Monday, 2/24/97
Students First! to face new party
USAC: Supporters of oppostion slate cite ethics compromises,
exclusivity of current government
By Stefanie Wong
Daily Bruin Contributor
Next quarter’s Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC)
elections will see the absence of last year’s Greek-endorsed United
Students slate.
Instead, a new and currently unnamed party is likely to
challenge Students First! for control of the undergraduate student
government.
According to those close to the potential party, the new slate
will not affiliate itself with the Greek system, but instead is a
coalition of "disgruntled" students who are unhappy with the way
Students First! has run student government over the past two years,
according to Ben Hofilena, a third-year physiological sciences
student.
The new party is based on the notion that the current student
government is not credible and inclusive of all students, Hofilena
said.
"The (new party) will continue to work hard for lower
registration fees, more financial aid and affirmative action
programs but will not compromise the ethics of students at UCLA,"
he said.
But Internal Vice President Glenn Inanaga, a member of Students
First!, believes that the student council has been effective
without at all compromising ethics.
"Student government is ethical and we take strong stands and
we’re a student government that gets things done," Inanaga
said.
Hofilena and others have also charged USAC with excluding
certain groups on campus from participating in student
government.
At last Tuesday’s USAC meeting, changes were made to the duties
of the general representatives, which Hofilena said were indicative
of USAC’s exclusiveness.
Now, general representatives are no longer required to act as
liaisons between the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council
and the Inter Residence Hall Council.
Instead, the new bylaws leave it up to the representatives to
determine when it is appropriate to represent these groups to
USAC.
"(The change in the bylaws) broadens the representation to other
groups and populations on campus," said Michelle Gosom, one of the
council’s general representatives who defended the decision.
"The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council are still
covered as student advocacy groups," she added. Before the bylaw
change, Gosom "questioned why the general representatives didn’t
outreach to more students not involved with fraternities and
sororities."
But for Hofilena and others intending to form an opposition
party, the change will result not in more campus participation in
USAC, but less.
"No one will argue that a student government should be
progressive, active and inclusive but student government should
also be accountable to the undergraduate students at the same
time," Hofilena said.
Despite these charges, Inanaga believes that Students First!
will continue the election success it has enjoyed over the past two
years and doesn’t view the new party as a threat.
"The last thing students want to do is elect in a different
slate that will be ineffective like the Greek slate was three or
four years ago," Inanaga said.
"Students want to see candidates who have or will make a
difference in their everyday lives. We’ve done that this year for
students like the meal coupon program," he added.
However, there are students who believe that Students First! has
not made as many achievements as they claim and that the new
political party has a chance in next quarter’s elections.
"In some senses I think (Students First!) has done a good job
like with affirmative action, but sometimes it just feels like
propaganda and talk," said Laura Kim, a fourth-year political
science student.
"I can see why the new political party would be started," Kim
continued, noting that her support next quarter will probably go to
the new political party and not Students First!
Other students feel that Students First! will continue to
control the student government because the programs have had a
positive effect on the campus community.
"I haven’t heard much about the student government," said Matt
Fruzza, an undeclared first-year student.
"It’s kind of like they’re not even there, but I think (Students
First!) is going to be re-elected because I think the meal coupons
were a step in the right direction," he added.