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Morris Sarafian hopes to build student connections with USAC presidency

(Angie Wang/Daily Bruin senior staff)

By Catherine Kidder

April 27, 2015 3:03 a.m.

Morris Sarafian’s drive to help other people began when he worked for his mother on her real estate job at the age of 10.

Sarafian’s mother, Manik Saakyan, said he would wake up around 7 a.m. each day and help her make and put up signs for various properties throughout their Little Armenia neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Sarafian said this work ethic followed him to UCLA, where he lobbied for student interests to University leaders in the Undergraduate Students Association Council External Vice President’s office for the past three years.

These experiences are part of the reasons Sarafian, a third-year political science student, is running as the LET’S ACT! candidate for USAC president.

Sarafian began his involvement with USAC in the Student Wellness Commission as a first-year student. He has been part of the Armenian Students Association for three years and worked as a representative for the Campus Retention Committee since his first year. He said his work on campus sparked his belief that USAC should do more to help students get involved in campus activities.

“When I talk about being the most qualified candidate it really boils down to me wanting to show the students that they have more of a voice than they think,” Sarafian said.

Sarafian said his work in student groups has shown him that different organizations can work together to build connections that will help students.

Sarafian’s platforms include creating programs to help students learn to use Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop and establishing a grant to allow student groups to use Royce Hall for events. He also plans to advocate for student needs to the University of California Board of Regents, and he hopes to host events where students can debate about controversial issues in a safe environment.

“I understood that legislation as a whole is an important way for us as students to implement change, but we don’t have to wait decades for things to form,” Sarafian said.

Because of his work as a student lobbyist for the External Vice President’s office, he said he thinks each student’s opinions should be a primary concern for USAC so councilmembers can advocate on their constituents’ behalf.

Sarafian said he attended Armenian school since kindergarten and served as student body president his junior year of high school. He said he thinks the experience helped him learn to facilitate conversation and encourage feedback, which he thinks would also help him in what he sees as the larger role of student body president at UCLA.

“He’s put in a lot of work, sleepless nights and he has the will and determination to make the school a better place for everyone,” said Shant Ogtanyan, a third-year biology student who has known Sarafian since first grade.

Saakyan said her son was always helpful to his high school classmates.

“Whether it was a science project, chemistry test, algebra – whatever it was – he would be on the phone three ways helping everyone because that is his nature,” Saakyan said.

Sarafian said he thinks all students have important input, and he hopes to do what he can to make sure all students feel that their voices are heard.

“I can assure the entire student body that whatever he promises, he will deliver,” Saakyan said. “He’s a team player and will do anything and everything possible to better his environment and the student body for everyone, not just for him.”

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Catherine Kidder
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