The Financial Supports Commission is now accepting applications for its textbook scholarship program for the winter quarter. Assistant News Editor JJ Yang interviewed Commissioner Elaine Reodica about the scholarship as well as her other responsibilities with student finances.
Daily Bruin: You’ve recently started publicizing the textbook scholarship program. Can you elaborate on what it is, how are you going about promoting it, who is eligible for the program and when will students start receiving the textbook aid?
Elaine Reodica: The FSC Textbook Scholarship is the very first of its kind. As a commission, we are proud of being the first to offer a scholarship coming from a USAC office. Thanks to the $20,000 contribution of council in just weeks of being in office, we will now be able to give back to students at such bad economic times. All students are eligible to apply, including AB 540 and undocumented students on this campus.
DB: According to USAC bylaws, the Financial Supports Commissioner shall address financial concern to students. Besides the textbook scholarship program, what have you been working on in terms of student finances?
ER: The Financial Supports Commission this year had been working with CALPIRG on their textbook campaign, which could definitely alleviate the amount students spend on their textbooks. Also, this year we will strive to increase financial literacy, in addition to the FAFSA help efforts the office has focused on in the past. Programs we have planned for the year will be focused on the everyday things students are spending their money on, such as food, clothing, etc.
DB: What are your responsibilities as a Financial Aids Task Force member?
ER: In the previous years, the Financial Aids Task Force has either been nonexistent or not utilized by council to its full capacity. This year we plan on changing that. As the designated chair of the task force, I look forward to working with the task force in our efforts to offer the Financial Aid Office with evaluations and recommendations from a student perspective.
DB: What motivated you to run for this position?
ER: Being an out-of-state student from Alaska, a transfer student from Pasadena City College, a recipient of financial aid and work study myself, I felt that I could use my experiences to give back to others. I knew that this office was one that could have great impact on students’ everyday lives. If there is one thing I envisioned for this office it was that I wanted to let every student on this campus feel like their needs are being heard and, more so, addressed. I ran because of students who have to work two or three jobs to get through school or the undocumented students that struggle to get through. I felt that if I could impact one student on this campus, that was enough of a reason for me to run.
DB: You are a transfer student. In the short time you have been here how have you made the connections and gained the knowledge necessary to be an effective commissioner?
ER: With only two full quarters of being at UCLA, I began running for USAC with the Students First! slate. When I got into UCLA, I was quick to get involved in the EVP office, Samahang Pilipino and the Asian Pacific Coalition which gave me an opportunity to continue work I was passionate about. While at Pasadena City College, I was on Associated Students as the elected EVP and chair of the lobby committee, in which I brought politicians such as John Kerry and Barbara Boxer to campus. As the only transfer student who ran for elections and is on council, there is nothing I find more exciting than seeing other transfers get involved. I feel an even greater responsibility to represent the large transfer population on this campus, because we too are part of what makes this community and have a lot to offer.