Though the last complete undergraduate student government
meeting Tuesday night ended on a bright note, the year has been
filled with both success and hardship, and overall, councilmembers
say their work has proved worthwhile.
Throughout the year, the Undergraduate Students Association
Council has worked on many campaigns and events, which it says have
effectively served the student body, and officers say they have
fulfilled the promises they made during their campaigns.
President Anica McKesey pointed to work registering voters,
fighting against Proposition 54, making progress on the diversity
requirement, and a successful Welcome Week as some of
council’s biggest accomplishments.
“I think our council has been extremely successful. …
We’ve had consistent programming and effective campaigns that
have produced a result for students,” McKesey said.
Students have become increasingly involved in the democratic
process and participated in programs ranging from community service
events to forums on issues such as racial and ethnic identity, said
Linda Lam, general representative. Still, the majority of students
on campus know little about USAC, indicating that in terms of the
goal of visibility, councilmembers have a long way to go.
“This year has gone beyond my expectations. Not only did
we break records for each of the events we’ve done … but we
have started more events,” said Janet Chiang, Student Welfare
commissioner.
“We had really high expectations this year. We did so
much,” said Allende Palma/Saracho, internal vice
president.
Council has accomplished many of its collective goals, McKesey
said, adding that there is much more that needs to be continued
next year.
This year, USAC has begun work on repealing the minimum progress
requirement, fighting against student fees, and creating forums for
discussion between students and the administration, Lam said,
adding that she both hopes and expects this work to continue and
expand next year.
In spite of the work done toward achieving these goals, the
minimum progress requirement has not been repealed, undergraduate
student fees went up by 30 percent, and the forums were often
limited in the groups that were involved.
Still, most councilmembers say the progress made is significant,
as they laid the groundwork upon which next year’s council
can build.
“Minimum progress, that’s the last item on our
action agenda. It’s definitely something that has made a lot
of progress. … I hope that’s something next year’s
council will take,” Chiang said.
In one of its last actions as a council, USAC committed to a
service transcript proposal which Community Service Commissioner
Justin Schreiber said will give students the opportunity to
document their volunteer hours.
This proposal, which was started by Schreiber and his office
this year, is one of the items that will hopefully be continued by
the next council, Chiang said.
“Across the board, council has had a lot of great
victories. We set a standard for what USAC should be like,”
McKesey said.
This year, council has set an example of how to work together
and build a coalition, McKesey said.
Many councilmembers have affirmed this cohesiveness, which is
something previously absent that will hopefully continue next
year.
“I think it’s definitely more cohesive this year
than I’ve seen in the past,” Chiang said.
Many of the offices work together to accomplish the goals they
set out at the beginning of their terms, and it is often impossible
to separate personal accomplishments from council ones, Lam
said.
Still, the year has not been without its obstacles.
Some struggles council faced this year were two cases being
taken to the USAC judicial board ““ one questioning the
presidential appointment process and another questioning student
group funding allocations. This year also saw a change in
councilmembers when general representative Nelson Saldaña
resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Art Ambrosio.
And not all councilmembers say they have experienced cooperation
and support on council.
In particular, general representative Josh Lawson has said he
has been alienated by council.
Lawson points to council’s closed attitude toward varying
opinions as the primary reason that he has not received support on
council.
“I think council could have been more willing to look at
new issues … they have no respect for the opposition
argument,” Lawson said, adding that he had not received
support on many of his programs, possibly because of slate
affiliation.
But other councilmembers say that Lawson’s separation from
councilmembers is due to his desire to work independently from
council.
Regardless of tension that many have existed on council, many
councilmembers say they are proud of their work and value the
experiences they have had throughout the year.
“I’ve loved it. I have respect for all the people
who are there, who sit on council,” Lawson said.