Tuesday, May 5, 1998
Internal vice presidential candidates share stances
USAC: Gagajena seeks to expand office; Mack opposes USAC support
of political issues
By Barbara Ortutay
Daily Bruin Contributor
Is political activism an internal campus issue?
P.J. Gagajena, candidate for internal vice president (Praxis),
sees student government as an opportunity to increase student
activism and to support political causes that aid underrepresented
communities.
His opponent, Paul C. Mim Mack (Sanity ’98) would like to see
partisan politics gone from USAC and focus instead on issues like
parking and residential life.
"I believe the current council has been too concerned with
partisan politics and ideologies, and has failed to address other
issues," Mack said.
Gagajena believes issues like retention and minority admission
are campus issues and should be addressed by the student
government.
He said Praxis is running under a "legacy of activism" that aims
to expand outreach programs and work on homosexual and women of
color issues, among others.
Mack sees parking as an issue affecting a large number of
students, and it is one of the main things he wants to work on. He
also plans to increase campus safety by having more CSOs, securing
parking structures and improving lighting.
He also plans to lower USAC stipends to their pre-summer state
and have all USAC fee and stipend increases approved by student
referendum.
"I see there being wasteful spending such as funding for
political causes that are focused toward a few select students," he
said.
Mack added that serving on the UCSD finances committee has given
him an experience in fund raising and balancing the budget.
Mack is a third-year transfer student majoring in political
science. Currently, he is active in the Bruin Republicans. He said
if elected, he wants to leave his political beliefs outside
USAC.
"If I campaigned to fund rallies in support of Prop. 209, I
think that’s wrong," he said. "But I also think it’s wrong to fund,
with compulsory student money, a rally opposed to Prop. 209."
Mack said he believes funding for political causes should be
left up to student organizations that do not have compulsory
fees.
While Mack and Sanity ’98 oppose USAC supporting political
causes, it is exactly what Gagajena has in mind.
"What sets him apart from the other candidates is that he
doesn’t limit his office to issues others see as internal," said
Mark Ng, chair of Samahang Pilipino.
"He wants to expand the (IVP office) and work on issues like
admissions," he added.
While Gagajena plans to work on issues affecting quality of life
on campus, such as parking, construction and housing affordability,
he said Praxis also wants to take student government a step
further.
To increase student activism, Praxis plans to involve more
students in student government through internships as well as train
students in grassroots organizing.
"Reflection and action means not just talking about things, but
actually doing them," he said.
"The only way you can really affect what goes on is through
student voice, not the titles and offices we hold," he added.
In the past, Gagajena has been a vice president of Samahang
Pilipino, and currently he is active in the Human Rights Coalition
and the Affirmative Action Coalition.
He said his background in grassroots activism is an important
asset and shows where he comes from.
He wants to use his office as a tool to give students a
voice.
"As IVP, I would continue to support individual groups and
strengthen their voice," said Gagajena at an endorsement hearing
held for student advocacy groups.
While the candidates have differing opinions about activism and
the political stance of USAC, both are open to student concerns
about campus life.
According to Gagajena, what his opponents deem as "politics" are
simply issues affecting a variety of individuals.
Mim Mack
PJ Gagajena