Student group heads met with student government leaders on
Wednesday intending to discuss the pros and cons of a proposed
student fee increase ““ but the cons were nowhere to be
heard.
Officers of the Undergraduate Students Association Council held
hearings for their $9.25 self-imposed fee hike in Franz Hall to
seek endorsements from many of campus’ student groups.
Speaking to an audience of over 20, USAC members explained the
fee referendum line-by-line and gave their justifications for where
the money needs to go.
The referendum would generate an estimated additional $210,000,
and the money would go toward council offices and general student
programming funds, which, at roughly $98,000, are $30,000 less than
last year, due in large part to increased overhead costs.
Commissioners in four of the five offices slated to receive a
direct allocation from the fee increase ““ campus events,
community service, cultural affairs, external vice president and
student welfare ““ spoke about the benefits extra funding
would provide for both their offices and students.
Student Welfare Commissioner Crisette Leyco described several of
the programs her office conducts and would like to expand,
including the UCLA Run/Walk for the Children’s Hospital and
the office-initiated IronBruin Triathlon.
More funding is needed to bring well-known names to speak and
perform on campus, said Robbie Clark, cultural affairs
commissioner. She added that moving the popular UCLA Jazz/Reggae
Festival from the under-construction intramural field to Drake
Stadium has also increased necessary costs.
Although an opposing argument was included in documentation
passed out at the hearing, students in the audience questioned the
council why no one was scheduled to speak on behalf of those who
oppose the fee raise.
“USAC should have had a con argument (speaker) even though
they had a written one,” said Giovanni Scarfone, external
vice president of the Hilgard House. “It would have helped
greatly.”
President David Dahle argued that the lack of someone vocalizing
a opposing view was an indication of generally favorable sentiment
for the referendum.
But in response to Dahle, Academic Affairs Commissioner Chris
Diaz, who has been the most vocal councilmember to question the
language of the item, pointed out what he called its lack of
flexibility. He has repeatedly criticized the fact that the five
offices allotted exclusive referendum money would not be subject to
the same process as student groups who apply for the increased
funds.
Others who attended the hearing felt that a monetary infusion
into USAC is absolutely necessary.
“It would be a lie for any student leader to say they
couldn’t use more money to do a better job,” said Becky
Kammerling, campus organizer for CalPIRG.