The Associated Students of UCLA Board of Directors convened for
their monthly meeting Aug. 30, most of which was held in executive
session for about two hours to discuss what board members described
as “various topics” related to finances.
Among items discussed during the open session were the
enterprise’s revenues and its relationship to groups under
the ASUCLA umbrella, which includes the Undergraduate Students
Association Council and all branches of Student Media.
As no University of California organizations are subject to the
state’s open meeting laws other than the regents, ASUCLA is
required only to abide by its own bylaws.
All ASUCLA meetings are open to the public except when a
majority of the board votes to hold executive session ““
during which only board and committee members may be present,
according to the board bylaws.
The state’s meeting laws allow closed session in specific
cases, such as pending litigation or personnel. Though certain
subjects need to be kept confidential, many students agree they
deserve to know what changes are taking place on campus.
ASUCLA decides a wide range of what goes on in student life,
from mandatory student fees to new construction projects.
In open session, ASUCLA revealed their Ackerman restaurant plans
for the upcoming fall.
One of the changes will give orange chicken devotees something
new to rave about after a summer of deprivation.
Construction on UCLA’s Panda Express is expected to be
completed by the end of September with a brand-new look and faster
service.
As it did before closing for renovation, Panda Express will
split its current waiting line, which stretches out towards
Ackerman’s entrance doors during lunchtime, into an express
line and a regular line, said Richard Delia, chief financial
director of ASUCLA.
The express line will be available to those who want to order
single entries, and the regular line will be for larger orders.
“Waiting in line at Panda Express takes forever.
That’s why I oftentimes look to other places for food,”
said Vy Le, a second-year biology student.
Students who simply want something to snack on while they study
expressed interest in being able to use an express line to get
their food more quickly.
“I’m really looking forward to the reopening of the
store,” said Tonie Wan, a second-year molecular, cell, and
developmental biology student. “Ackerman’s a nice place
to study, and not having to wait so long to get food from Panda
Express is something I’ve wanted.”
Renovation on Panda Express was something that has undergone
much planning, said Bob Williams, interim director of ASUCLA.
One concern was that the renewal of Panda Express would have to
be done in stages during the school year, but ASUCLA was able to
have the construction take place during the summer, Williams
said.
He added that the renovation of Panda Express, the most popular
eatery on campus based on sales, is part of an ongoing process to
bring better services to students.
Another new food services coming in the fall is the Wooden
Center’s Energy Zone, a 275 square foot food, drink and
athletic clothing store.
Planned to open in November, Energy Zone will be a place where
students can enjoy snacks and other foods while they work out.
“We do it for the greater good of the campus,” Delia
said.