On Oct. 14, I submitted to Students United for Reform and
Equality a letter of resignation. I would like to explain the
reasons for that decision and clarify how I plan to move forward
with my goals as an unaffiliated councilmember.
Following my resignation from S.U.R.E., my office has continued
to advance the cause of equal access funding and currently is
sponsoring a student initiative to secure equal voting rights for
all students. My efforts have focused on bringing accountability to
the Undergraduate Students Association Council.
In an Oct. 21 presentation on amending the student group funding
criteria, I argued that USAC owes it to student groups to push past
the campus politics and make a change for the better ““ as all
other University of California schools have done. This action is in
line with the commitments I made to the UCLA students when I ran
last spring.
The leadership that my office has brought and will continue to
bring to Council transcends slate affiliation. Still, I feel the
need to explain the reasons behind my separation.
My differences with S.U.R.E. are based on ideals, not politics.
S.U.R.E. has made no selection of candidates for the upcoming
student elections. My decision is thus based on principle and not
politics ““ principles S.U.R.E. no longer holds.
From the S.U.R.E. “Manipulation Is Key” statement to
more recent discussions that left me with the impression that
politics matter more than morals, it has become evident to me there
has not been sufficient change within S.U.R.E. and that the slate
is lacking both guidance and vision. Fragile alliances have
prohibited me from being able to provide the guidance and vision
current circumstances necessitate.
I therefore resigned, having done all I could to advocate for
change. Although I am currently not aligned with any slate, my
actions and advocacy will remain unaltered as I continue to fight
for student access in order to bring accountability to USAC.
I no longer speak on behalf of the slate as to what their next
move might be. But, I hope my actions will prompt some true and
deep soul searching to reevaluate S.U.R.E.’s initial mission
and purpose for existence. As one who was heavily involved in the
leadership of the slate in the past, I believe in what S.U.R.E.
could have become. But, I no longer consider it a viable catalyst
for student action.
While the slate may have conformed to the political atmosphere
of USAC, I have not ““ nor did I do so last spring. I have no
regrets for believing reform within S.U.R.E. was possible. But
reform has been given its chance, and at every opportunity it has
taken a back seat to political maneuvering. USAC is at a point
where there are big battles to win. A fractured slate cannot
advance student concerns or adequately represent their
constituents.
The principles of advocacy, access and accountability will
continue be the focus of my office. My goals have not changed, but
unfortunately, S.U.R.E. has wavered.
When obtaining political office becomes the end goal rather than
the means by which to affect change, when the students’
mandate of governance is undermined by political advantage, it is
then that the call to restore vision and bring perspective must be
taken up. This is one of those times and, students must take a
stand on principle and unite for student access.
Lawson is a USAC general representative.