By Maggy Athanasious
As the only candidate with two years of actual USAC experience,
a USAC-appointed committee position, and almost perfect USAC
council meeting attendance, I have more than enough experience for
the position of general representative.
The top priorities of my office are to address the
transportation problem, particularly BruinGo!, and to work with
General Representative Adam Harmetz on combating Tidal Wave II.
In the coming year I plan to increase accessibility and the
visibility of USAC. The way I will do this is by creating a
USAC-wide internship program for course credit, utilizing the USAC
web resources, creating an ASUCLA off-campus meal plan, holding
regular office hours on Bruin Walk, and submitting articles to the
Daily Bruin about what my office is doing. As well as being
important to the student body, these goals are very feasible within
a one-year term, a point that is lacking from several of my
opponents’ plans.
I am confident that my knowledge of USAC is unmatched by any of
my opponents, and my experience this year as chief of staff to
General Representative David Dahle gives me the ability to become
an effective leader immediately if elected.
By Dria Fern
I’ve been concerned with student issues for two years now
as a member of the On Campus Housing Council, where I put on events
such as the All Hill Formal, Casino Night and free movie nights. I
doubt my opponent has done as much for the student body.
My experience isn’t limited to on-campus housing.
I’m the president of the Disabled Student Union and the
undergraduate representative to the Chancellor’s Advisory
Committee on Disability, where I serve as an advocate for
UCLA’s disabled students.
Student Empowerment! claims to have a commitment to diversity,
but judging by their funding practices toward DSU, they clearly do
not want the voices of the disabled heard on this campus.
Representation is the overarching theme of the SURE slate. As of
now, you are not being represented in the Academic Senate. Only 11
of 18 undergraduate appointments have been made, which means that
we don’t have a voice.
We must bring the Academic Affairs Commission back to the
students. This should be done by increasing the number of academic
programs available to students ““ such as tutoring services
and tutorial programs ““ not by paying for hip-hop DJs, an
expense made by this year’s AAC.
We are all students first and our voices will be heard.
By Justin Levi
According to the Daily Bruin’s implication, I support the
abhorrent concept of South African apartheid. If The Bruin had been
responsible in accurately representing my views on council taking
political stances, they would know that I believe USAC was
justified in taking a stance in favor of divestment from South
Africa in the early 1980s.
I believe in a council free from certain political stances
because it inevitably alienates a certain group of people and is
divisive to students. My opponent T.J. Cordero clearly favors such
divisiveness, as evidenced by his funding allocations as Finance
Chair. As president of JSU, I witnessed firsthand how Student
Empowerment! ensures that many student groups will not receive
equitable funding. Cordero bears direct responsibility for this, as
well as many questionable funding allocations for which he is
almost solely accountable, despite the Daily Bruin’s warped
opinion.
The Bruin also states that Cordero “has
demonstrated” the realization of his vision, yet it only
cites things he “plans to” or “has pledged”
to do. And the experience the Daily Bruin touts is virtually
nonexistent relative to the IVP position.
The choice for IVP comes down to Cordero, a man at the forefront
of Student Empowerment! corruption, or myself, who has the
experience necessary to bring honesty and decency back to student
government.
By Luke Patterson
I am disappointed that the Bruin stated I have no plans for next
year. I presented them with several ideas for Cultural Affairs
Programming, such as expanding our film series and Eclectic,
co-programming with Campus Events and UCLA Performing Arts for
better entertainment, as well as holding forums dealing with
pertinent political and social issues.
The Bruin also undermined the importance of my previous
experience as CAC chief of staff this year. Because of this
experience, I have already established necessary connections an
out-of-house candidate wouldn’t have. I also have experience
programming the UCLA Jazz Reggae festival, which is the largest
student-run event in the nation. I have also handled budget issues
that have arisen as a result of growing costs and our
office’s stagnant source of income.
Likewise, I am not running for CAC to get a vote on council. A
vote on council is simply an additional ““ albeit extremely
important responsibility ““ to the duties I would have as
commissioner.
Given the amount of time, work, dedication and headaches
involved in running this commission, I would not be running unless
I truly believed I am the only person who can run the office at its
full potential.