Academic Affairs needs new leadership
My lack of direct experience with the Academic Affairs
Commission should not be held against me, as I have made every
attempt to involve myself in the development of a diversity
requirement and was turned away from the current commission for
reasons unstated.
I am the only candidate to have real experience in the general
representation of students, having served as representative to the
On Campus Housing Council.
On the issue of the minimum progress requirement, I have met
with various administrators on this issue, and they all agree that
the likelihood of repealing the requirement is near impossible.
Although I plan to work on repealing the requirement, in the
meantime, I plan to educate students as to how they can waive the
requirement.
The Academic Affairs Commission has been criticized by
administrators for its lack of attendance and participation in many
important committees dealing with pressing curriculum issues. The
commission is in great need for new leadership, accountable
representation, student driven programs and advocacy. This
commission entails many more components than just the diversity
requirement itself. This commission and its leader should be
committed to serving the academic needs of students and not
consuming itself with radical political stances.Â
Christine Sol
Candidate for academic affairs commissioner
La Familia endorses Wynn and Kozac
A miscommunication error led the Undergraduate Students
Association Council Election Board to unintentionally make an error
when it published the endorsements in the Daily Bruin. La Familia
de UCLA, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Latina/o
support organization, was wrongly stated to have “No
Endorsement” for the offices of Academic Affairs Commissioner
and Cultural Affairs Commissioner.
For the Academic Affairs Commissioner, La Familia de UCLA
endorses Sophia Kozac. Of the three candidates running, Kozac has
the most experience working with the LGBT and Latina/o communities,
and her goals for AAC next year reflect her commitment to work for
these communities. Furthermore, Kozac’s goals to push for a
diversity requirement and her experience as a staff member for the
AAC and as a leader on this campus demonstrates that she is
definitely qualified for the position.
For the Cultural Affairs Commission, La Familia de UCLA endorses
Kelly Wynn. Her commitment to working with the LGBT and Latina/o
communities is unmatched by any of the other candidates. In fact,
when the Queer Alliance asked a question pertaining to LGBT issues,
Students United for Reform and Equality candidate Marcello Robinson
refused to answer the question. Furthermore, Wynn’s ideas for
programming next year are fresh and will greatly benefit the
students at UCLA.
Along with the other candidates La Familia endorses, Kozac and
Wynn show dedication to tolerance and progressivism and have
clearly demonstrated that they are the best candidates.
Kian Boloori
Chair of La Familia de UCLA
Interviews were an inadequate length
I cannot help but question the objectivity of The Bruin’s
endorsement of 7 out of 10 Students First! candidates. The On
Campus Housing Council endorsed 7 out of 10 S.U.R.E. candidates.
Considering the purpose of both organizations is to identify the
most qualified candidates to represent students, I am very
suspicious of the endorsements.
I know that the role of facilities commissioner is two-fold: to
represent all students by seeking input on their needs and
fulfilling the actual roles of the commission.
My experience with the Student Health Advocates program will
bring health awareness issues to the office. I plan to make campus
facilities more conducive to living a healthy lifestyle while at
the same time not encroaching on the Student Welfare Commission. My
number one concern is that crimes happen on campus.
In The Bruin’s endorsement for facilities commissioner,
the editorial board claimed I have nothing to offer the student
body except a newsletter. Well, in a 20-minute interview it is
impossible to express the depth of my platform goals and the means
by which to attain such goals. I have already implemented some of
these ideas in my job as chief of staff for the facilities
commissioner.
The Bruin failed to ask the questions necessary to determine the
most qualified facilities candidate.
Albert Farias
Candidate for facilities commissioner
What The Bruin doesn’t mention
Since other candidates have already pointed out the blatant bias
of The Bruin endorsements, I will use this precious time to discuss
what was not mentioned in the general representative
endorsements.
Even though The Bruin claims I failed to make a convincing
argument for the creation of an on-campus meal plan, the two ASUCLA
board members I spoke to felt that I was convincing and said they
would work on the program with me if I was elected. Since ASUCLA
would oversee the creation of such a program, I believe their
support is far more relevant than The Bruin’s.
Another goal of mine is to increase outreach to all students.
Since the Daily Bruin failed to mention this point, I will fill you
in. If elected, I will organize bi-quarterly forums where any
student or on-campus organization can ask a question, voice an
opinion, or announce an upcoming event. I will organize these
forums with any willing USAC officer, giving students a chance to
directly ask the officer a question in a public setting. This would
prevent USAC officers from hiding in their offices in Kerckhoff;
they are elected to represent the students on campus.
If elected, I will also not take part in any of the political
scheming and exclusive representation, which have become so
characteristic of USAC. I will fight in the name of students, not
slate influence.
Chase Rabenn
Candidate for general representative
Endorsements hypocritical
In response to the endorsements made on behalf of The Bruin, it
is my responsibility to respond and inform UCLA voters of the
truth.
First, with regard to the characterization of my platform as
“narrow,” the irony is climactic. My opponent describes
her platform as “tri-fold.” My platform encompass
13-plus ideas. They include inquiries on AB 1611, 1063, dealing
with Tidal Wave II, housing evicted students, free financial
advisors, lowering housing costs, preventing student fee increases,
etc.
Second, as for experience, The Bruin takes a hypocritical
approach when it criticizes some candidates for running for an
office with no related experience and then endorse others who have
none. Sadly, The Bruin has been entrusted to offer an objective
viewpoint.
My opponent claims to have a deep concern for alleviating
students’ financial burdens, so much so that she wishes to
lead the commission. To my knowledge though, she has never
contacted the Financial Supports Commission. I question her concern
when she was nowhere to be found in assisting us in our efforts
prior to the opportunity of gaining some office. She has no
experience. I have worked in the office of financial supports for
the entire year. I’ve explored every capacity of the
commission. I urge your use of common intuition. I am confident you
will make the right choice.
Omar Qudrat
Candidate for financial supports commissioner