The Graduate Students Association elections actually matter.
After all, GSA, as the name implies, is the student government for graduate students and speaks on their behalf to campus officials and administrators. Like their undergraduate counterparts, elected GSA officials serve their respective student body. Yet, something in this year’s officer elections seems off.
Four candidates are vying for four uncontested officer positions. Two of them are incumbent candidates. All belong to the GSA Progress slate.
Though we laud these students for campaigning in the graduate student body’s interest, an absent opposition lowers their credibility. How can students gauge their prospective future leaders if they have only one choice?
Students need to first vote in this week’s elections. Also, graduate students must look beyond elections by voicing their concerns and ensuring a more competitive election process. People often complain that their lone vote doesn’t matter in the scope of major elections, but here, the chance to make one’s voice heard is well within reach ““ and also very often ignored.
These GSA officers’ jobs are to advocate on behalf of students, but if students don’t vote ““ or even really care ““ their leaders have no reason to represent their opinions.
Official voting will continue until April 21 on the MyUCLA Web site.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.