Around 100 student representatives from more than 30 student groups attended endorsement hearings to evaluate candidates for the 2010-2011 Undergraduate Students Association Council.
The series of hearings took place Monday through Wednesday. Candidates from the three different slates presented their platforms, views and goals, and were cross-examined by each student organization. Slates are groups of students that pool their resources and run under similar platforms.
Recognized student groups who attended all the hearings may submit candidate endorsements by 3 p.m. today.
Some of the most popular issues discussed were equal opportunity for underrepresented minorities, challenging heterosexism and funding for student advocacy. A number of questions also addressed creating a more inclusive student government, making the campus a safer place for women and breaking down racial stereotypes.
Many student groups asked candidates whether they felt USAC should take a stance on geopolitical issues; for example, referendums that take a stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“We will work not to isolate a certain group,” said Jasmine Hill, Students First! presidential candidate. “We have to get students together, create forums outside to facilitate conversation.”
Candidates also addressed the need to improve the image of panhellenic Greek students, who make up 16 percent of the undergraduate population.
Luz Maria Kumpel, Bruins United presidential candidate, has stated that the relationship between Greek members on campus and Chancellor Block needs to be improved. “Greeks are very engaged in other areas of campus, but don’t feel represented, so we must try to get them to other areas of campus.”
Elections Board members Andreina Rocha, a first-year undeclared student, and Cathia Sanchez, a second-year sociology student, said the hearings generally ran smoothly.
Some student audience members found both questions and answers to be vague, especially when addressing issues of equal opportunity, such as furthering AB 540 students and underrepresented minorities, said Diego Sepulveda, a third-year political science student representing IDEAS at UCLA.
“They just talked about what is going on and what has been done, but they didn’t directly address the student,” Sepulveda said. “I expected concrete action about what they’re going to do to address it, and I was a little disappointed.”
Because of the large number of student organizations with similar interests present, the candidate statements were often repetitive, said Amira Elmallah, a fourth-year international development studies student representing the Muslim Student Association.
Yet in spite of the redundancy, the hearings aided student groups in making their endorsement decisions, said Melanie Simangan, a fourth-year comparative literature student representing Queer Alliance.
“I really like endorsements because they help you get a better picture of the candidates and their platforms and what they really stand for,” Simangan said. “I think this year’s endorsement showed that candidates really wanted to do all that they can do support students, trying to promote diversity and unity.”
Along with their candidate endorsements, students can also submit debate questions by 3 p.m. today. The candidate debate will take place Saturday at the Northwest Campus Auditorium at 7 p.m.
With contributing reports from Flavia Casas, Sean Greene, Nicholas Greitzer and Sonali Kohli, Bruin reporters.