Founded when UCLA opened in 1919, Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA) delivers services to the campus community through student government, student media, and services and enterprises. Every registered UCLA student is a member of ASUCLA.
Student Government
Many facets of student life at UCLA are sponsored or organized by student government. Getting involved in the decision-making process is rewarding and offers avenues of expression students may not find in other aspects of their university experience.
Graduate Students Association
The Graduate Students Association (GSA) is the official organization representing UCLA graduate and professional students in academic, administrative, campus, and statewide areas. GSA appoints or elects graduate student members to important campus organizations and committees including the Student Fee Advisory Committee and Academic Senate committees. It sponsors graduate student orientation; the Graduate Student Resource Center and Graduate Writing Center; and various graduate student journals, programs, and social events, including the Melnitz Movies film program.
Undergraduate Students Association
Undergraduate student government is embodied in the Undergraduate Students Association (USA). Its governing body, the Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC), is comprised of elected officers as well as appointed administrative, alumni, and faculty representatives. Every UCLA undergraduate student is a member of USA.
USA activities offer services to the campus and surrounding communities, and give students the opportunity to participate in and benefit from multiple programs. For example, its programs tutor youths and adults, address health needs of ethnic communities, combat poverty and homelessness, and better the environment.
Campus Events
Each year approximately 40,000 students, faculty, and staff attend programs of the Campus Events Commission (CEC), including a film program, speakers program, and performances by dozens of outstanding entertainers.
The Speakers Program brings entertainers, politicians, and literary figures to campus and presents two annual awards—the Jack Benny Award for comedic excellence and the Spencer Tracy Award for outstanding screen performance. Speakers and awardees have included notables as varied as Bill Gates, Whoopi Goldberg, and Tom Hanks.
The Concert Program brings new and popular performing artists like Rage Against the Machine or A Tribe Called Quest to UCLA for free and affordably priced concerts.
The Cultural Affairs Commission sponsors art exhibits in the Kerckhoff Hall Art Gallery, the JazzReggae Festival, Bruin Bash, Hip Hop Congress, and Worldfest.
Publications, Web, and Broadcast Media
Student publications and media offer a training ground for aspiring writers, journalists, photographers, and media managers while serving the communication needs of the campus community. Most publications offices are in Kerckhoff Hall. Information and applications are available online.
Daily Bruin
The Daily Bruin, with a circulation of 9,000, is one of the largest daily newspapers in Los Angeles. As the principal outlet for campus news, the Bruin is published each weekday of the academic year (once a week during the summer) and is distributed free from kiosks around campus and local areas. Students work as reporters, editors, designers, photographers, videographers, and radio reporters, as well as advertising sales representatives and marketing account executives. New staff members are welcome every quarter.
Newsmagazines
Seven print newsmagazines reflecting the diversity of the campus community are published each term. Al-Tālib, Fem, Ha’Am, La Gente, Nommo, OutWrite, and Pacific Ties deal respectively with issues relevant to the Muslim; feminist; Jewish; Chicano, Latino, and Native American; African American; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; and Asian communities. Each includes news and features on political and cultural affairs both on and off campus. Prospective staffers are welcome.
Online Media
Student Media supports the Bruinwalk.com community portal. Features include UCLA professor reviews, used book trading, reviews of apartments near UCLA, and a campus calendar.
UCLA Radio
UCLA Radio broadcasts live over the Internet and features college alternative, hip-hop, jazz, and world music. It also covers select Bruin football, basketball, and baseball games and airs a lineup of sports talk shows. Studios are in Ackerman Union; all positions, including on-air, news staff, and advertising representatives, are open to students.
Yearbook
The UCLA yearbook, BruinLife, is one of the largest student publication efforts on campus. It contains photographs and information on undergraduate students, graduating seniors, athletic teams, fraternities and sororities, and campus activities. Students who would like to participate may contact the yearbook staff.
Graduating students can use BruinLife Photo Studio for their senior yearbook portraits.
Retail and Restaurants
Restaurants
ASUCLA operates more than a dozen restaurants and 10 coffee houses on campus, assuring a range of eating options from Italian to sushi. From the residence halls to the student union, a restaurant is never far. Hours vary, especially during summer and holidays. Locations of all the restaurants are posted online.
UCLA Store
The UCLA Store has six locations on campus. Author signings, sales, and other special events are announced in the Daily Bruin or on the UCLA Store website.
The UCLA Store–Ackerman Union has eight departments. Textbooks carries required and recommended texts for most undergraduate and many graduate courses, and operates a buyback service so students can sell used texts. BookZone offers reference books and a wide selection of titles in literature, science, history, and technical disciplines, including those by faculty authors. Computer Store carries personal computers, peripherals, accessories, and software at low academic prices. Essentials offers school and office supplies, including printer consumables. BearWear specializes in UCLA emblematic merchandise. Fast Track carries active sportswear and accessories for men and women. Beautique stocks makeup, Clinique skin care, and fashion accessories. Market is a convenience store, with snacks, health and beauty aids, gifts, and greeting cards. Ashe-Center-operated U See LA Optometry and Bruin Health Pharmacy are also in Ackerman Union.
UCLA Store–Health Sciences specializes in books and supplies for students in dentistry, medicine, nursing, public health, and related areas. UCLA Store–Lu Valle Commons carries art supplies and books, as well as textbooks and supplies for all on-campus Extension courses and selected academic programs (architecture and urban design, art, design, film, information studies, law, management, public policy, social welfare, theater, urban planning). North Campus Shop, South Campus Shop (Court of Sciences), Energy Zone (Wooden Center) and Hill Top Shop in Sunset Village are convenience store locations.
Other Services and Enterprises
ASUCLA oversees a variety of other services ranging from a post office to a hair salon. Most are located in Ackerman Union.
For students preparing to graduate, Graduation Etc. sells and rents caps, gowns, and hoods for degree ceremonies; and offers announcements, diploma mounting, portraits, and other graduation-related products and services.
Bruin Custom Print offers copying; binding; and banner, poster, and t-shirt printing. The shop streamlines the process involved in printing custom specialty products that need UCLA licensing and trademark clearance.