By Mike de la Rocha
As I prepare myself for graduation, many memories and feelings
weigh heavy on my mind and heart. Honestly, the past five years
here at UCLA have been difficult and trying, but also beneficial
for my personal growth and development. During these past few
weeks, I’ve increasingly grown doubtful about the future
direction of this university and the role that I’ve played in
trying to make this a more understanding and accepting campus
environment.
Since my first year, Praxis and its predecessor Students First!
have not only helped me develop as an activist and an organizer,
but as a person. With regard to student concerns, the record shows
that Students First! and Praxis have been responsible for achieving
concrete student victories.
Included among these victories are the creation of the Students
First! Booklending Program (which loans out free textbooks to
students in financial need), winning the battle for a 5 percent
registration fee rollback, and promoting policies that create a
more diverse and representative student body.
I mention these victories because, before the existence of a
united coalition of progressive students at UCLA, these critical
issues were rarely addressed on this campus. In the past few years,
members of UCLA’s undergraduate student government have tried
to empower students and better the quality of life for everyone on
campus. Student government has provided a space for myself and
countless others to engage in dialogue and constructive criticism
about the problems affecting our campus and our society. Even so, I
would be the first to say that this space needs to continue growing
in order to embrace every student.
Over the course of the past few weeks, there has been a lot
written in the Daily Bruin regarding the results of the recent
Undergraduate Students Association Council elections. What concerns
me is the level of misunderstanding and the number of assumptions
made by all parties involved. I have been approached by a number of
students who are upset with remarks made by me and other USAC
members.
Specifically, some students took offense when the Daily Bruin
quoted me as saying that “(Elizabeth Houston’s) victory
is the epitome of white privilege” (“New president
faces challenges,” News, May 24). Because the quote was taken
out of context and not adequately explained in the article, I would
like to take this opportunity to clarify my words.
Confronting racial issues on this campus has been one of the
most demanding and difficult aspects of serving as this
year’s president. As we all know, every student on this
campus comes from a different background. Unless we have the
opportunity to really sit down and communicate with each other, the
hostility and tension on this campus will continue to rise.
I understand that there are progressive students of all colors
who are concerned with the recent election results and the changing
campus climate. With this in mind, it saddens me that some students
have flat out called me a “racist” who perpetuates the
same kind of oppression that Praxis “claims” so
adamantly to fight against.
I also understand that every student on this campus has many
responsibilities. Many of us work part-time or full-time jobs while
having to juggle a full course load, family obligations and some
kind of a personal love life. I respect these things, but I also
strongly believe that we have a responsibility to be social critics
because it is students who have historically challenged pressing
social norms.
Despite the Daily Bruin’s oversimplification of my words
and ideas, I’m not only speaking about race or attacking
white students, but rather attempting to stimulate a discussion
about privilege. Privileges are those attributes and advantages
that give certain individuals and groups opportunities not readily
available to everyone.
When I speak about race, gender, sexuality, class and
educational privilege, I’m speaking as someone who has spent
a great deal of time confronting and challenging my own privileges.
Although this continues to be a difficult process, it has allowed
me to develop a better understanding of what my role is as a
privileged college student. Often times, I struggle with the fact
that I’m one of the few students of color on this campus, yet
I’m still privileged because I have a college education.
The fact that Elizabeth Houston’s parents were able to
take an entire two weeks off work to help her campaign is a clear
sign of her class and racial privilege. The fact that a substantial
amount of her campaigners were not even UCLA students also shows a
disconnection from this university and a lack of understanding of
the importance of students working on student issues.
“White” or racial and class privilege are loaded
terms, but accurate ones that describe the current state of our
educational system, as many people from the working class and
communities of color continue to be denied entrance into this
university.
Elections must not rest solely on campaign tactics or on beating
the other side, but rather on the qualifications of the candidates.
A qualified candidate not only has relevant experience, but is one
who also demonstrates an understanding and commitment to fighting
for educational access. The election results clearly show me that
some people are dissatisfied with Praxis. But in the greater scheme
of things they say a whole lot more.
Clearly, there is a need for more dialogue with students from
different backgrounds, but this is becoming increasingly difficult
because there are fewer working class people, immigrant students
and underrepresented students of color at UCLA. This sad fact
should push all of us to take on the responsibility to help those
who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Being USAC president is a very challenging and time-consuming
job, one that I learned how to do by working in USAC for more than
four years. Therefore, it’s difficult for me to understand
how Elizabeth Houston, who hasn’t even been here a full year,
could be seen as the most qualified and experienced candidate to
take such a critical position.
I say these things because I’m concerned for the well
being of not only the office, but the rest of the UCLA campus.
Regardless of her racial background, our new president has not
demonstrated a commitment to fighting campus problems, including
the ban on affirmative action, the continued attempts by the
administration to privatize this university and the students
association, rising registration fees, and increasing hate crimes
and attacks on a woman’s right to choose.
This bothers me because I personally have worked very hard to
understand and work on these critical student issues before I
stepped into this office. Now, as USAC president, Houston will have
the choice to step up to this challenge and continue fighting for
these critical student issues.
As a community, we must work together in order to move this
campus and society forward. Ultimately, it’s about the work
and the life-long commitment to fighting for justice. I implore
Houston and every student to move past individual insecurities so
that we can better work together. This is why we must all recognize
and understand our own privileges in order to take up our
heightened responsibility to help those who have fewer
opportunities than ourselves.
So as I leave this university experience, I urge you all to get
involved in a student organization and student government, where
you will have the opportunity to learn from one another and work
toward a more just and loving campus environment.