More than 10 years ago, Mark Pulido, the 1992-1993 president of
the Undergraduate Students Association Council, had campaign goals
to fulfill. Today, those goals are still worked on by his
successors long after his graduation.
Council members find it daunting to complete their projects
during their one-year term, but for those who are graduating and no
longer sit on council, there is added pressure to complete their
campaigns before graduation.
Many years ago, Pulido set out to organize UCLA students to
become better leaders. Jenny Wood, current USAC president, is
continuing to work for the same cause.
Former USAC president Allende Palma/Saracho led the USAC’s
Internship Program, which Wood plans to carry on. The class
primarily teaches USAC interns leadership skills.
“(Wood) was involved in coordinating some of the class
sessions for the internship, so I know it is left in good
hands,” Palma/Saracho said.
Wood said she wants to expand the class and try to give class
credit for those interns enrolled.
Another major campaign of last year’s council was
repealing the Expected Cumulative Progress requirement. Wood was
heavily involved in the campaign last year and plans to continue
working on it.
A hindrance in the continuation of the projects is when elected
council members hold differing ideologies from their predecessors
and do not continue the project in their office.
This year’s Academic Affairs commissioner, Michelle
Sassounian, was not involved with the ECP campaign and is from a
slate that holds different platforms than last year’s
Academic Affairs commissioner.
But Sassounian has said she wants to become involved in the
campaign despite the slate difference.
Also building off the work done by last council’s
graduating Internal Vice President Darren Chan is this year’s
IVP Kristina Doan.
Chan worked on several projects, including the Student
Leadership Summit, which was a series of workshops that taught
students leadership skills.
Because Doan was an intern in Chan’s office, she is
already familiar with the program and is ready to expand the
project this year.
Also graduating is former External Vice President John Vu. The
EVP is primarily responsible for lobbying on behalf of the students
on both state and national levels. Unlike other offices, the
campaigns the EVP works on last several years, since most national
decisions are issues that are debated at length before being
approved.
Current EVP Jeannie Biniek worked in the EVP office with Vu for
two years prior to winning a seat on council. Vu himself had also
worked in the office under Matt Kaczmarek, who had the position on
the 2003-2004 council, before he won a seat.
One example of a project carried over was advocating for the
adoption of the Dream Act, which would allow undocumented students
to apply for financial aid and loans.
Biniek said the project started with Kaczmarek, and because it
will be re-introduced into Congress this year she plans to continue
lobbying efforts.
Though Kaczmarek lives in Washington, D.C., he is still active
in helping USAC because both Vu and Biniek turn to him and other
alumni for advice.
“The EVP office has a strong network. As a result, we are
still a part of the helping and advising if (Biniek) needs
us,” Kaczmarek said.
Though the executive officers of the 2004-2005 academic year are
graduating, they have tried to ensure the continuation of their
projects.
“(We) worked on issues that were in the interest of
students, so one thing that will definitely continue is for
(council members) to continue working in the best interest of
students, regardless of the office they work in,”
Palma/Saracho said.