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Conflict of interest in campaigning

By Daily Bruin Staff

May 1, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 1, 1996

By Todd Sargent

USAC election time is here again ­ and I have one question:
Why is the field director (a paid official) of the University of
California Students Association (UCSA) campaigning for the Students
First! slate at UCLA?

This may seem rhetorical, but it is a concern. You see,
currently, we each contribute about $1.40 a year to UCSA. A portion
of that money goes to cover her salary. I am, in effect, paying
this person to campaign for the candidates I am opposed to. That is
the most corrupt use of my fees I have ever seen.

When I asked this official (former USAC external vice president
and presidential candidate, Sabrina Smith) whether she was being
paid to be at UCLA by UCSA, she acknowledged this fact. She is here
under the guise of campaigning for the UCSA referendum; but she has
also been training campaign workers about how they should campaign
for the Students First! slate.

I am appalled that this corruption cannot be stopped. The
Election Board cannot do anything about it. USAC and UCSA will not
do anything about it. I do not want to pay Smith to campaign for
candidates I do not support.

Am I the only one that sees a problem here?

Sargent is a fourth-year political science student and a former
two-term USAC member.

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