Friday, 5/2/97 Student campaigns get off to brisk start Large
number of candidates allows voters more choice in process
By Joshua Smith Daily Bruin Contributor Candidates in the
Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) elections are
currently enjoying the power of being part of the largest group of
candidates in the elections since 1985. With 43 names on the
ballot, even minor issues such as how the ballot sheet should be
formatted become serious topics of discussion in USAC meetings.
However, despite tedious details such as these, USAC Internal Vice
President Glenn Inanaga is happy that there is a high number of
participants. "I think it is great that there are a large number of
candidates. It shows that students are paying more attention to the
issues and getting more involved and taking strong stands," he
said. "With a larger number of candidates, people have more avenues
of expressing themselves in a vote," he continued. This is
apparently why so many people are running – to give students more
options at the voting booth. "A lot of students say they do not
have a voice in what goes on," said Access Coalition’s candidate
for internal vice-president, Erin Miller. "This is a student
government who is not working for its students." Miller believes
that there are many issues that have not been addressed by the
current student government, such as outreach and the efficiency of
communication among campus groups. She said that campus elections
tend to move in two-year waves and that UCLA is at the decline of
one of those waves. That could suggest that the Students First!
two-year tenure is coming to a close. "People are tired," she said.
According to Bruin Vision candidate for external vice president
David Krinsky, students are tired of seeing the same groups in
power. "I felt that the main two groups that were running were
basically targeting the interests of specific groups," he said.
Unity ’97 presidential candidate Ruben Garcia expressed the same
sentiments, noting that there are so many organizations on campus
competing for attention that many don’t get their message across.
"I see so many different student governments on campus and not one
unified voice," said Garcia. "I noticed a lot of students were
feeling very alienated." It is this kind of guise that many
candidates are running under, most of whom who are getting involved
with student government for the first time. Justin Horey, an
independent candidate for president whose only political experience
is a sixth-grade presidential race, believes he has what it takes
to win despite a campaign team consisting of only a few faithful
friends and plans to spend almost no money. Horey believes he can
appeal to the average student’s desire to see an honest guy taking
a stand. "I want to do what students want to do," he said. "I come
with no agenda. Most of the candidates come with a set agenda and
that is a result of the party system. "I think the idea of party
affiliations in a college election is ridiculous," he said. "The
politics of the process just astounds me." Horey believes one
committed person can make a difference. His campaign strategy is
merely to talk to people. "I am going to set up a table on Bruin
Walk and I am going to let students come by," he said. Access
Coalition’s candidate for president Ben Hofilena has the same kind
of deep-hearted belief in his ability – even if he is running
against six different candidates. "I believe in … USAC and the
power that the student government has," he said. "It is not about
the title, but it is about the commitment." Although he has had
leadership experience in various groups such as his fraternity, it
was not until the end of Winter Quarter that he decided to run. And
even with all the competition for the presidential position and the
controversy involved in this particular race, he was willing to go
against the odds. "I was really hesitant about (running) until I
realized I had to go beyond all my fears," he said. "I just had to
do it. Someone had to stand up." Hofilena said that because of the
importance of the issues in this election and his role as a leader
on campus, he felt he owed it to the UCLA community to run. "I am
not going let anyone belittle my campaign," he said. "There is too
much sweat and tears going into this election." JAMIE SCANLON
JACOBS Campaigning for seats on USAC began Thursday on Bruin Walk.
With 43 candidates, this year’s elections seem to reflect greater
student interest in campus political issues.