There are quite a few holes in the Undergraduate Student
Association Council’s argument for a fee increase, but its
potential to improve the undergraduate experience should lead
students to approve it during online elections today and
tomorrow.
The referendum would add $9.25 to the $24.09 USAC fee students
pay quarterly. USAC is in need of this money because of increased
overhead costs that resulted in a $30,000 cut to their
discretionary fund from a year ago. The referendum would generate
an estimated $210,000 to be distributed between student groups and
USAC offices.
USAC hasn’t yet shown itself to be expert at distributing
funds, and the wording of this referendum is no different.
President David Dahle has claimed the referendum has undergone more
preparation than any measure in recent memory. But that planning
didn’t include a comprehensive plan for how these funds will
be used aside from stating how much funds will be available to each
USAC office, and what lump sum will be available for division among
student groups.
No student group has provided justification for needing more
money aside from the fact that they have received more in the past.
And the six USAC offices receiving allocations have not identified
how the funds will be used even though they are by nature
organizations that rely on planned events. Movie nights, cultural
events and the like don’t happen spontaneously, they need to
be planned well in advance. None of the commissions have publically
demonstrated any of this planning so far in the context of
receiving additional funds.
Academic Affairs Commissioner Chris Diaz’s actions have
gone against Dahle’s claims, as well ““ he forfeited a
share in the potential gains of the referendum because he
didn’t feel his office needed more money allocated directly
to it. He felt restricting the funds to a single office would
result in immobile funds when USAC really needs the flexibility to
distribute the money to the offices and groups most in need.
While they should be weary, these concerns shouldn’t stop
students from approving the referendum. It hasn’t been
perfectly planned for, but the simple truth is USAC needs the money
if they are to have a chance at improving the undergraduate
experience at UCLA. Some of the most popular and effective student
groups had their funding dramatically cut this year and won’t
be able to provide as many programs without more money.
If the groups do get this money, though, they need to start
differentiating between the ability to simply do more programming
and actually program well. Additional funding shouldn’t
result in adding more of the same programs that are already
occurring but instead create new programs to lure previously
uninterested students into university life.
Some important USAC offices, like the Campus Events Commission,
provide a solid track record in serving students and are in obvious
need of funding. The CEC hasn’t had a funding increase since
1985. Between inflation and a growing student population, the
commission no longer has the resources to provide programs for the
undergraduate student body like it once could.
With all of the problems with the referendum, why should
students vote for it?
Sadly, the best answer is USAC should be given the benefit of
the doubt.