Clarification: The updated version of this blog post was misleading. The embedded statement is from all of the USAC candidates.
A controversial website that surfaced Thursday afternoon and attacks Bruins United, the only slate running in this year’s undergraduate student government elections, has been taken down.
The website, titled “Bruins Divided,” appeared on the same day that issues about Bruins United’s misrepresentation of student groups’ endorsements in official election documents were made public.
The website contained memes mocking Bruins United, its candidates and its supporters in the ongoing Undergraduate Students Association Council elections.
Some of the memes contained direct personal attacks on Cultural Affairs commissioner candidate Allyson Taylor. The memes also made reference to the complaints of misrepresentation in the student group endorsements process.
“We found it very offensive to a number of individuals and communities,” said David Bocarsly, the uncontested presidential candidate in this year’s election and a member of Bruins United.
He said all the candidates were “extremely disappointed” that someone had made the website and that they were working together to deal with the situation.
“It’s a complete misrepresentation of individuals and of our party,” Bocarsly said.
The website was open to the public earlier today but required a password as of about 1:15 p.m. Its source remains unknown.
The incident with the website has been referred to the Office of the Dean of Students, said Eena Singh chair of the USAC Election Board.
[Updated at 6:33 p.m.:
All of the candidates running in the election released a statement condemning the website. The statement is also intended to address other incidents that have taken place during this year’s campaigning, including a specific incident involving the UCLA Muslim Student Association.
The incident involved a photo of a Muslim Student Association signboard endorsing independent candidates Lana Habib El-Farra and Taylor Mason, which was next to a signboard belonging to the Young Americans for Freedom at UCLA that supported Bruins United. The photo caption read “I don’t know about you, but I’m voting for America.“]
Below is the statement:
To the UCLA Campus Community:
This statement is in regards to various attacks against certain candidates and communities throughout this elections season. This is a campus climate issue that goes beyond the elections process. These various attacks delegitimize the work that we are trying to do to further serve the UCLA community. As the candidates involved in this process, we strongly condemn these attacks, which have
offended not only various communities on campus but also some of the candidates themselves.We have been extremely proud of the positivity involved in the elections process this year, yet these various instances go completely against the tone that we have worked hard to establish. We as candidates running against one another have maintained an amicable relationship throughout this election season, and are extremely disappointed that some members of the campus community have not taken that same responsibility.
David Bocarsly
Candidate for PresidentAndrea “Andi” Hester
Candidate for Internal Vice PresidentRaquel Saxe
Candidate for External Vice PresidentLana Habib El-Farra
Candidate for External Vice PresidentMichael Starr
Candidate for General RepresentativeCarly Yoshida
Candidate for General RepresentativeYasar Mohebi
Candidate for General RepresentativeKim Davis
Candidate for Academic Affairs CommissionerJan Tancinco
Candidate for Campus Events CommissionerAnees Hasnain
Candidate for Community Service CommissionerTaylor Mason
Candidate for Cultural Affairs CommissionerAllyson Taylor
Candidate for Cultural Affairs CommissionerStephen Kraman
Candidate for Facilities CommissionerTaylor Bazley
Candidate for Financial Supports CommissionerSahil Seth
Candidate for Financial Supports CommissionerCassarah Chu
Candidate for Student Welfare Commissioner
Compiled by James Barragan, Bruin senior staff.