Although sanctions against rogue regimes like Russia and North Korea regularly command our attention, the sanctions imposed by our student government officials deserve scrutiny as well. Each election season, the Undergraduate Students Association Council Election Board is tasked with imposing sanctions on candidates who violate various provisions of the election code. Candidates can be sanctioned […]
Category Archives: Opinion
Editorial: Election board continues to fail in upholding integrity of USAC election
This post was updated on May 9 at 4:04 p.m. This year’s Undergraduate Students Association Council Election Board promised to stand behind equitable and fair elections. All it managed to stand behind, though, was the lectern it used to announce results Friday. Each year, USAC elections test the will of the student body. Amid suspicious campaign […]
Editorial: USAC should shift to a senate system to better represent students
UCLA’s undergraduate student government has a penchant for underrepresenting the student body. This year, 39 candidates from various campus communities are trying their hand at the Undergraduate Students Association Council. By the end of this week, 25 students and their communities will walk away without a seat in their student government to represent them. The […]
Emily Merz: USAC candidates’ feminist advocacy just an empty political talking point
Candidates in this year’s Undergraduate Students Association Council elections have made feminism a focal point. That is, if you think spouting vague quotes about standing up for women is feminism. Many of this year’s candidates will tell you that they do have specific, tangible platforms intended to address gender discrimination on campus. But when you […]
Scott Bays: Further reducing campaign spending limits would democratize USAC elections
UCLA’s undergraduate student government does a good job preparing students for politics in the real world – especially when it comes to blowing large amounts of cash on their campaigns. It’s no secret UCLA’s student government elections are costly. The Undergraduate Students Association Council even passed an amendment to its election code last month that […]