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USAC undaunted despite low turnout at government forum

By Daily Bruin Staff

Feb. 3, 1997 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 4, 1997

USAC:

Council’s attempts to encourage student participation overlooked
as only two show upBy Stefanie Wong

Daily Bruin Contributor

The undergraduate council’s offer to bring the "truth" to the
student body about the student government was only accepted by two
students when USAC held a forum entitled "The Truth is Here" in
Ackerman Union Monday afternoon.

Organized by the internal vice president’s office, the informal
event was an opportunity for students to learn more about how USAC
functions, address any issues that have come up during this quarter
and learn how to get involved with the student government.

At the forum, students were given the opportunity to ask council
members about upcoming programs and campaigns, how to become a part
of a council member’s staff and even how a campus organization can
apply to become a USAC-recognized group.

But despite their advertising tactics of tabling and passing out
flyers, only two non-USAC council and staff members attended the
afternoon forum.

"The point of the forum is to open opportunities for students to
meet their student government officials and show interest in
volunteering in student government projects," said Glenn Inanaga,
USAC Internal Vice President. "It is not meant to be a political
event, but (one) for students to find out about student
government."

USAC believed that holding a forum would be more inviting for
students who are interested in student government.

"Officers felt that an open forum was not as intimidating as
approaching a council member in his/her office," said Carol Lee,
the internal vice president’s chief of staff.

Student Welfare Commissioner Miho Murai answered questions about
what student health services are available, while Inanaga addressed
those questions that dealt with USAC as a whole.

Murai and Inanaga also discussed the issue that students who
want to be involved at UCLA should do so because they want to make
a difference at the university. They also stressed that students
should be knowledgeable about what they are getting themselves
involved in.

Third-year transfer student Kim Dorris saw the forum as an
opportunity to learn more about USAC and how to get involved.

"Being a new transfer student, I haven’t really heard anything
(about student government) until last Friday. I think it’s
important for the student government to have forums like this if
they want as many students to get involved as possible," Dorris
said.

Inanaga was not discouraged by the low attendance. "We shouldn’t
concentrate on the low turnout rate but the fact that a program was
put on and that the student government will continue putting on
programs for the students," he said.

Lee believed that the student government "met the students
halfway" and it is up to the students to take advantage of the
opportunity.

However, students believe that those who are interested in the
government would already take it upon themselves to find out how to
get involved.

"I think it’s great that our student government is trying to get
us more involved, but they should see that if people don’t want to
go to the events or aren’t even remotely interested, any amount of
advertising or publicity they do won’t help at all," said Aimee
Wilson, a first-year undeclared student.

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