The original version of this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.
The UCLA Graduate Students Association is the voice of graduate students on campus. The association meets for forum every three weeks and takes positions on current issues affecting graduate students. Forum meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Ackerman Viewpoint Lounge.
Agenda
- GSA unanimously passed a resolution calling for UCLA to improve its campus racial climate. The resolution called for UCLA officials to implement certain policy changes and include more student input in administrative decisions.
- GSA allocated $4,000 to help fund an Undergraduate Students Association Council initiative to create a Circle of 6 safety app with UCLA-specific resources.
Officer reports
- GSA President Nicole Robinson said she recently talked with University of California President Janet Napolitano at a Council of Presidents meeting about the California Master Plan for Higher Education and updates to UC-wide policies dealing with sexual assault. Robinson also discussed the possibility of tying GSA student fees to inflation and said she would not support the initiative.
- Vice President of Internal Affairs Nina Drucker presented to the forum on a letter drafted by the Graduate Student Resource Center Oversight Committee asking for graduate students to have more designated space in the Student Activities Center. After some discussion, the forum decided to continue working on the draft of the letter before signing onto it in support.
- Vice President of Academic Affairs Cody Trojan discussed recent changes to UCLA’s leave of absence policy, which the UCLA Graduate Division and Graduate Council implemented to clarify the policies and help financially struggling graduate students stay enrolled at UCLA.
Special presentations
- A graduate student representative on the Healthy Campus Initiative presented to forum about surveying graduate students to better understand how to address their concerns about mental health issues. Some members of the forum took surveys asking which mental health campus services graduate students are aware of and which services need improvement.
- A representative from the UC Student Association presented to the forum about what the organization does and how UCSA could help the GSA network understand the cultures on different UC campuses.
- A representative from UCLA Transportation presented to the forum about the department’s focus on increasing “active transportation” and promoting cycling. The representative also talked about UCLA Transportation’s plans for different parking costs and structures on campus.
- Members of the UCLA Sustainable Resource Center and E3: Ecology, Economy, Equity presented to GSA about the upcoming UCLA Environmental Sustainability Film Festival, which will happen for the first time in the spring.
Compiled by Amanda Schallert, Bruin senior staff.
Correction: The previous version of this article incorrectly identified a presenter at the March 5 meeting.