Submitted By: Cinthia Flores
“Leaders make decisions that create the future they desire,” Michael Murdock said.
UCLA has been and remains a leader in the University of California, the state and the nation. Our commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement has provided students with the opportunity to implement the teachings of the classroom into practice and to manifest their education through action. Unique programs have equipped UCLA students with the skills to effect concrete change in their surrounding communities.
During these trying times, we must implement these skills to ensure that we remain active participants in the formation of our education. We must rejoice in our successful response to previous challenges and look to the future as an opportunity to once again prove that students can change the world. We have led an anti-war movement. We have called for divestment from apartheid. We have held hunger strikes for ethnic studies. We have demanded an equitable admissions process. Most importantly, we have succeeded in these endeavors.
The budget crisis that is crippling the state will affect the UC system and UCLA, yet we must accept this challenge as a test of our leadership with great optimism. It is our responsibility as UCLA students to ensure that we keep the needs of students and of the greater Los Angeles community at the forefront of our agenda. We must be the source of inspiration for our peers and younger generations to ensure that higher education remains a priority.
This year promises to be a challenging year, but we have the potency and necessary skills to come together to ensure a triumphant year for the student body. As the incoming Undergraduate Students Association Council president, I will prioritize issues pertinent to students, ranging from financial hardships to academic engagement. This year’s council will work relentlessly to make certain that the college experience of every student at UCLA is not obstructed because of external factors affecting the state and the nation.
I extend an invitation to all those who would like to join us in a year of service and excellence. It is our time to answer this call to action.
Flores is the 2009-2010 USAC president.