Three commissioner candidates unopposed

Suzanne Yu

By Rachel Makabi
DAILY BRUIN SENIOR STAFF
[email protected]

Passing out free condoms to eager Joe Bruins on Bruin Walk,
planning noon concerts or recruiting students for volunteer
projects aren’t hotly-contested jobs ““ the independent
candidates who will plan these programs are all running
unopposed.

As is often the case, uncontested candidates will fill the
commissioner offices for student welfare, campus events and
community services.

Though these candidates do not have to fight for their
positions, they will have to fight for more funding to keep their
programs.

Ryan Wilson

Budget limitations did not cut funding for the student welfare
commission this year, but SWC candidate Crisette Leyco said it may
prevent them from putting on new or bigger programs next
year.

Leyco said she would have liked to plan more events for next
year, but an entertainment referendum USAC voted down from going
onto the agenda earlier this month thwarted her goals, she
said.

The proposal would have reduced student fees by $38.50 instead
of $43.50 next year to compensate for inflation, advertising and
the rising costs of artists. It would have also doubled SWC’s
budget.

“It would have really helped us a lot and we would have
been a lot more open to co-programming for next year,” Leyco
said.

Ryan Wilson, the unopposed incumbent for campus events
commissioner, also wishes the referendum had gone through, saying
it would have increased USAC’s visibility to a student body
that is losing touch with its representatives.

Crisette Leycon

Wilson cited noon concerts in Bruin Plaza, which would have
received funding under the referendum, as something that would
bring a tangible reward for students.

“Nobody knows what’s going on,” Wilson said at
the hearing. “Anything to raise awareness is a good
thing.”

Community services commissioner candidate Suzanne Yu said budget
difficulties have plagued her office as well, though her concerns
are not as related to the referendum.

Dealing with rising operating costs and a stagnant budget that
has not increased in more than a decade, she said it is difficult
to keep programs.

Though she plans on finding alternative sources of funding, she
did not specify how or who she would contact.

Budget concerns are somewhat assuaged with the 2,000 to 3,000
volunteers for the commission’s events, she said:
“Outreaching and recruitment ““ those are two things we
really emphasize. We want as many people involved in the community
as possible.”