Updates

Welcome to the sign-ups for the 2018 Basic Needs Security Case Competition, a first of its kind UC-wide effort to address the immediate, persistent, and alarming condition of basic needs insecurity across the UC. This competition is scheduled to take place during the national awareness week for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness.

If you have already registered, click here to access the prompt and complete your submission. We are no longer taking additional registrations.

HH Awareness Week is a national program that intends to shed light on issues related to hunger and homelessness in the United States (taking place from 11/10 – 11/18 this year). Our competition this year, however, will focus on engaging students with key basic needs issues specific to, and across the UC like quality of housing, and intersectional food security while at the same time challenging them to come up with creative solutions that are inclusive of the most marginalized student populations at the UC.

There is NO data analysis required, so students from all majors, years, and backgrounds will be on an even playing field and can find the event manageable.

Teams should be composed of 3-5 members. Team members can also be of different campus affiliations (ex: a team can comprise of students from both UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz).

For teams composed of all Berkeley students, please sign up in teams of 3-5 by FRIDAY, 11/9 7:59 PM at tinyurl.com/bnscomp18

Here are the systemwide competition prizes:
1st place: Opportunity to present solution at a 2019 UC Systemwide Basic Needs Committee Meeting, Cash Prize, Feature on UCSA’s website
2nd place: Cash Prize; Feature on UCSA’s website
3rd place: Cash Prize

Solutions are due on 11/17 at 4:59 PM. Our judges will review the submissions to decide who the winners are on the 17th & 18th. Winners will be notified and results will be announced online by 9:00am the next day (11/19)

For teams composed of all Berkeley students, here are the campus-specific competition prizes (teams will be considered for BOTH the systemwide prizes and campus-specific prizes)
1st place: lunch with Vice Chancellor of Equity & Inclusion Oscar Dubon, Jr. and a social media feature
2nd place: boba party for 20 people
3rd place: $25 gift cards/each to the Berkeley Student Food Collective

Here is the timeline for the Berkeley campus competition:
Sign up by FRIDAY, 11/9 7:59 PM at tinyurl.com/bnscomp18
Prompt released Saturday, 11/10
Solutions due Thursday, 11/15 4:59 PM
Finalists selected/notified Thursday night
Finalist presentations Friday 11/16 9 AM- 3 PM in ASUC Senate Chambers, 5th Floor Eshleman Hall
Campus winners announced Friday 11/16 5-7 PM

Judges:
Shahera Hyatt; Director – California Homeless Youth Project
Kamaljeet Singh-Khaira; Director – CalFresh Nutrition Education Program (UC CalFresh)
Tim Galarneau; Co-Chair – Global Food Initiative

Questions? Email vviyer@ucsc.edu or saratsai112@berkeley.edu

A growing number of universities, but not the UC, have opted to stop requiring the SAT and ACT in their admissions process, saying the tests place an unfair cost and burden on low-income and minority students, and ultimately hinder efforts to broaden diversity on campus.

UCSA is calling on individuals and organizations to add your name to sign this petition. Tell UC to stop the practice of mandating these requirements.