The undergraduate student government met collectively with
student groups for the first time Tuesday night to collaborate for
events, discuss issues affecting the campus and outline goals for
the upcoming year ““ though the attendance was much lower than
expected.
Only five out of 20 organizations sponsored and invited by
Undergraduate Students Association Council were present at the
meeting, along with several USAC members.
“I thought the quality of the meeting was good,”
said Internal Vice President Allende Palma/Saracho. “I feel
that people had the same goals as USAC to network and collaborate
with other student groups.”
Groups including the Queer Alliance, Asian Pacific Coalition,
and Disabled Student Union discussed future events for each group
and presented the goals and purposes for each organization.
“Our goal is to increase awareness on campus and the
nation as well,” said Faith Cheltenhan, co-chairwoman of the
Queer Alliance.
Representatives from the Queer Alliance added that they were
interested in working with the On Campus Housing Council to create
a program in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students
could avoid living with roommates that were not accepting of
them.
Some believed the meeting would have been more successful if
more groups had attended.
“I firmly believe it would’ve been better if more
groups showed up,” said Andy Green, a member of OCHC.
But, other groups such as Samahang Pilipino believed the meeting
went well.
“I got to meet other organizations on campus and USAC
members,” said Genevieve Espinosa, president of .
Espinosa said in the past, student organizations weren’t
able to meet with USAC members one-on-one, and believed it was good
that USAC was listening to the student groups’ input.
“It increases more access for students to talk to USAC so
they can bring (the issues) to the administration and the
university,” Espinosa said.