This post was updated at 10:09 p.m.
Two candidates for Undergraduate Students Association Council Financial Supports commissioner attended a debate Thursday.
The Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. Three candidates are running for the position of Financial Supports commissioner. One candidate – Jonah Nazarian, a first-year business economics student – did not attend Thursday’s debate.
Nico Morrone, a second-year financial actuarial mathematics student, said he has served as the FSC office’s chief of staff for two years. He added that the office’s current projects include offering a three-year The New York Times subscription, student discounts in Westwood and free lab coat rentals.
“I hope to continue my work next year by not only expanding on these projects, but by also implementing audits for all USAC offices to ensure that funds generated from student fees are used efficiently,” Morrone said.
Jean Pierre Etcheverry, a second-year student who worked in the office of the USAC president this year, said his experience will help him implement regular town hall-style meetings with the chancellor, provost and other top administration officials. His other platforms include distributing regular financial reports so students know how their fees are spent and creating a $5 printing credit for students.
Morrone said he will implement audits and bring back the financial transparency viewer spreadsheet – which was shelved due to COVID-19 – so students can see how USAC spends its money. He said his team has created a financial review oversight board in a USAC bylaw to create a committee to run these audits.
In response to Morrone, Etcheverry said accessing regular audits could prove to be a complicated and tedious process for students. Etcheverry added that he would put out simplified regular reports if elected so that students can have accessible and digestible information.
Both candidates said they plan to voice concerns to the administration and UCLA Housing regarding the change in the value of student meal swipes from $9 to $4.33.
“That’s something that is just too radical a change to impart upon the students,” Etcheverry said. “It’s our fees that go towards these meal plans.”
Morrone said in his closing statement that it is vital for the student body to vote for a candidate who will advocate for the values of fellow students. He added that his USAC experience and time as a residential assistant will help him fulfill this role and implement his programs.
In his closing statement, Etcheverry said he believes in stronger connections with campus leadership and more transparency and simplicity in USAC.
Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA starting Friday and ending May 17.
