Undergraduate Student Association Council External Vice
President Chris Neal will be in Ghana next week to represent UCLA
in an International Union of Students conference.
Perhaps Neal is extending the meaning of his title ““
“external” vice president ““ a little too far. The
time Neal will spend in Ghana would be better used collecting
information from the student body about local issues they consider
important. Spending the time familiarizing students with who he is
and what he plans to do this year for off-campus advocacy would
better serve the purpose of his office, given USAC’s
commitment to make themselves more visible, accessible to, and
representative of all students.
United States Student Association President Jo’ie Taylor
says going to Ghana is important because “fighting tuition or
fee hikes” is a global issue, and the conference will allow
them to swap “strategies and come up with common
goals.” Hopefully students in Ghana are well-informed enough
about the University of California that they can help USAC
successfully organize against any effort on the regents’
behalf at raising student fees.
Neal said student representation on an international level was
something his campaign promised last year ““Â but this
does little to legitimize his trip around the world, since he ran
unopposed.
Students who have seen no change or heard of plans from the EVP
office to remedy overcrowding, expensive off-campus housing or
parking unavailability need to speak up when Neal is back from
having fun in Ghana.