Myha Ngo, a candidate for next year’s Graduate Student Association, declared last week that she is withdrawing from the race for vice president of academic affairs due to academic time constraints.
Ngo said she was notified in early April of her acceptance into the graduate program in social work, but after meeting with a counselor last week realized that her class schedule next year would make it difficult to fulfill her commitment to GSA if elected.
“I got in the (master of social welfare) program at UCLA, and I learned that my schedule wouldn’t allow me to fully assume the duties of VP if elected. … With the schedule I would have next year, I would only be able to go to one out of three (meetings),” she said.
Voting began on April 15. GSA Director of Elections Cynthia Pineda-Scott said the candidate’s name will remain on the ballot since she did not officially withdraw from the race until Friday after voting began.
Because of the instant runoff voting system used in the race for vice president of academic affairs, in which voters rank candidates by preference, Pineda-Scott said it will not be a problem to recalculate the votes.
Pineda-Scott expressed regret for the end of Ngo’s candidacy.
“It’s unfortunate, but I understand. I think she realized she wasn’t going to be able to provide the time necessary for the position … but I completely understand; graduate students are really busy."
Ngo said it is unfortunate that she had to make the decision after voting had already begun, but she hopes to remain involved and has high hopes for the remaining candidates.
“If (voters had) known sooner, they wouldn’t have had to waste their vote on me,” she said.
“I just want to thank everybody for their support in my campaign, and I hope to get involved in GSA in another capacity. I met the other candidates, and I think they’re qualified for the job, so I’m not too disappointed because I know they’ll do a good job,” she added.