Today marks the first day of the undergraduate student government elections. Amid the debates regarding these elections, I will spread truths in an arena of myths.
Fact: This year, Bruins United actively sought out conservatives to run on their slate. In an e-mail to fellow Bruin Republicans, Andrew Kreitz, Academic Affairs commissioner candidate for Bruin United and Chairman of Bruin Republicans, wrote, “Several of the other Bruins United candidates also swing conservative, making the BU slate of candidates this year one of the most conservative in recent memory.”
You would think they would get the point that not only our campus, but the greater nation, is tired of obsolete Bush-era politics.
Furthermore, Bruins United attempts to frame Students First! as the ultimate leftist party. In another e-mail from Bruins United, Kreitz writes, “Arrayed against us are the candidates for Students First!, the ultra-leftist party on campus. SF’s presidential candidate is a prominent member of MEChA, an extremist organization that supports the “˜return’ of the Southwestern U.S. to Mexico, and the rest of SF’s candidates parallel this ultra-liberal tack. It’s up to us to stop them.”
This is untrue. Organizations such as MEChA, Samahang Pilipino, Afrikan Student Union and others ultimately seek to empower themselves by fostering love for one’s culture.
Fact: Students First! holds a historic role in the larger social justice movement. Unlike Bruins United, they are more than a coalition of individuals vying for important titles to buff their resume. Students First! is the descendant of the Third World Coalition Council, which was established as a response to oppressive politics of the 1960s and included legendary leaders such as Angela Davis, a prominent Civil Rights and non-violence activist. On a contemporary note, thanks to the hard work of Cinthia Flores, the Students First! presidential candidate, and Susan Li, the Students First! external vice presidential candidate, UCLA yielded record numbers in getting the vote out for the first black president.
Fact: Bruins United seeks candidates by luring them with shallow incentives. They advertise council seats as resume builders with an emphasis on the stipend provision. Kreitz writes in yet another e-mail regarding Bruins United, “They need highly motivated (Bruin Republicans) who are interested in appointed positions. This is a great way to build your resume, meet new people and get paid while you’re at it.”
While such appeals do not necessarily warrant disdain, these aren’t the things you want a politician representing you to be lured by. Candidates inspired by boosting their resume, having a party and getting paid all at the same time clearly lack a deep passion for change and do not hold the UCLA community in mind. This superficial appeal for candidates is a direct reflection of the type of government Bruins United runs.
Last year, Bruins United held eight out of 10 council seats. Nonetheless, they were disappointingly inefficient. Gabe Rose, 2007-2008 Undergraduate Students Association Council president who ran under Bruins United, ran on a platform that promised “Concerts for Cash,” which sought to raise more funds for student groups through the concert series’ expected profits. As a result of “date conflicts,” it never even happened. In essence, this failure took hypothetical funds away from groups that were supposed to be beneficiaries of such a program.
Furthermore, Rose’s “We Matter 2008″ platform sought to bring presidential candidates to UCLA, and this never happened either. That bar on campus that has been a mainstay of the Bruins United platform for years? Yeah, I’m still looking for it.
I’ll admit that Bruins United succeeded in promoting non-discriminatory and inclusive policies while holding a majority in office. Such non-discriminatory principles have allowed people from all walks of life to be included in UCLA institutions. For example, former Bruin Standard editor Michael Rafail was recently added to the powerful UCLA Communications Board. He comes from the aforementioned upstanding publication, strewn across lecture halls monthly, which printed the statement, “What’s the point of MEChA when there’s already a Taco Bell on campus?”
That’s some great journalism for you ““ just the type we need added to the governing communications committee.
Fact: Students First! gets things done. The much-needed Students First! victory last year renewed hope and heralded a new era ““ much like last year’s national presidential elections. And they didn’t fail to bring it this year.
Homaira Hosseini, current USAC president, ensured transparency by delivering a State of the University Address. She secured a payment installation plan which allows students to defer payments that are required of us every month. Her office reprioritized UCLA investments through a “Responsible Endowment” campaign, much like past Students First! efforts during the divestment from Sudan campaign during the Darfur crisis. Elaine Reodica, current Financial Supports commissioner, provided textbook scholarships and helped build financial literacy by providing workshops on how to fill out FAFSA information. Galen Roth, current Facilities commissioner, worked to make residential restaurants sustainable by replacing Styrofoam and plastic utensils with biodegradable alternatives. James Birks’ office, the General Representative 2 Office, co-programmed an event that raised awareness on alternative sexual health and medicine issues. The list goes on.
Compared to last year’s Bruins United majority on council, this year’s Students First! majority produced tangible benefits for the entire UCLA campus. On top of the work they’ve been doing to lower fees, provide scholarships, promote sustainability and raise awareness on alternative sexual health issues, they also passed resolutions denouncing the violence in Gaza and supporting the UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education. They strive to make life better on a day-to-day basis and seek to bring positive social change on a larger scale.
Angelo Sandoval, recent UCLA alumnus and past member of the American Indian Student Association at UCLA, agrees.
“The difference between slates is not a matter of being focused on local versus global issues; it is a difference seeing USAC as a resume builder and opportunity to network versus seeing it as a mechanism through which real problems meet real solutions. At the end of the day, if you want concrete benefits, it’s through Students First! This year’s slate will build on past successes and continue working on issues of access, affordability and relevant education,” he said.
Having a broader vision for student government does not merely manifest itself in political abstractions. It results in concrete benefits for UCLA students on an everyday basis.
If you hope the voice for students at UCLA can do more than just (inefficient) event-planning, e-mail Sterling at asterling@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.