Graphic by Katie Fang/PAW
I had the pleasure of interviewing Outwrite’s own Ava Rosenberg (they/she) as they prepare for Pride Admit Weekend (PAW) on April 12–14, 2024. PAW at UCLA is the only queer yield program in the country, running for eleven years and counting. In order to keep this awesome tradition alive, PAW needs more volunteers to help run the event. Ava gave me a rundown of what PAW is like and what kind of people are needed to make it happen.
Jessica Rose: Could you tell me a bit about Pride Admit Weekend?
Ava Rosenberg: PAW is a yield program, meaning it helps new admits make the decision to commit to UCLA. It’s a hybrid program focused on queer intersectionality that introduces students to some of the resources UCLA has to offer, like the financial aid, the housing, the LGBTQ studies minor, and the welcoming queer community they’ll find at UCLA.
Jessica: How is it organized?
Ava: We have two virtual days that are a combination of workshops and team bonding with what we call “families,” small groups that help students navigate the program. Then we have one day in person at UCLA that includes workshops, trying out the dining halls, and a couple other fun activities.
Jessica: What kinds of activities do you have?
Ava: Some of the workshops we host include [a] financial aid [workshop], a tour from the LGBTQ Campus Resource Center, [a] housing [workshop], a workshop from CAPS and RISE, [and one from] the Gender, Sexuality, and Society Living Learning Community. Hopefully we’ll have a queer self-defense workshop led by Dr. Vanessa Carlisle (they/them). The former Editor in Chief of OutWrite, Christopher Ikonomou (xe/he), is going to come speak. There’ll be a drag king performance by King Lotus Boy (xe/they), as well as some time for games and other presentations.
Jessica: Are there any fun PAW traditions?
Ava: Yes! Since the beginning, queer storytelling has been a thing. Everyone tells a story about anything related to their queer experience: their coming out stories, their first kiss stories, etc. It’s super nice and wholesome, and it really kind of bonds you to your family. We also started a tradition last year where we [had] Post-It notes and everyone [wrote] a story about themselves during dinner, and then we read it and [had] to guess whose story it is. Then when we [walked] back to campus, we started walking with a giant pride flag. We’re making that a tradition now, too.
Jessica: That sounds fun but seems like a lot of work. How do you manage all of that?
Ava: I have an amazing planning committee [that] answers questions. We have our wonderful SOLE advisor Pam Cysner (she/her) who’s been helping me with all of the finance and logistics. I’m constantly connected to everyone. There’s also Minnie Gopar (they/she) from the [LGBTQ] C[ampus] R[esource] C[enter] who’s the reason I got to do this in the first place. I’ve also gotten a lot of help from Augustine Udukumbura (they/he/she), the signatory from the CRC who’s doing the finance allocation for me. Just a lot of support from a lot of people in the queer community at UCLA has been super helpful.
Jessica: Do you need anything else to actually run the event?
Ava: Yes! We need amazing volunteers.
Jessica: What kinds of volunteers?
Ava: We really need a lot of volunteers the day of. We need about 10 family heads to lead the admit family groups, and since those people are engaged with the admits the whole day, they can’t really help me with runner tasks. So I need people who are willing to help set things up, make sure everything’s in place, meet the performers, and make sure everything goes smoothly the day of.
We also need a lot of virtual volunteers. There’s no in-person commitment [and] no need to show up to a meeting. We need volunteers on Discord to help set it up and moderate it. If you have a queer organization that you’d like to [offer support through], let me know by reaching out to [email protected]. If you have a talent you want to perform, let me know. We need volunteers for anything and everything.
Jessica: What’s the time commitment like?
Ava: As much as you want it to be!
Jessica: Is there anything specific that you need?
Ava: I’m going to really need people in the two week window between the admits getting their acceptances and registering for PAW. That’s when I need the most help with outreach: just fielding those emails and being as responsive as possible. Honestly, any help would be super appreciated.
Jessica: What do you get out of volunteering?
Ava: Amazing resume experience for job or grad school applications. You can say you have outreach experience, finance experience, etc. You also get to meet new admits which is really fun. You get a t-shirt, potentially a tote bag, and stickers with a really cool design of a capybara in space by Katie Fang (she/her). We always have a student-designed logo, and [this year’s] came out super super cute.
Jessica: Is PAW set to continue in the coming years?
Ava: I’m going to be graduating, so I really need people to continue this in future years. No pressure, but you should volunteer because without [volunteers], the tradition of PAW and the only queer intersectional yield program in the country may die out.
Jessica: Anything else you want potential volunteers to know?
Ava: Just know it’s going to be a really fun time; it’s queer summer camp vibes. There will be friendship bracelets. There will be storytelling around a metaphorical campfire. Bring your roommates, your friends, your clubmates, [and] people you meet in the dining hall. Bring people in the bathroom stall next to you. Get creative. That’s what PAW is all about. And budgets.
Overall, PAW is set to be a fun, amazing event to help welcome our new admits next year – but this event is at risk of dying out. It is critical that we keep the only queer intersectional yield program in the nation running strong. By joining the team, you can not only find a fun, queer community at UCLA, but you can also do your part in keeping this amazing program alive. Sign up using this link to see how you can get involved, or reach out to [email protected] or our Instagram @uclapaw if you have any questions. We hope to see you there.
Credits:
Author: Jessica Rose (She/Her)
Artist: Katie Fang (She/Her)
Copy Editors: Gracie Bitting (She/Her), Bella (She/Her)