Voters’ decision for the office of Internal Vice President
comes down to Elias Enciso and Ramzi Ajami, two candidates who both
have the desire and commitment to be effective officers, but who
are distinct products of their respective slates. Enciso represents
Praxis’ ideas regarding the role of USAC and Ajami typifies
Viable Alternative’s ignorance of what it is student
government does.
Based on his experience and understanding of the office, Enciso,
a third-year political science and Chicana/o studies student, is
the better candidate for the position.
Although Enciso isn’t as polished a candidate as he could
be, and it’s questionable how he’ll handle the
leadership responsibilities of being the second-ranked USAC
officer, it’s obvious that he’s not merely a pawn of
the Praxis slate. Most notably, Enciso expressed a willingness to
break ranks and work with Facilities Commissioner Steve Davey on at
least moderate constitutional reforms.
Enciso has the experience the IVP position requires. He has
worked on the staff of General Representative Wendy Sanchez and
understands the inner workings of USAC, which is imperative for
anyone filling such a high leadership role. He was the only
candidate running for any office to mention Tidal Wave 2, one of
the most important issues facing the university in coming years.
And he has other fresh ideas as well, such as lobbying for the
implementation of Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday
parking permits, which would allow more students to park on
campus.
Moreover, it is clear Enciso understands the roles of the IVP
and the council as a whole ““ a quality both of his opponents
lack.
While Ajami correctly identifies administrative organization as
an often-neglected task of the IVP, his understanding of the office
is unrealistic and his ideas for how it should run would be
ineffective. This may stem from his leadership experience, which
comes not in student government but in on-campus housing. While
mass e-mails to students on the hill may be useful, Ajami’s
plan to spam copies of the USAC agenda to 25,000 undergraduates
hardly makes the council more accountable to students.
There is a third candidate, John Pham, who didn’t bother
showing up for an endorsement hearing. Judging only from his
candidate statement, however, he’s unqualified, unprepared
and has a misguided view of student government at UCLA.
Although he is more organized, so too is Ajami. Enciso is the
only candidate who understands an office that is best run by
someone with experience. His realistic ideas make him the best
candidate for IVP.