USAC Candidate Statements Today: Internal vice president
and commissioners-other positions tomorrow
Kennisha A. Austin Student Empowerment With the
aim of empowering students and increasing student involvement, I am
running for the position of your internal vice president on the
Student Empowerment! slate. The role of the IVP is to serve as a
liaison between the Undergraduate Student Association Council and
the larger student population, as well as student
organizations.
It is my goal to empower students by strengthening the
relationship between USAC and our broader campus community. I plan
to accomplish this through three methods.
First, I intend to increase USAC’s accessibility to students by
continuing the USAC newsletter so that students are informed about
current council issues, the resources available to them and the
means of getting involved in USAC.
Second, I plan to ensure that USAC is building relationships
with new student organizations and is improving the relationships
it has already established with various organizations. One way I
plan to do this is by holding an organizational resource fair that
will allow groups to learn more about each other and then organize
them into smaller, theme-oriented fairs.
Third, I plan to address the direct needs of students, such as
housing and parking, because these issues shouldn’t be barriers to
our education. Currently I am helping the IVP to organize a Tenant
Rights Forum for later this quarter so students can learn about
their rights as renters. Next year I plan to expand this forum to
include on-campus housing concerns. I also plan to increase the
value of the dining hall meal coupons.
I am the most qualified candidate for this position due to my
involvement and experience on campus.
For the last three years I have been directly involved in USAC
as an intern in the general representative’s office, as the campus
outreach coordinator for the president’s office, and now working in
the current IVP’s office. I have also worked with the African
Student Union for the last three years as a dedicated staff member.
Specifically, I helped coordinate the African Women’s
Conference.
All of this experience has allowed me to fully understand the
role of USAC, the importance of student organizations and the
relationship between the two entities. As a result of working in
both USAC and ASU, I am best equipped to serve as your internal
vice president and continue the work of improving the quality of
life for all students at UCLA.
Ramzi Ajami S.U.R.E. Too often students running
for office make promises that are never upheld. Take a look at last
year’s candidates’ statements and you’ll see how few were
fulfilled.
It’s time for a change.
Having served as the president’s chief of staff this year, I
engaged in a year-long effort to involve smaller student groups in
the Undergraduate Student Association Council. My public relations
officers attended student group meetings, made class announcements
and updated students on USAC happenings. I also mediated meetings
between the president and student group leaders who may or may not
have agreed with her, and hosted student group mixers, where
student groups shared their visions with one another and discussed
opportunities for co-programming.
Having worked with a student regent, the Student Retention
Center, the On-Campus Housing Council, the UCLA debate team and the
office of the president, I’ve run the gamut on political ideology,
and can understand the plurality of viewpoints on this campus. Each
of these views has merit and deserves compromises for the greater
good.
Students should expect better from their student government. We
should have greater representation, officers who are sincerely
willing to work with others and safe, accessible online voting
mechanisms.
I will promote these ideals and continue promoting
co-programming between student groups. I will also host
bi-quarterly seminars on how to establish independent and
officially recognized student groups as well as funding workshops
on how groups can secure funds.
Furthermore, I recognize that many students are not in student
groups. Regularly publicized office hours on Bruin Walk, quarterly
newsletters and a voluntary mailing of USAC updates will be
available. These are realistic goals that extend from my past
work.
Be sure you elect students who will come through for you. Please
let me serve as your internal vice president.
Expect better ““ vote S.U.R.E.