Submission: USAC needs parliamentarian position to hold council accountable

February’s student government meeting on divestment was an undeniably tense moment for everyone involved. On top of the already bitter atmosphere, straw votes, secret ballots and nine hours of public comment added to the tension, eroding the student body’s trust and respect for the Undergraduate Students Association Council. Throughout the year, procedural missteps and oversights […]

Submission: Time has come for GSA to rejoin UCSA, reap membership benefits

Six years ago, the Graduate Students Association forum voted to withdraw from the University of California Student Association. At the time, GSA had sent a request letter to UCSA addressing several concerns that we had regarding our involvement as graduate students. Specifically, we requested that every year one of the two issues taken up by […]

Submission: Five-point platform distinguishes GSA presidential candidate

It’s been three years since UCLA graduate students had a chance to vote in a competitive election. Since a single contested race in 2011, Graduate Students Association leaders have all run uncontested, leaving voters with no choice among candidates. Last year, just 11 percent of us voted. I believe that UCLA graduate students are ready […]

Letter to the Editor: Comments on USAC midyear budget report disrespectful

I thank the Daily Bruin for its coverage of the Undergraduate Students Association Council Internal Vice President office’s midyear budget report, previously referred to as the USAC quarterly budget report. However, I also wish to respond to some of the statements made in the article “Councilmembers raise concerns over budget report accuracy,” published April 3. […]

Letter to the Editor: Society’s obsession with diversity itself subtly racist

In response to “Editorial: Crop of commencement speakers lacks diversity” in Opinion on March 10: I am a 61-year-old white man, the sort that is often considered irrelevant and accused of being angered by the loss of privilege following social incursions of one or another previously oppressed groups. To allay any such considerations, I state […]