CUSN

Our Statement

CUSN (Community Unified Student Network), pronounced “cousin”, is a peer program dedicated, but not exclusive to the Asian / Pacific Islander (A/PI) community at the Universtiy of California, Santa Cruz. As the enrollment rates of A/PI students increase at UCSC, their presence and voices, needs and concerns increasingly impact the larger campus community. CUSN offers A/PI students opportunities to become involved in the community, resources to enhance academic performance, and a venue in which to create student networks. CUSN is dedicated to a safe space for academic excellence and leadership development by building long and lasting communiteis of diverse A/PI students.

2000
Two student-run retention programs existed on-campus: UMOJA, created by the African/Black Student Alliance (ABSA); Kuya Ate Mentorship Program (KAMP), formed by Filipino Student Association (FSA). The structure of their programs were one-on-one mentoring. Under that same need to retain the Asian American/Pacific Islander student population, members from the political organization Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA) formed its sister student-run retention program called “Each-One Reach-One.” APISA members Mateo Reyes, Pary Chuong, Tania Lee and many others initiated this project. Unlike traditional modes of mentorship, Each-One Reach-One formed family-oriented groups in order to eliminate a hierarchy between mentor and mentee. Chicanos Latinos Educandose (ChALE) formed by MECHA; would be the last piece in the retention coalition that would be later known as “ChUCK”. ChUCK would be included in the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program (CUIP), giving students the opportunity to engage in a paid field study with various campus departments and student services.

2001
The title of the program Each-One Reach-One was later changed to the Community Unified Student Network (CUSN). Establishment of “ChUCK Study Hours” provided a safe comfortable environment for students of color to learn and grow. The first set of ChUCK Study Hours originally happened at Oakes Learning Center. ChUCK worked with Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) and Learning Support Services to hire ChUCK Tutors. This reflected a message of providing student of color a support mechanism of a tutor that was of their same cultural background, and not under the misconceived notion that students of color need extra help than others. ChUCK Tutors were well trained and were eventually also hired by EOP to diversify the pool of peer-tutors.

2002
Through the hard work and campaigning of a large number of student organizers and community members known as the Engaging Education coalition, a student referenda known as Measure 10 was passed. The bulk of this referenda meant that students willingly taxed themselves funds towards resources that the University was not providing. Part of the language allocated from $4.20 per quarter per student to a Student Initiated Outreach and Retention Center, including ChUCK, APISA’s Motivational Conference, and other student-initiated outreach programs.

2003
The e2, Engaging Education, Center was furnished and opened. It is completely student-run and secures office space and funding for programs like CUSN. It is important students appreciate e2, especially in ways it is not permanent and could be taken away.

2004
By 2004, the AA/PI student population was 18%, with a 92% retention rate of first years. The “N” in CUSN becomes very useful as CUSN networked very closely in various communities within UCSC. Among the Asian American & Pacific Islander community, folks from CUSN were also involved with APISA’s Motivation Conference, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center’s Heritage Month and Year End Ceremony, etc. CUSN took active roles in the Multi Cultural Festival (MCF) for the first time. Members of CUSN played leadership roles in a student coalition to fight Administration’s disrespect and systematic dismantling of Student Organization Advising and Resources (SOAR). This struggle involved numerous late-night meetings and rallies until eventually student demands were met, including the promotion of Sayo Fujioka as Director, and the hiring of SOAR Advisors: Leon Wann, Lee Maranto, Adrian Dorris.

2005
ChUCK resurrected the ChUCK Tutor program. Tutors held drop-in session in the e2 Redwood Lounge during ChUCK Study Hours. A project in its beginning is that the ChUCK Library, in response to raising of student fees, raising of textbook prices and the lowering of financial aid. CUSN made it an effort this year to reconnect with its roots: ChUCK hosted the ChUCK Alumni Dinner with past and present student organizers, and CUSN worked with AA/PIRC on their AA/PI Alumni Reunion and Dialogue. CUSN participated with the AA/PI Professor Coalition to raise the issue of re-hiring an AA/PI faculty member in the American Studies Department since the retirement of long-time faculty member and community leader Judy Yung. UCSC is the only UC without an Asian American or Ethnic Studies Department. This also prompted the formation of a student-run seminar for students to discuss issues within the AA/PI community.

This season’s student elections prompted two student fee measures that were passed: Measure 15 and Measure 17. Measure 15 Community And Resource Empowerment allocated $4 to campus resources centers whose funding has been systematically cut through budge cuts. Another $1 was taxed to students for student-initiated outreach programs, including an unprecedented tripling of that by $1 by Chancellor Denton. Measure 17 e2 Amendments gives the e2 center more flexible within its operations and independence away from being a task force under the Student Union Assembly.