Overhaul of student government proposed

Officials discussed an amendment to overhaul the undergraduate student government at an open meeting on Monday.

At the meeting, the Constitutional Review Committee discussed the constitutional amendment proposed at last week’s meeting to create a new student senate.

Neither President Gabe Rose nor Finance Committee Chair Parsa Sobhani, the proponents of the amendment, were present. If passed, the amendment would restructure the legislative functions of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, replacing them with 20 senatorial positions.

Monday’s brief meeting included dialogue from Internal Vice President Dianne Tanjuaquio, External Vice President Jesse Melgar, two commissioners and General Representative Christina Colosimo. The five councilmembers discussed not only the senatorial proposal that is currently awaiting a vote from council, but also focused on how the proposed system compares to the student governments of other universities including UC Berkeley and UC Merced.

Several of those present expressed concerns about what the amendment might to do the ability of commissioners to take part in the legislative function of USAC and about the importance of efficiency and its relationship to fair and proportional representation within the legislative body.

Discussions also focused on the recent history of USAC constitutional evolution and on the issue of continued accountability of future councilmembers.

The open meeting was only the first planned for this week. Tonight’s USAC meeting, normally held in Kerckhoff, will take place in the Northwest Campus Auditorium at 7 p.m. to encourage attendance among students.

Councilmembers said last Tuesday that they hope dialogue will be more open in a location that more readily lends itself to discourse and involvement from members of the UCLA community.

Rose said on Tuesday that he hopes students will be more comfortable in the new locations and that higher attendance will help to educate the student body on the functions of USAC.

“A lot of times, people are not sure what we do in USAC, and I hope people are more comfortable with us and learn how we work,” he said.

Compiled by Will Weiss and Sarah Jo, Daily Bruin staff.

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