Robbie Clark
By Teri H.P. Nguyen
Daily Bruin Contributor
Robbie Clark, chief of staff of the internal vice
president’s office, and Luke Patterson, chief of staff of the
cultural affairs commission office, are both eyeing the
responsibility to oversee cultural events and activities on
campus.
Both Clark and Patterson, running for Undergraduate Students
Association Council cultural affairs commissioner, plan to extend
the programs already implemented this year, such as Thursday night
eclectic and jazz-reggae concerts.
Patterson, running independent, has his heart set on
politicizing the USAC offices, dealing with issues such as the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Clark, running under the Student Empowerment! slate, envisions a
campus of “open dialogue” filled with forums and
venus.
Luke Patterson
As stated in the USAC bylaws, cultural affairs commissioners are
responsible for acquainting and stimulating the student body with
cultural opportunities, planning presentations and performances, as
well as heading the commission in charge of maintaining cultural
affairs’ regular poetry and musical series.
Both candidates have only skeletons of what they plan to do
““ starting an independent film series of movies from
different cultures and continuing events already sponsored by the
commission.
Although the candidates both have experience as programmers,
they do not have any concrete plans on how to carry out their
goals.
Patterson, a fourth-year communication studies student, says
that because he has experience in the office, he would make a
better candidate.
“I think we’re going toward the same
platform,” Patterson said, referring to Clark. “The
difference is I know the (cultural affairs office) and can run it
more efficiently.”
He also said that he “doesn’t have anything planned
yet.”
Clark, a third-year sociology and African American studies
student, is program coordinator of the African Student Union and
has planned events in conjunction with the cultural affairs
commission, such as the African graduation.
She did not have any new suggestions for programming.
Clark says she wants to see more ethnic studies centers
established so that students can benefit from resources these
centers would provide to faculty and students ““ an ambitious
plan that may go beyond her scope of abilities considering centers,
regardless how small, require approval by the chancellor and are
subject to the availability of funds.
This year, a South Asian studies center was proposed but has yet
to gain approval.
Patterson, taking a rather different approach, wants to
politicize the events the commission sponsors to reflect issues of
political and social urgency.
“This office hasn’t been much of a political
voice,” Patterson said. “We either take a neutral
position or no position at all.”
Some problems may arise here in Patterson’s central
vision, considering USAC is not supposed to take any political
stance, which is why it does not fund political groups.
In the past, Patterson helped sponsor events on police
brutality, political prisoners and the criminalization of
youth.
Patterson also allowed anti-occupation banners and political
signs to adorn this USAC office during the Israeli-Palestinian
rallies on campus earlier this month.
However, controversy surrounded this quickly, he said, and so he
decided not to hang any more banners ““ for awhile.