The four uncontested candidates for USAC’s least political
positions are proven leaders already serving in the offices they
will control next year.
Never mind that Jason Kaminsky is running unopposed for Campus
Events Commissioner ““ he is, hands down, the right person for
the job.
He brings experience with a healthy dose of spirit and humor to
the one USAC post that almost all UCLA students probably interact
with. After all, who doesn’t enjoy $2 flicks at Ackerman
Union?
Kaminsky can effectively build from the groundwork laid by Jason
Gaulton these past two years to ensure the campus events office
does not go stagnant. Expanding Welcome Week, revitalizing campus
awards and tracking down that elusive great band are some of his
top goals.
Though he readily admits to not knowing about every underground
hip-hop group and movie out there, Kaminsky said he wants to bring
students on board who do.
Kaminsky also has said he’d like to finalize a nighttime
programming policy which would give nocturnal students some
on-campus entertainment (like The Roots concert last week).
Farheen Malik should be commended for her commitment to
continuing UCLA’s strong tradition of service with her
dedication to the Community Service Commission.
Malik has experience working as the assistant commissioner and
as an intern in a variety of USAC positions.
She will have a tough year ahead as the commission is strapped
for funds and is working to sustain itself through the PULSE
referendum. But Malik should also be working on ways to make her
commission more efficient by exploring creative avenues in areas
such as transportation.
Additionally, Malik needs to understand the commission should
expand. She should develop additional systems and programs that
cater to all students regardless of whether they can devote one
hour, one day or one year to community service.
Todd Hawkins has already worked for the Cultural Affairs
Commission for two years and is responsible for leading this
month’s JazzReggae Festival. He has experience helping plan
other cultural festivals and events, including the Annual Bob
Marley Day Festival and the Annual International Laureates Music
Festival.
In addition to being qualified for the job, Hawkins brings new
ideas to the commission and plans to create a large Student Arts
Festival and aims to stimulate a buzz around his commission similar
to that surrounding the Campus Events office.
Hawkins also understands how his commission can be used for
outreach. Each year, thousands of people that normally would not be
on campus flock to JazzReggae and other events. Hawkins wants to
use these opportunities to build relationships with those
communities.
Tracy Pham has been active in the Student Welfare Commission for
two years and will clearly be a goal-oriented and organized
commissioner. Pham says her commission will work toward
students’ personal safety, ensure more students are
CPR-certified and make the student body more aware of the
commission’s services.
While these are noble and important goals, Pham should also
expand the commission’s current programs to focus on mental
health and other issues related to the student body’s general
well-being. Pham should work to maintain the commission’s
current strengths, introduce more programs and increase its
visibility so the student population will regard it as more than an
office offering blood drives and CPR training.