Each year, the USAC Student Wellness Commission receives approximately$3.75 of the annual student government fees that every UCLA student pays. These funds are used to support student health initiatives and leadership retreats. Overall, SWC stewards these funds well, and is known for being a powerhouse of amazing health programming. But, when it comes to SWC leadership retreats, the privileged access to student fees is abused by the commission’s inclusion of alcohol at retreats.
In order to receive money for a retreat, SWC must submit a financial requisition to Student Government Accounting outlining the reasoning behind retreat expenditures, a proposed schedule of activities and a quote of venue and supply costs. The schedule of retreat activities often includes a physical activity of some kind, educational presentations about the work being done in the commission and bonding activities between members of the 12 committees that make up SWC. In my three years of being involved in SWC, not once has it been reported on the proposed retreat schedule that the night activity would be partying, although that is exactly what happens on the night of a leadership retreat.
In order to attend an SWC retreat, members of SWC must pay a $10 retreat fee, most of which goes to purchasing alcohol for the weekend. I would like to emphasize that the student government fees apportioned to SWC are not directly used to purchase the alcohol itself, but these funds do provide the money necessary for booking the venue where the consumption of alcohol happens. Essentially, student fees are used to provide the house where the party will be.
Personally, I have no problem with people drinking alcohol, provided that it is in the correct context. However, in my opinion, a student health leadership retreat is not the correct context for binge drinking. In addition to abusing the privilege of having access to a portion of student fees, drinking in excess at retreats does not accord with the core mission of SWC. In SWC’s Constitution, it is written: “The USAC Student Wellness Commission strives to not only keep the student body informed of current health issues, but also empower them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.” The misuse of alcohol at leadership retreats not only contradicts SWC’s core tenet of empowering students to “maintain a healthy lifestyle,” it also conflicts with the mission of committees in the commission.
The two largest committees housed under SWC are Active Minds and the Bruin Consent Coalition. The Active Minds mission statement is to change the conversation about mental health, and the BCC aims to support survivors and educate the community about sexual violence.
Substance abuse is a very serious mental illness, and inclusion of alcohol at retreats has the potential to create triggering environments for those that have been personally affected by the damaging consequences of alcohol abuse. I’ve spoken to members of both committees who have expressed discomfort about the drinking at retreats but do not feel comfortable with speaking out against it. These students instead choose not to attend retreats at all, and miss out on opportunities to meet and form lasting social and professional connections with students in other areas of health leadership.
This problem is further complicated by the fact that, during fall quarter, the commission voted to take on Bruins 4 Recovery as an affiliate organization. Bruins 4 Recovery is a group of students that aims to fight the stigma of drug and alcohol addiction and create safe, sober spaces for UCLA students. SWC holds a leadership retreat once every quarter, and in the past school year, there has never been a member of Bruins 4 Recovery in attendance at an SWC retreat.
I understand that my stance on this issue is unpopular because for some, drinking is a large part of the undergraduate culture at UCLA. But the reality is that the inclusion of drinking at SWC retreats is exclusionary and can prevent students who want to be involved from being involved. At UCLA, students should be able to engage in meaningful student wellness leadership without fear of entering into an unsafe space in order to participate fully. I urge the incoming leadership of SWC to acknowledge that, as student health leaders, we must strive to engage in conduct that is not just above reproach, but is inclusive for all and representative of UCLA health as a whole.
Virzi is a fourth-year English student and the outgoing executive director of Active Minds.