By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Reporter
Four candidates in the upcoming spring elections will run
unopposed, and all are evaluating their potential involvement in
the politics of student government.
Runners for the Campus Events, Cultural Affairs, Community
Service and Student Welfare Commissions are all in-house
candidates, meaning they currently work in the commissions they
seek.
These candidates will also be voting members of the 2001-02
Undergraduate Students Association Council, helping to determine
campus policy in addition to the duties of their respective
commissions.
CSC candidate Sunny Sanchez said she will not necessarily
increase her level of political activity as a member of USAC.
“I think it’s for the best interest of my commission
to remain open on whether or not to be political,” said
Sanchez, a fourth-year American literature and culture student.
CSC coordinates student-organized and student-initiated
activities that are concerned with the social, political,
environmental and educational improvement of the community.
Rahul Marwah, current chief of staff for the cultural affairs
commission, sees value in being a member of council. As opposed to
the conventionally politically-inclined positions such as president
and vice president, Marwah said the other commissioners can provide
impartiality.
“It’s important to have those offices and voting
members to come with an objective attitude,” said Marwah, a
fourth-year economics student. He is running unopposed because
James Ngo, the other CAC candidate, failed to attend the Elections
Board’s mandatory candidate meeting April 24.
CAC is in charge of planning cultural performing arts functions
and stimulating student interest in cultural activities. The
commission also includes the Cultural Affairs jazz, poetry, concert
and art series, as well as the Jazz/Reggae Festival.
For these candidates, attending council meetings often takes
time away from their obligations to their commissions.
Nevertheless, Ryan Wilson, a second-year undeclared student and
candidate for campus events commission, emphasized the importance
of going to these meetings.
“Attendance at meetings is the most important part of the
job because I’m the liaison between my office and
council,” Wilson said. “Otherwise the distance between
my office and council grows.”
CEC organizes many events on campus, including the Ackerman
Grand Ballroom film series, concert Series, UCLA Mardi Gras and the
Associated Students Speakers Program.
Fannie Huang, the current community service commissioner,
reiterated that while council meetings take time away from her
duties, they are necessary for the well-being of her
commission.
“It’s a little frustrating when I commit hours to
these meetings, but it’s important because a lot of things
that go on in USAC affect my commission,” Huang said.
One of the most important duties given to members of council is
the power to vote on USAC policies and measures.
“Having a vote is vital because it’s good to have
political and non-political counterparts to bring about new views
toward the same issue,” said Peter Trinh, a third-year
business economics and physiological science student running for
SWC.
The SWC is responsible for organizing and promoting activities
which promote the health and welfare of students through awareness
and education.
Trinh said because the vote is so important, his level of
involvement is going to be “tremendous.”
But current Campus Events Commissioner Jared Seltzer warned that
programming commissioners should be wary of the level they involve
themselves in council matters.
“Active involvement and participation are important, but I
don’t recommend commissioners to ever prioritize politics
over programming,” Seltzer said.
All candidates had the option of putting up signboards around
campus advertising their campaigns. But because these four
candidates are unopposed, Sanchez and Trinh opted not to put any up
while Marwah and Wilson decided to do so.
“I want to have fun with it and use it as an advertisement
for the office and my position,” Wilson said.
Marwah initially chose to post a signboard because his position
was still being contested at the time he had to notify E-Board
whether he wished to have a sign.