Only three out of the 20 students who are running for undergraduate student government have signed the voluntary spending cap, an agreement which limits the amount of money candidates can spend on their campaigns.
Students who agree to the spending limit can only spend $600 if they are running for president and $400 for all other positions.
The only students to sign the cap are those on independent tickets running unopposed. Candidates from the two major slates, the campus political parties, Bruins United and Students First!, declined to sign the cap, citing different reasons for doing so.
Matt Sandler, a third-year saxophone performance student and Bruins United candidate for USAC president, said informing the public about candidates and issues was the major goal of his slate.
“I think to get the word out to the general student public effectively we have to use resources that take considerable amounts of money. That every student actually understands what each candidate stands for is … what we strive to accomplish through the election process,” Sandler said.
Members of Students First! chose not to sign the waiver out of concerns for the environment and workers.
“We (did not sign the document) in order to run a campaign that is environmentally friendly and supports union wages,” said Homaira Hosseini, a third-year political science student and presidential candidate for Students First!
Both Bruins United and Students First! raise money through fundraising efforts that include students, family and alumni.
Jeff Matt, a third-year political science student and the third presidential candidate who is running as an independent, did not sign the waiver but said he does not plan on spending much money during the course of his campaign.
“I don’t think a flier or an extra poster here or there will make a difference,” Matt said.
He added that he was going to try to use “good old-fashioned hard work” to talk to students and inform them of his goals.
In the past, candidates have spent upward of $1,000 to buy shirts, fliers and giveaways for students.
Jonathan Pham, the current Student Welfare commissioner, signed the spending cap agreement last year as an independent but recognizes the benefits and difficulties associated with money and gaining recognition among students.
“I feel that it’s great that candidates can use their money to spread their platform items so students can be educated. … There is a really low turnout for voting. At the same time, it’s a detriment for independent candidates,” Pham said.
During the elections, the total expense reports for all candidates are published in the Daily Bruin as an advertisement. The budgets act as a binding agreement, and students who exceed the limit report to the Elections Board to face sanctions or possible disqualification.
Though the major slate candidates benefit from the flexibility that a large budget allows, independents can capitalize on the restrictions to their advantage.
“It has definitely helped us out … just because we don’t feel limited and constrained when we have to make choices. As far as independents go, I think the voluntary spending limit helps them in the end. They do get a lot of advertisement and media coverage out of it,” said Bernice Shaw, Cultural Affairs commissioner.
Kyle Kleckner, chair of the Elections Board, said that, while money is always an issue in campaigns, finances are not crucial to winning.
“Money does play an important role, but it isn’t everything. There are arguments to be made on both sides, but I think the process is fair as it is now,” Kleckner said.