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.