Six candidates for the Undergraduate Students Association Council general representative debated how to approach basic and essential needs 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 three general representative positions.
Brinaye Grant, a second-year education student, Benjamin Mokhtar, a first-year history student, and Elika Rohbani, a third-year political science student, did not attend the debate.
Amelie Orozco-Ramirez, a second-year political science student, said she wants to increase basic needs resources, student retention and council transparency.
“I don’t believe that students should be worried about what they eat in the morning,” she said. “They should be worried about what really matters.”
She also said she encourages disagreement within the council, adding that she believes it will allow for more students’ views to be represented.
Susie Turner, a second-year African American studies and public affairs student, said she wants UCLA to designate itself as a sanctuary campus. She added that she hopes to invest in student retention programs that support students from marginalized backgrounds.
Turner said she believes coalition-building within USAC is necessary for the council to function.
“I talk to all the students here, and I see the needs that people have, and I want to address them from a grassroots perspective,” she said.
Evan Salazar, a first-year political science student, said he believes UCLA must do a better job at protecting freedom of speech on campus and undocumented students. He added that he wants to strengthen campus resource centers so they can support students academically.
“What we need to do to ensure that UCLA is a campus where all students feel empowered to continue on with their day,” he said.
Salazar added that he wants to publish quarterly reports on USAC programming and spending to increase transparency on where funding goes.
Omar Slayyeh, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student, said he wants to collaborate with the Cultural Affairs Commission to create spaces for students to share their cultural backgrounds. He added that he wants to host skill-based workshops for creative and work-based pursuits.
Slayyeh said he hopes to hold coffee chats between USAC officers and the student body for the sake of transparency.
“We are tired of feeling unseen and left in the dark,” he said. “My platforms intend to create a space where students come together, they can learn, advocate and get feedback, so we can learn what’s working.”
Parya Haghparast, a second-year business economics student, said she wants to see all USAC officers regularly sitting down with administrators to relay student concerns. She added that she hopes to promote safety on campus by implementing protections against ICE and offering free Lyft rides for students.
She added that she believes students cannot be expected to reach out to USAC to ask questions or express concerns, so council members must go to organizations themselves to get their perspectives and publicize the resources they can offer.
“If we have a new resource, we need to advertise it, and we need to spend money and time into doing that,” Haghparast said.
Pranaya Vijay, a third-year neuroscience student, said she wants to host town halls for students to hear their concerns, adding that she believes USAC’s current workshops are underattended. She added that student resources need to be promoted and improved.
She added that she wants to work with the Student Organizations Leadership & Engagement office to encourage meetings between USAC and student organizations.
“These offices are going to last far past us, and making sure that we’re forming bridges of connection,” she said.
Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA starting May 8 at 8 a.m. until May 15 at noon.
