Friday, May 1, 1998
Benjamin Geer
Presidential candidate Benjamin Geer
is a third-year mechanical engineering student.
What is the role of the USAC president?
I would see the role of USAC president as somebody who
coordinates the offices of student government. Also, the USAC
president is a person who represents the students and the student
body to the administration and other groups on campus. Currently in
student government, I haven’t seen that happen like it has in years
past. Our current student government – they’re kind of more or less
involved in political causes that I don’t personally see
benefitting students as a whole.
If elected, what direction do you plan on taking USAC?
If elected USAC president, I could somehow better achieve
student representation better than they’re doing now.
What are three major issues facing the university in the
upcoming year?
Construction, by far, is a huge issue that affects students. I
remember, (from) my freshman year until now, there’s been
construction all over the place. I don’t think it’s fair to the
students to attend school at a construction site. I think that, as
USAC president, I can work with student groups, facilities
management (and) capital projects in order to somehow work with
them and maybe find a way to let students know of planned
construction projects and how it’s going to affect them and their
living situation. (With the construction at) Dykstra Hall, for
instance, incoming freshmen were not notified of this at all – and
all of a sudden, they’re thrown into this big, huge construction
zone. And I don’t think that’s fair to students.
Also, in the upcoming year, I think the after-effects of 209,
how this affects minority applicants and minority enrollment at
UCLA. As the numbers show from this year, minority enrollment is
down quite a bit, and I think it would continue if currently
unchecked. Maybe (support) more programs that reach out to
marginalized or underrepresented minorities within the university.
(With) outreach programs, I know we can do a lot there.
A third issue I see affecting students is on-campus housing.
It’s approximately 6,200 students, and that is a large percentage
of our undergraduate student body. But in the coming year, housing
fees have risen – this year it was 5.5 percent, and next year it’s
going to be another 12 percent, I think. So as fees go up, students
cannot afford the double room in Sunset Village and a lot more
triples are being created. But as more and more triples are being
created, that forces the students to look for cheaper alternatives.
This (also) leads to overcrowding in the residence halls, and also
shutdowns of cafeterias as we put more and more students in the
residence halls. It’s definitely going to affect our cafeterias and
staffing needs. Because on-campus housing affects so many students,
it’s a very important issue that I would want to dedicate myself to
as USAC president.
Do you think there should be a change in the admissions
criteria? If so, how do you propose implementing them?
I do think there should be a change in the admissions criteria
to bring in more underrepresented minorities.
Although our current student government, with the recent action
they’ve taken – when Chancellor Carnesale attended a USAC meeting,
they demanded his resignation – I don’t see that as right.
Albert Carnesale, as chancellor, has to comply with the law.
Currently, California law says you can’t use sex, race or ethnicity
as a means for hiring or admissions. And I do think we have to
comply with the law.
I don’t know what that solution is. I’m not claiming to know.
It’s a very difficult question, but I do think that we, as students
here at the university, can work together in order to arrive at a
solution.
Currently I don’t know what (the solution) is, but if I did,
obviously I wouldn’t be running for president. I’d be chancellor or
something like that.
Some have criticized USAC for being too political. Is it
appropriate for USAC to take a stance on political issues?
Yes I do, when they’re appropriate, and when they benefit
students. Some of the issues that student government has taken a
stance on – such as the Nike or the Guess? boycott in the student
store, and other issues – I don’t see them benefitting students
here at UCLA as much as other issues, like construction or
financial aid. Although student government this year, and in years
past, has had a very good record, I would say, on what they’ve done
for financial aid, keeping fees at the same rate. But I think they
could do a better job on other issues besides the political issues
they’ve currently taken a stand on. But student government, and I,
as president, if elected, would have to work on issues that benefit
students campus-wise, so to say, before I would reach out.
Where would you place yourself on the political spectrum?
I am a moderate. There are some issues which I could swing a
little more right on and other issues which I’ll be somewhat left
of center. It really depends on how, or what, the issue is. I
wouldn’t consider myself affiliated with a political party, because
I don’t necessarily agree with all of their views. I’m very
moderate.