It’s a perfect split on council next year. And if past
years are any indication, that means the student body could get
caught in the crossfire of slate bickering. But that doesn’t
have to be the case.
When results were announced Thursday night for Undergraduate
Student Association Council runoffs, neither side could claim
ultimate victory. The Bruins United and Students First! slates
split five to five, with independents picking up three seats.
Since neither slate has majority, neither can muscle through its
agenda without the votes of the independents. That means the
council can do two things: It could deadlock in stagnation and the
student body will suffer as a result; or, preferably, it could
embrace this opportunity for compromise and make a difference.
Every candidate who was elected to the council this year won the
endorsement of this board because they had solid plans that would
benefit all students. If each candidate only accomplished half of
what they set out to do, UCLA would be a much better campus.
And if the council as a whole learned to work together so as to
not stall opposing slates or opposing council members, UCLA would
benefit a hundredfold.
So a word to the wise on council: Put aside the slate names. The
eyes of the student body are upon you, and now is not the time to
play politics. Now is the time to get down to business.