CHRIS BACKLEY/Daily Bruin Walter Newman,
vice chair of the E-Board warns USAC candidates that time is up to
answer questions from student advocacy groups.
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Reporter
Elections for the 2001-02 Undergraduate Students Association
Council begin today, with two new slates as well as seven
independent candidates.
Students may vote at any one of 11 polling stations on campus
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Thursday. Unlike last year’s
elections, which saw two referenda, none will be up for vote this
year.
According to the Election Code, all candidates except those for
the office of general representative need more than half the votes
to be elected. Otherwise, a runoff election of the two candidates
receiving the most votes will be held May 16 and 17.
Student Empowerment! and S.U.R.E. ““ which stands for
Students United for Reform and Equality ““ are the slates with
members contending for nine of the 13 positions on USAC. Five
positions ““ campus events, community service, cultural
affairs and student welfare commissioners, as well as external vice
president ““ feature in-house candidates running
unopposed.
During the campaign process, student groups who applied were
allowed to throw their official support behind candidates.
Headed by presidential candidate Karren Lane, the Student
Empowerment! slate received the support of 20 of the 28 student
groups giving endorsements. The S.U.R.E. slate, led by presidential
candidate Dusan Miletich, received three full endorsements, and the
remaining five groups supported candidates without regard to
slate.
David Ehrenberg, one of two independent candidates running for
president, was endorsed by the Panhellenic Council, comprised of
sororities.
“He knows the ins and outs of the Greek system and he
knows it better than any of the other candidates,” said PC
President Sandi Meinsen.
“He knows the problems and solutions that could happen in
the Greek system and that’s what we need right now,”
she added.
But Ehrenberg was not endorsed by the Interfraternity Council,
of which he was external vice president last year. The IFC could
not be reached for comment.
Among the groups supporting the Student Empowerment! slate is
the Muslim Students Association.
“We saw the same common interests and concerns of really
empowering the students to define their education and taking it
beyond the classroom,” said MSA President Ghaith Mahmood.
The Jewish Student Union supported the S.U.R.E slate, stating
the slate’s proposed senate system as the biggest reason for
JSU’s endorsement.
“The current system is outdated and doesn’t
work,” said Justin Levi, financial vice president of JSU. He
also cited the slate’s platform for parking reform and
university-subsidized housing as being important.
“Student Empowerment! is an expansion of what already
exists. Student government is clearly not doing what it’s
supposed to do,” Levi said.
John Haerptyan, the other independent presidential candidate,
was endorsed by the Armenian Students Association.
While Haerptyan remains on the ballot, Elections Board Chair
Nicole Lynch said he has made no contact with the E-Board.