative Pranaya Vijay said Assembly Bill 2212 – a bill addressing technology-facilitated sexual harassment at colleges – advanced out of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. She added that her office hopes to work with UCLA administrators and resource centers to incorporate the bill’s updated definitions into campus resources if it becomes law.
• General Representative Susie Turner said she attended a political organizing event in Oakland with the Afrikan Black Coalition – a statewide organization representing Black students – and Black Lives Matter Youth Vanguard, a youth-led Black organizing group. She added that the groups are seeking support for Assembly Bill 2551, which would expand reporting on protest-related student conduct violations and call for open forums within the UC and CSU systems to gather student feedback on Time, Place and Manner policies.
• Ledesma-Grattarola said her office is interviewing applicants for its executive and director positions. She added that she plans to meet with the Registrar’s office to discuss incomplete notations.
• Campus Events Commissioner Salem Walsh said her office, alongside the Cultural Affairs Commission, is planning Bruin Bash – UCLA’s annual fall concert – and has begun posting information about the event on Instagram.
• Community Service Commissioner Maya Gheewala said her office will hold UCLA Volunteer Day, an annual campuswide service event, Sept. 26. She added that the commission published its spring transparency report and is collaborating with the Student Wellness Commission on a pamphlet explaining USAC offices to students.
• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Divine Trewick said her office is organizing Bruin Bash with the Campus Events Commission. She added that the commission confirmed venues for several of its fall programs, such as its art galleries, the poetry open mic series The Word on Wednesday and Hip Hop Congress – a program showcasing artists of color.
• Facilities Commissioner Paige Zwerner said her office is completing hiring and committee appointments. She added that she plans to begin meetings with UCLA administrators after returning from abroad.
• Financial Supports Commissioner Corea Kim said applications to join her office opened Aug. 18. She added that the office is collaborating on a financial wellness workshop and invited other USAC offices to participate.
• Student Wellness Commissioner Daniela Castro said her office is planning Healthcoming – an annual wellness event held in fall quarter – and is working to reserve Wilson Plaza. She added that the commission has tabled at New Student Orientations to promote health resources and its fall internship program.
• Transfer Student Representative Ashley Ma said her office completed director hiring and began planning Transfer Transitions, a welcome program for incoming transfer students.
• International Student Representative Charbel Chehade was absent and did not update his written report.

Agenda items:

• Buhs Jackson and Trujillo presented a proposed bylaw change that would require the main sponsors of a resolution to forfeit one stipend payment for every meeting in which they fail to justify missing a required resolution update. Council members discussed clarifying how and when officers would communicate a valid justification. The proposal was not brought to a vote.
• Trujillo presented proposed changes to USAC’s appointment bylaws that would correct outdated committee names, add missing appointments and clarify the number and length of several committee terms. The proposed changes were not brought to a vote.
• Trujillo also proposed updating bylaw references to the formerly titled Congressional Advisory Board – a group connecting USAC with student organizations and campus stakeholders – to its current name, Campus Advisory Board. She proposed updating the membership of the Campus Safety Alliance to reflect changes to administrative positions and add the associate vice chancellor for campus and community safety. The proposal was not brought to a vote.
• The council unanimously approved a letter urging UCLA to continue operating its Early Care and Education program – which includes two childcare centers – beyond its planned June 30, 2027, closure. The letter, written in collaboration with Bruin Parenting Scholars, calls for affected students, employees and families to be included in the university’s decisions about childcare.