A sea of red, royal blue and yellow shirts sporting political
slogans and slate names were scattered among the crowd at Northwest
Campus Auditorium on Thursday night as students listened in earnest
while candidates for the Undergraduate Students Association Council
debated policy issues at the first-ever Election Board certified
debate.
Prospective officers debated at every level, from those vying
for the general representatives spots to the presidential
candidates. Candidates were asked to remain within their time
limits and to “refrain from personal slander” when
discussing the issues.
After candidates answered, they faced inquiry from the
opposition.
Troy Isaac, an independent candidate for president and a
third-year political science student, was of the firm belief that
USAC representatives are of no higher authority than their fellow
undergraduate students.
“USAC is for the students. Bring it to the students.
We’re not special,” he said.
Isaac stressed that he is not affected by any type of political
bias since he was running as an independent.
The other three presidential candidates are running on slates,
which are groups of students who unite based on similar goals and
ideologies, often pooling campaign resources and campaigning
together. Established slates also typically have a known platform
that is carried over from year to year.
Presidential candidate Garin Hovannisian, a third-year history
student, along with his fellow Slate Refund candidates, stuck to
the notion that it is necessary to give students back their $39.91
mandatory quarterly fees given to USAC. Hovannisian is a former
Daily Bruin Viewpoint columnist.
“We’ll be a resource for you, not a parent,”
he said, referring to his slate’s platform of assisting but
not funding student groups.
Hovanissian went on to say that USAC “has to have its root
in individual choice. Do not use force. This is a matter of
rights.”
Hovannisian faced scrutiny from his fellow opponents.
Bruins United presidential candidate Marwa Kaisey, a third-year
neuroscience student and a current general representative, pointed
out that if students have strong opinions about which organizations
on campus receive their money, they can fill out a form that would
divert those funds to other organizations.
“How about if a student doesn’t want to give it to
any organization” Hovannisian said.
Other candidates emphasized the need for students to reach out
beyond the university.
Lucero Chavez, a third-year American literature and culture and
Chicana/o studies student running for president with the Students
First! slate, was especially intent on stressing the need for UCLA
students to get involved though community programs, and that it is
important for students to go out to the greater Los Angeles
community.
Later in the debate, Chavez stressed that student issues such as
campus safety and diversity need to be addressed.
Perhaps the most entertaining candidate of the night was Casey
Henry, a first-year English student running for Student Welfare
Commissioner with Slate Refund.
Tamaron Jang, a third-year molecular cellular and developmental
biology student running for student welfare commissioner as an
independent, cited stress, alcohol management and substance abuse,
and mental health as the three biggest student health concerns.
Henry disagreed with his opponent’s response.
“I don’t think there’s any mad schizo on
campus,” Henry said. “Come talk to me, I’m right
here.”