Letter to the Editor: Transparent exchanges are goal for USAC commissioner

By Rustom Birdie

This is in response to an article in the Daily Bruin published on Feb. 15, 2011, titled “USAC officer signs dubious deal.”

One of my goals entering my term as your Financial Supports commissioner was to improve the career services provided to UCLA students, which led me to gain interest in Jobbook. Jobbook is a website designed to connect students with jobs after graduation launched earlier this month.

When approached in October, I agreed to help promote Jobbook because of the value I saw in it for UCLA students. In return, the website offered me shares of stock as compensation. As your Financial Supports commissioner, I apologize for not declining the offer more immediately; it was a temporary lapse in judgment that I take full responsibility for.

But after receiving counsel from both trusted peers and administrators, I realized that this payment may serve as a conflict of interest and decided to decline the offer because ultimately, my priority is to serve the UCLA student body and I would never do anything to jeopardize that. To date I have not received any form of compensation (financial or otherwise), nor do I intend to in the future. I am also no longer affiliated in any way with Jobbook.

As your elected representative, I did not and would never utilize student (or my office) resources to promote my own personal endeavors. I have been very transparent with all dealings within my office, which can be viewed publicly through Student Government Accounting and the Financial Supports Commission website (usac.ucla.edu/fsc). I look forward to continuing to serve as your Financial Supports commissioner, a True Bruin.

Birdie is the Undergraduate Students Association Council Financial Supports Commissioner

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