By Michael Vines
This article is in response to “Houston defeats McCory in
tight finish” (News, May 19).
I honestly don’t know why Students First! changed its name
to Praxis. The previous name makes so much more sense for a campus
political slate. The name “Students First!” allows
every student to at least think that the slate is going to put the
issues that actually affect all students first. What does
“Praxis” mean? How does the average student relate to
the word “Praxis?” Does it have some historical or
literary definition? Is it an acronym? Does Praxis still put UCLA
students first? I just don’t get it.
I would also like to know when UCLA became a battlefield. After
her loss, Katynja McCory said, “I’m feeling extremely
encouraged and hopeful because I know all these people gathered
around here are ready for the fight ahead of us. This is just the
beginning of the fight.”
What fight is she referring to? Is she referring to the fight to
increase campus spirit? The fight to have the Wooden Center open 24
hours? The fight to bring equal rights in all areas for all
students? All of these battles can be fought with a non-Praxis
president. Perhaps McCory is referring to some fight between a
well-organized, united slate versus an independent president of the
Undergraduate Students Association Council ?
I hope for McCory’s sake, and for all of Praxis’
sake, she is not referring to that. Unfortunately, I get the
feeling that members of the Praxis slate strongly believe that some
tragedy has occurred, and a non-Praxis president means the
necessity of an intense battle within student government. I just
don’t get it.
Along the same lines, current USAC President Mike de la Rocha
may be a good politician, but it is clear he has never been an
athlete. What athletes understand is the spirit of competition.
When the game is over, athletes congratulate each other, often with
hugs. I find it an absolute atrocity that he prevented Elizabeth
Houston from talking to McCory after the election results were
announced.
Defending his actions, de la Rocha said, “(Houston)
doesn’t understand student of color issues or she
wouldn’t have come in.” It is now evident that de la
Rocha doesn’t understand people, let alone students.
Whichever way you might interpret this situation, the only person
whose actions were dictated by racial bias was de la Rocha. As the
current president of USAC, I would expect more than that. I just
don’t get it.
Finally, I can’t seem to figure out how, within a few
hours of being elected, Houston has already been discredited by so
many people. De la Rocha said, “USAC has a history of
inexperienced people who failed to get the job done.” Current
Internal Vice President Ramon Richardson stated,
“Houston’s getting herself into something she
can’t handle.” These attacks are both unwarranted and
dangerous if USAC is to accomplish anything in the upcoming
year.
I applaud the responses of some of the newly elected officers,
such as Ryan Bulatao and Elisa Sequeira, who chose to make
statements that emphasized working with Houston. Unfortunately,
these comments have been overshadowed by the negativity of de la
Rocha and Richardson. Is it really impossible for someone outside
of Praxis to run an effective student government? I just
don’t get it.
Therefore, I wish to issue this formal charge to every newly
elected member of USAC. I challenge the current officers, and
especially the returning members of the council, to work with
Houston. I challenge everyone to put aside their resent, to retire
from political games and to put the interests of the students
first.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. If USAC is ineffective
next year, it will be because the majority members representing the
Praxis slate will have chosen their personal agenda above that of
the UCLA student body. An ineffective USAC will result if the
current council chooses to let Houston dive in with both feet
without teaching her how to swim.
The success of the upcoming year rests upon the shoulders of the
entire council, not just the president. We must be honest. Houston
is not the wicked witch, nor is she David challenging Goliath. She
may, in fact, be a diamond in the rough. But we’ll never know
if the Praxis officers don’t give her a chance. Why
don’t they get that?