A Facebook event page and multiple posts appear to show that LET’S ACT! members sold alcohol and drugs for profit this year, though slate members say the funds did not support campaign efforts.
On a publicly viewable event page called “A Nineties New Year in LA [‘92 +],” active members of the undergraduate student government slate posted about selling “jungle juice,” “shots” and “blunts,” and another UCLA student posted about selling “edibles” at a party hosted by Jaimeson Cortez, Morris Sarafian, Clinton O’Grady and Bria Stuart on Jan. 8.
Sarafian and Cortez are running with LET’S ACT! for Undergraduate Students Association Council president and general representative, respectively. Leaked documents surfaced Monday, the first day of voting, alleging that slate members illegally used student fees and profits from selling drugs and alcohol to finance past campaigns. LET’S ACT! members denied the allegations about illicit fundraising but confirmed the validity of some of the documents, saying that others were altered.
Kristine de los Santos, campaign manager of LET’S ACT!, said organizations whose members are part of the slate often throw parties to fundraise for student group events and initiatives, but that those funds do not contribute to campaign finances.
Cortez posted multiple times about the sale of “blunts” for $20 on the event’s public Facebook page. However, he said members of LET’S ACT!, including himself, never sold alcohol or marijuana at a slate-sponsored party to raise campaign funds.
He said the ’90s-themed party was a private party intended for his friends, not a slate-sponsored event or a fundraiser. He added the party favors were sold to recoup the money spent on throwing the party.
Cortez said the party expanded beyond his intentions, and he didn’t expect as many people to attend. More than 1,000 people were invited to the Facebook event.
University police spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein said in a statement this morning that UCPD is not actively investigating the information in the leaked documents, but may launch an investigation in the future.
“We’re aware of (the leaked documents), and if people feel at risk or if they’re concerned, they can come to us,” she said.
Although slate members said the party was not related to LET’S ACT!, several active members of the coalition posted references to the slate on the Facebook event page.
Clinton O’Grady, a member of the slate, said in one post, “Had fun tonight? Expect more … coming soon. Never forget to Act on your thirst.”
The event description asked attendees to “come celebrate the coalition-building, solidarity, and (most importantly) hard work that so many folks put in throughout 2014 to enact lasting change.” It ended with the slogan “Love Always!,” which was used throughout the documents leaked Monday.
Negeen Sadeghi-Movahed, current USAC transfer student representative and a member of LET’S ACT!, said she did not attend the event, though she was invited on the event page, and that she does not know where the funds went.
Sadeghi-Movahed denied a connection between the event and the slate.
“You can’t connect the two,” Sadeghi-Movahed said.
Bruins United members are not planning to do anything in response to the leaked documents, though they find the information in the files concerning, said slate campaign manager Zoe Sheppard, a fourth-year international development studies student.
You probably can’t connect the two in concrete fashion…but the circumstantial evidence sure doesn’t look good. Negeen looks like a fool for saying that. Love Always, don’t forget to Act, oh and by the way its all people on our slate but don’t accuse us of being connected to this. Problem is, the students can collect this money and then report it as being a “gift” from themselves to the slate. Dirty money is in politics everywhere, even at UCLA.
that’s a really good point… how can you prove or disprove that they didn’t “personally” donate the money they made that night from their $20 blunts?
negeen, looks like this person just “connected the two” together ^^
Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. Obviously we should take this as an opportunity to remember this election period can mean a fresh start for USAC next year. Voting Bruins United straight ticket is the only way to get the stench of LA! off of us.
mmm yes definitely the only way. 10/10 agree
LOL. No one’s forgotten about this:
http://165.227.25.233/2014/12/11/leaked-emails-reveal-hidden-sources-of-bruins-united-campaign-funds/
Getting money from Pro-Israel advocates (legal) > Drug dealing (illegal) and using STUDENT FUNDS (also illegal)
Are you suggesting that a Jewish student representing the only slate committed to combatting anti-semitism on campus legally seeking resources from a Jewish organization is worse than selling alcohol and drugs in order to raise campaign cash? This past year has been one of the worst times for the Jewish community on campus, and a slate garnering support from organizations that seek to improve conditions for the Jewish community is not inappropriate. My only complaint is that Avinoam didn’t ask for more.
This idea that all of this is just “slate politics as usual”, as if we can equate Bruins United and LA, is ridiculous. Most of the times Bruins United has been scrutinized in the past year is simply because it holds itself to a higher standard than LA. LA is reckless, immature, and has infected the campus climate with divisiveness and hate.
so these people say how they have nothing to hide and the second this article gets publsihed, they delete the event on facebook?
negeen, looks like this person just “connected the two” together ^^
Best part of this article is how Negin said she didn’t go to the event when she was actually running the front door for the party the first couple of hours…
The funny part of this article is how negeen denied going to the party when she was the one running the front door the first couple of hours…. I guess you technically can’t say you “attended” if you were outside the door
Too bad Let’s Act didn’t do the honest thing and babysit Millstein’s kids for a summer to fund an entire campaign.
Gee they denied it, but they sure supplied it.
So clever Snitches! Just wanted to let you know that there was an investigation. Check the department, they were audited 2x. I’m sure they’ll be open minded about it AND you’ll find some evidence.
What makes you think BU isn’t behind this though? Just because you’re a BU supporter, doesn’t exempt you or the slate. Not to mention, a few months ago there was also an email leak regarding BU! If you ask me, it sounds like BU is trying to retaliate…and if it’s not BU, it’s probably a bitter LA! person.
Shouldn’t people be more concerned by the allegation that candidates for our student government were selling drugs (a felony) in any capacity? Who cares where the money went.
Fired Up! is just salty they got disqualified from this year’s USAC elections. The FU supporters seem to be the ones publicizing the documents and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were behind the leak. FU! supporters broke away from the LA! slate and will do anything to take em down. It seems to me that the progressive slates are the ones causing all the tension and drama on campus.
These people should not be publicly representing UCLA in any capacity. Let them act out elsewhere and stop embarrassing their fellow students and alumni. Granted I was hoping something would occur that would distract from the national narrative that UCLA is a hotbed of antisemitism, but I am not sure that having the four letters associated with a bunch of amateur drug dealers is any better. What is their vision for the USAC next year, Breaking Bad meets the West Wing?