The choice students will make for president of USAC this week is
not a difficult one. Marwa Kaisey, the Bruins United candidate, is
far and away the more qualified, experienced and knowledgeable
contender.
Kaisey currently serves as a general representative on the
Undergraduate Students Association Council and has used her
position to do great things. She made the Welcome Week Bruin Bash
the most successful one yet. She sponsored Town Halls on the Hill
to educate students about the Special Election. And her South
Campus Activities Fair helped reach out to a half of campus that is
often ignored by student government.
Kaisey’s work has brought tangible benefits to our school.
She has striven to build a sense of campus community and to make
sure all students are represented in student government, not just a
select few. Kaisey will continue working to accomplish these goals
and others as next year’s president. She will fight to
empower students through shared governance and her USAC Fellowship,
which will replace the partisan and inefficient USAC internship
currently in place. She will increase awareness of mental health
issues to remove the stigma associated with depression and other
disorders. Her “This Women’s Work” conferences
will help guide women toward opportunities in various professional
fields.
Students First! candidate Lucero Chavez has a very different
outlook. Three of Chavez’s four platform points are focused
on increasing racial diversity on campus. While I personally
consider this a noble cause, it is misguided in the USAC
president’s office. Chavez is already doing work on this
issue through various other groups and can continue doing her work
without being the president.
More importantly, the president is charged with representing and
working for all students. By focusing on one issue, Chavez is
ignoring the concerns of the majority of UCLA students. Her
philosophy of student government falls strictly in line with that
of Students First!, which is that only certain causes and
ideologies deserve USAC support.
Kaisey has been active in a wide variety of groups. From the
Dance Marathon committee to the On Campus Housing Council to
sitting on USAC this year, she knows and understands the concerns
of many students firsthand . Chavez’s experience, by
contrast, is concentrated in USAC-related activities. As her
platform demonstrates, she has grown out of touch with the average
student.
Groups from all over our campus have recognized this difference;
Bruin Democrats, Bruin Republicans, On Campus Housing Council,
Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, Jewish Student Union
and the Daily Bruin’s editorial board have all recognized
Kaisey as the right choice. I have confidence my fellow students
will agree and will elect Kaisey as USAC’s next
president.
Rose is president of Bruin Democrats.