Tension rose Tuesday night as the undergraduate student
government debated sponsorship criteria listed in its constitution
bylaws, resulting from the tabling of UCLA Dance Marathon’s
request for council sponsorship.
In a 7-1-3 vote, members of the Undergraduate Students
Association Council decided to postpone a discussion on whether the
UCLA Dance Marathon qualifies for USAC sponsorship. A committee
consisting of current council members will be created to review the
current bylaws and to establish a set criteria on USAC sponsorship
of student organizations.
USAC-sponsored student groups receive benefits that other
officially recognized student organizations do not. Benefits
includes office space and an operating budget to fund items such as
paper and telephone calls. The groups are registered with the
Center for Student Programming and are not politically or
religiously based.
The UCLA Dance Marathon, once under the umbrella of the Student
Welfare Commission, sought to break away from the commission,
believing their objectives did not coincide with the
commission’s goals.
“There has been a strong separation between SWC and
us,” said Jenny Wood, the head director for the UCLA Dance
Marathon. “It only makes sense for us to completely become
our own entity but to stay in USAC … and continue (the)
relationship with the student government.”
Prior to 1999, when the Supreme Court ruled student governments
could not allocate funds based on viewpoint, groups sponsored by
USAC were organizations without religious or political
affiliations. These organizations received USAC funding and
represented minority populations on campus such as Samahang
Pilipino and the Jewish Student Union. With the Supreme Court
decision, criteria as to which organizations qualify for USAC
sponsorship have remained unclear.
Josh Lawson, a USAC general representative, voted against the
motion to table the discussion because he believes the bylaws
already establish a clear set of criteria under Article II of the
constitution, which discusses USAC sponsorship.
“The criteria we have are sufficient. … I wasn’t
for tabling so that we can go and rethink criteria when it’s
there,” Lawson said.
The motion to review the constitution was presented by External
Vice President Matt Kaczmarek, saying it would be beneficial to
council and organizations to establish a set of criteria.
“Any decision we would’ve made (Tuesday night)
would’ve been a disservice to UCLA Dance Marathon and other
USAC sponsored groups. … We need to go through the process of
setting up guidelines,” Kaczmarek said.
Wood said she understood the council’s decision to review
the bylaws but feared a possibly elongated reviewing process.
“I think it’s definitely necessary to revamp and
look through bylaws because as of right now, it’s not updated
in terms of how USAC sponsors groups,” Wood said. “I
definitely hope the process is quick … and that they’ll
have a decision sometime soon.”
Berky Nelson, director for the Center of Student Programming and
a USAC Administrative Representative, said with Supreme Court
rulings in the past several years, there has been an increasing
tendency to review certain bylaws to make sure they follow Supreme
Court rulings.
“I think it’s always a good learning process, and
any time students can sit down and discuss matters of importance to
themselves and exchange information, it’s always good,”
Nelson said.
Council will vote on appointments for the review committee at
next Tuesday night’s general meeting.