This post was updated May 2 at 2:44 p.m.
Eight candidates for the Undergraduate Students Association Council general representative attended a debate Wednesday.
The USA Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. Nine candidates are running for the three offices of general representative. Vikas Sundar, a third-year economics and statistics and data science student on the ballot, did not attend the debate.
Averie Roice, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said that, if elected, she wants to dedicate her time to advocating for international students and students without legal status.
She said she plans to do so by addressing policing on UCLA’s campus, which she alleged has historically been used to treat students of color brutally.
“If we truly want to create a safe campus for our marginalized students to be able to thrive, that has to start with abolishing policing on our campus,” she said.
Brett Berndt, a third-year political science student, said he wants to continue the current advocacy work and ensure his action items are achievable.
“We’re only here for a year if elected, and so I want to ensure that what we’re doing is achievable and actually realistic.”
Additionally, Brendt said he would increase accessibility for students with disabilities by working with the Disabled Student Union and sharing findings from accessibility audits with the UC Regents.
David Escobedo, a first-year business economics student, said that, if elected, he would increase transparency and ensure students know what USAC is doing.
He said he plans to do this by sending monthly or quarterly announcements to students. Additionally, Escobedo said it is important that students know the work USAC officers are doing to keep their campaign promises.
“Our platforms only matter if they’re executed,” he said.
Jayha Buhs-Jackson, a first-year African American studies and public affairs student, said she wants to hold UCLA accountable for being a welcoming and supportive campus for all its students.
She said she wants to focus on supporting students who are currently being overlooked. This includes Black students with low enrollment rates, Indigenous students who are rarely discussed and Asian students who are having visas terminated, Buhs-Jackson said. She added that she wants to be wary of broad statements of collaboration.
“When you look at my platforms, you see tangible actions that can be accomplished within a year,” she said.
Lara Keshav, a second-year chemical engineering student, said she wants to focus on open communication pathways between USAC, students and student organizations. She said she wants to open up these communication pathways through social media or by creating a new website for student organizations to communicate with students and USAC.
Keshav also said she wants to combat food insecurity on campus through expanding existing programs like Swipe Out Hunger, CalFresh and the Community Programs Office.
“We have amazing resources available,” she said. “It’s just about expanding them for students to help combat food insecurity.”
Maya Wertheim, a second-year history student who is a former Daily Bruin Opinion intern, said she wants to focus on communication and creating career opportunities for students. She said she plans to do this by working closely with the career center and career-centered clubs, including through the use of aptitude tests.
Wertheim said it is important to view the student body as a “collection of individuals” and wants to ensure no one is forgotten or feels that they are, particularly in the search for career opportunities.
“It’s important to view the student body as a collection of individuals, so everyone is their own person and so that we don’t leave anybody out,” she said.
Paige Zwerner, a second-year communication and political science student, said she wants to create opportunities and communities through clubs, organizations and ASUCLA. She said the ASUCLA Board of Directors need to focus on sustainability, addressing marginalized communities and ensuring all students have access to basic necessities.
“It’s important that we ensure every person who works for ASUCLA understands what their rights are when they’re working and how they should be working, that they have safe environments and that they feel safe when they’re at work,” she said.
Additionally, Zwerner said she wants to focus on community organizing and uplifting student opportunities.
Talia Davood, a second-year political science student, said she wants to have a strong foundation of communication in her office, including by instituting office hours and reaching out to marginalized communities.
Davood said she wants to provide forums so students can come to her with concerns, including through open office hours that she will host if elected and twice-quarterly town halls with administrators, including the chancellor. Additionally, she said it is important for her office to reach out to students to hear what their concerns are and provide a forum for them to find USAC officers.
“As general representative, what’s super important is us making an effort to reach out to them and putting in the time to go out of our way to see what they need and what they want,” Davood said.
Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA starting 8 a.m. May 9 until noon May 16.
