Students First! has held a majority for nearly a year and has accomplished an impressive array of platform items. There remain, however, many campus issues that have not been addressed and require further attention.
Private lenders have powerful lobbies that must be confronted in order to ensure that students can have an affordable education.
USAC needs to advocate for more student aid and lobby at the state level.
Norah Sarsour, a member of the chancellor’s enrollment advisory committee, said she recommends USAC look into a no-interest loan program that can be created from surplus funds as an additional source of student aid.
2. Housing is also a significant problem. There are few affordable housing options on campus or in Westwood.
Landlords are free to raise rent every year. Currently there is very limited UCLA off-campus housing.
By expanding off-campus housing options and keeping rent low, UCLA not only can increase affordable housing opportunities, but also create competition that may force apartment owners to lower rent.
Westwood exists because of UCLA. By persuading UCLA housing officials to create a greater UCLA presence in the housing business, USAC can help create more affordable housing options off campus.
3. Accessibility remains a serious issue.
A number of students who are not citizens do not have access to financial aid solely because they lack California residency.
The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act promises to grant aid to students who have lived in the U.S. for almost their entire lives and yet cannot afford to go to UCLA.
USAC can promote the DREAM Act on campus and persuade UCLA to make it a priority. USAC must endeavor to give every student access to higher education at UCLA.
4. Important campus services have recently experienced devastating funding cuts. Covel Tutorials no longer offers tutorials in writing. Funding for the Academic Advancement Program has been cut.
Class sizes increase, and yet the number of teaching assistants decreases and department funds are cut.
USAC must ensure that once students are admitted they are treated to a full scope of academic services and resources. Student government should pressure the administration to prioritize critical campus services.
Tutoring, retention services and an adequate number of teaching staff cannot be overlooked.
5. Students consistently complain about the limited health services offered on campus. A trip to the Ashe Center almost always results in a referral to a medical doctor elsewhere.
The Student and Health Advisers group on the Hill is also greatly restricted as to what sorts of services and drugs it can give to students. The Ashe Center and SHAs must offer more comprehensive and useful services in order to adequately serve sick students.
6. Recently, homelessness on campus has emerged as a real problem.
According to the USAC president’s office, there are roughly 100-200 homeless students attending UCLA.
USAC took steps this year to address the homelessness problem with its recent BruINTENT program, but further action must be taken to provide housing and financial aid to those without homes.
7. Course readers, of course, remain the bane of every student’s college experience.
USAC General Representative Monica Kohles initiated a pilot program where course readers are printed by Associated Students UCLA.
This is a great step toward taking away the control Westwood shops have over course readers and their prices. Students continue, however, to be forced to purchase expensive course readers.
USAC must ensure that alternatives and cheaper course readers are offered next year.
USAC will encounter other important issues as well, including the demand for a reform of student group funding procedure and a more transparent appeals process. Regardless of the particular slate, the winner of next week’s elections must be prepared to contend with consistent student problems and maintain successful policies of the past.
E-mail Ansari at sansari@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.