Voting begins for USAC elections

Voting begins for USAC elections

Throughout undergraduate history, student candidates have
unofficially aligned themselves with election slates

By Rashmi Nijagal

Daily Bruin Staff

Though not an official part of the political system at UCLA, the
separate slates that many candidates align themselves with are very
much a part of the workings of the undergraduate student
government.

While most candidates usually say that they represent the
student body at large, not just a particular slate, the slate
system does offer some advantages, despite some disadvantages as
well.

Before 1980, the greek "machine," as it was known during that
era, dominated the political arena at UCLA. Being a large body
representing many students and having started at relatively the
same time as undergraduate student government, the greeks’ former
influence is not surprising.

In 1980, however, a new party emerged.

"Prior to 1980 the standard coalition led by greek students was
pretty much formidable and consistently the victor," said Sam
Kaufman, a fifth-year history student and a former member of
undergraduate student council. "In 1980, there was a person named
Sam Law who won the bid for presidency. This was the first time
that a candidate from the Third World Coalition won.

"Many would point to that as the root of the current era.
Regardless of what (Law’s) views were, it was significant that
another coalition successfully challenged the previously dominating
groups and was victorious," Kaufman added.

Since that time, the Third World Coalition has also been known
by other names, such as the progressive slate or the student power
slate. Regardless of the names, the greek and progressive slates
have been dominating elections since Law’s presidency.

But why did the slates form in the first place?

"It probably surrounded students feeling that they had issues
that they shared," said Mike Cohn, the student affairs officer in
the Center for Student Programming. "Probably, they felt that some
of their stances on things were the same as other people’s. Over
the years, some of the groups just stuck together and found issues
that they would run on and that would be unique to them."

In addition to students having similar ideas, there has also
been the theory that the Civil Rights Movement and the development
of ethnic and gender studies classes encouraged the formation of a
progressive slate.

"From the Civil Rights Movement, we have some of the ethnic
study centers, and from that, people would take classes and become
more politically minded," said Rick Lin, a 1994 graduate who was
involved in student government. "When I was involved with politics
at UCLA, gender studies and Chicano studies were a big issue."

Recently, a new slate has formed as well. Although the On-Campus
Housing Council has endorsed candidates in the past, it is
beginning to surface now as more of an influence.

"The group this year decided that we wanted to take more of a
role in campus issues," said Julia Chang, a second-year chemical
engineering major and president of Sunset Canyon’s Canyon Point.
"We hope to affect changes that really matter to us."

Needing to distinguish themselves from one another, the slates
base themselves on issues that are unique to each one. The greek
slate is usually affiliated with the Inter-Fraternity Council, the
Panhellenic Council and other groups like the Jewish Student Union.
The progressive slate has usually identified themselves as being a
coalition of under-represented student groups.

But in many students’ minds, the slate system is not seen so
much as the greek vs. the progressive. Rather, it is seen as the
greek vs. the anti-greek.

"I really think that the greek and anti-greek situation is blown
out of proportion," Kaufman said. "What ends up happening is
messages are sent to the student body that (student leaders) vote
based on that particular issue. It speaks nothing to the students’
needs which is what student government is supposed to be
about."

But not all students or student leaders agree.

"I don’t think it is greek versus everyone else," said Todd
Sargent, undergraduate financial supports commissioner and
undergraduate president candidate. Sargent is running with the
support of the greek system.

"I see (slates) as being coalitions of different ideologies," he
added. "A lot of it comes down to how we see student government
operating."

Others said that the greek vs. anti-greek sentiment is a part of
the undergraduate political climate.

"I think that maybe there are certain people that feel that,"
said Joel Elad, an independent candidate for undergraduate
president. "The reason is that both sides don’t like each other
because they are running against each other. They have been for
years."

But York Chang, running for president on the Students First
slate, thinks there is more to the progressive slate than being
anti-greek.

"We’re not anti-greek. We’re not pro-greek. We’re pro-education.
We’re pro-social change. We have better things to do with our
platforms, and better ways to fire up our constituents with
relevant and important issues, than by being anti-greek," Chang
said.

Despite the fact that candidates are usually from one slate or
another, unless they are running independently, there has also been
a history of cross-endorsing.

"I have seen the different sides endorse candidates from the
opposing sides. There has absolutely been cross-endorsing and
support," Cohn said. "Endorsements can help you get additional
support. The more endorsements a candidate can get, it usually
helps their candidacy."

Despite the importance of slates to the elections process,
candidates are often hesitant to associate themselves with a
particular side, in case they alienate potential voters.

"Candidates would like to think that they are more open-minded
and that they are not clear cut," Lin said. "I think in terms of
political strategy, it is smart to not be associated with a certain
slate. If you claim neutrality, you still have a chance."

Despite the wariness that some candidates exhibit toward
blatantly aligning themselves with one slate or another, many agree
that the slate system is crucial for the success of a
candidate.

"Slates are necessary," Kaufman said. "For any student with a
network of other students to rely on, not only for votes, but to
share work and to learn about issues as well ­ it is a much
more conducive way of doing it.

"The key is for both slates to broaden and solidify their
constituency," he added. "When the greek slate can broaden their
constituency to include non-greeks and when the (progressive slate)
can broaden their constituency to include greeks, they can be much
more effective."

There are, however, those who feel that slates are not
necessary.

"I do not think it is important to have slates," Cohn said. "It
is something that has evolved but I do not think it is something
that is necessarily a positive thing. Ultimately, the individual
has to run on his or her own merits."