From music to politics, student government provides an outlet
for a variety of interests and skills.
With a wide array of programming and the numerous duties they
entail, the undergraduate and graduate student governments offer
students the opportunity to get involved on campus, no matter what
their interests.
Many current councilmembers followed their interests to
eventually find themselves in the elected leadership positions they
now hold.
As a huge music fan in high school, Jason Gaulton, the
Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Campus Events
commissioner, met members of the commission through attending
concerts at venues on Sunset Boulevard. He immediately decided to
get involved and became the first high school student to become a
commission staff member.
From there, he worked his way up.
As the current head of the commission, Gaulton oversees numerous
concerts, weekly $2 movies at Ackerman Union and free sneak
previews, among other programs.
Gaulton said he would encourage students to pursue whatever
interests they have and use the resources available to them.
“Everything is extremely accessible,” Gaulton said.
“A little bit of effort will result in large
rewards.”
Using the volunteering opportunities available to him, Community
Service Commissioner Justin Schreiber began his rise to the top by
joining Bruin Partners, a group that mentors middle school
students.
It is important for incoming students to get involved early to
become familiar with the programs and have a greater chance of
filling leadership roles, Schreiber said.
Schreiber now oversees 20 community service groups that provide
services ranging from tutoring to feeding the homeless.
In addition to the commissions on council stressing programming,
USAC also has political offices.
General Representative Josh Lawson got involved on council
because of his interest in politics and past experience on student
government. As the president of his community college, Lawson said
he discovered that being on student government gave students the
opportunity to make an impact.
“It is the most direct means of influencing the
campus,” Lawson said.
Nelson Saldaña, another general representative, said his
interests in his culture led him to the council table. As an active
member of the Samahang Pilipino student group, Saldaña
interacted with members of USAC and became interested in joining
council.
There are specific methods of getting involved with different
offices, Lawson said. But he said the best way is for students to
talk to elected officials or their chiefs of staffs.
The Graduate Student Association also offers numerous ways for
graduate students to get involved in student government.
GSA Internal Vice President Victoria Irigoyen said she got
involved in GSA because it presented her with the ideal opportunity
to get involved in a student-run organization.
Irigoyen added that interested students can help councilmembers
when they expand their resources next year, such as a GSA lounge
and a new environmental resource center.
Members of both councils agreed that it takes passionate
individuals to run student government.
“It takes more than ambition, it takes having love for the
job,” Lawson said.
For more information on USAC, visit
students.asucla.ucla.edu. For more information on GSA, visit
gsa.asucla.ucla.edu.