Three of the candidates for general representative of the
Undergraduate Students Association Council have at least one thing
in common ““ they want more students to be a part of student
government.
“If someone isn’t looking for answers, they
don’t know how they can be truly involved,” said
first-year undeclared candidate Chase Rabenn.
Rabenn, along with Jon English and Justin Williams, are running
for USAC general representative under the United Independents
slate, and all want to reach out to students to get them more
involved with student government.
“There’s so many people I think would be interested
and great candidates who will miss the opportunity,” Rabenn
said.
“I find it kind of pathetic that no one can name the USAC
president,” said first-year political science student
English.
“I aim to change things like that,” he added.
Second-year civil engineering student Williams agreed, saying
visibility is the key to reaching out to students.
“I’d like to make our presence a little more obvious
to the student body,” Williams said.
English, Rabenn and Williams are running against three students
from each of the other two major slates: Students First! and
Students for United Reform and Equality. Former S.U.R.E. member and
current U.I. presidential candidate Andrew LaFlamme formed the
United Independents slate earlier this month.
The candidates also agree that conflict between slates on this
year’s council has distracted the members from more important
issues.
“The current structure has become like our Congress in
that it’s become more bickering between two parties than
getting things done,” Rabenn said.
Williams said Students First! and S.U.R.E. members on this
year’s council haven’t shown they can work with other
slates, and said U.I. is committed to working with everyone.
The position’s job description ““ as the
council’s constitution dictates ““ is to “serve
general student interests,” but current general
representative and S.U.R.E. presidential candidate Adam Harmetz
said this lack of specificity was intentional.
Harmetz said general representative is a “dynamic
office” intended to be a “resource for student
groups.” This generality allows candidates to have their own
specific ideas on ways USAC can better serve students.
English wants to change the USAC open house the council
attempted this year, an event current councilmembers agreed could
have had better attendance. He said a fair in Westwood Plaza where
students can meet their representatives face to face would be more
effective.
He also said going out to Bruin Walk and talking to students
about their concerns is a simple but effective way to get
feedback.
“It surprised me that Kerckhoff is right there and no one
goes out on Bruin Walk,” English said.
Rabenn said he is focusing more on specific issues, such as the
overcrowding of the Rieber dining hall on weekends.
He said he realizes the current financial crisis, but thinks it
would be feasible to open the Hedrick dining hall for at least two
meals on Saturdays. Currently, on weekends Hedrick dining hall is
only open for dinner on Sundays.
He also wants to work with the Office of Residential Life and
the Associated Students of UCLA to establish a meal plan separate
from the dorm plans which students living off campus could use for
meals in Ackerman or other eateries around campus.
Outreach is one of Williams’ biggest plans, as he said one
of his big goals would be to secure extra funding in that area. He
also wants to set up a volunteer fair showcasing the various
service-based student groups on campus.
All of the U.I. candidates expressed a desire to get away from
the mainstream slates and express their own views.
“We have the same mind, and that mind is
independents,” Williams said of U.I.