Politics necessary part of USAC presidency

Last week, many students got a glimpseof what people involved in
the Undergraduate Students Association Council and the various USAC
slates already knew: USAC is inherently political.

The issue came to light when an internal memo, which I wrote in
haste and never intended to be public, was leaked to the Daily
Bruin by some of my political opponents. In this private memo, I
candidly talk about how to run a campaign and include a list of
individuals and groups placed under the now infamous terms
“friends” and “enemies.”

This was done without their knowledge. If anyone has taken
offense to this I am sorry. I do not have any personal animosity
toward the groups or leaders that I listed as
“enemies.” These terms were employed in a metaphorical
sense to illustrate who has actively campaigned against me in the
past and who has campaigned in support of me. The list also
includes groups like On-Campus Housing Council, Armenian Students
Association and the Indian Students Union, which have no S.U.R.E.
affiliation, yet act in what I perceive to be an unbiased manner
when it comes to elections.

The Bruin editorial board claims this episode destroys my
credibility, but the truth is that I was already disliked by my
political opponents the moment I was elected. Since the day I
entered USAC politics, I have been a target, and while students
uninvolved in USAC may find this disturbing, it is the reality of
the situation.

USAC is a political body composed of elected representatives. We
often discuss contentious issues in a politically charged
environment. Most council members, consciously or unconsciously,
admittedly or not, act in a political manner with respect to USAC
issues. I do believe every council member on USAC intends to do
what is best for the campus community, yet there will always be
differences and disagreements, which is why acting in a strategic
approach is necessary to achieving concrete goals.

With that said, it is imperative to understand that I have not
treated any of the organizations I categorized as
“enemies” any differently than organizations on my
“friends” list.

While The Bruin has repeatedly tried to imply this, it is
absolutely untrue. Anyone who has objectively watched the inner
workings of council this year would agree. Though I view some
groups as potential electoral adversaries, I have always acted in a
fair manner toward them when considering committee appointments and
funding allocations, something past presidents have not done.

Last Wednesday’s News article, “Student group
funding reflects USAC loyalties,” linking funding increases
to the groups on my “friends” list was grossly
misleading. The article only displayed the difference each group
received this year, compared to what it received last year, without
showing readers what the actual real dollar amounts were. Because
S.U.R.E. groups have been denied fair funding by USAC in the past,
it is only natural they would experience an increase in funds when
we implemented a fairer system. By not printing the actual
allocations, which would have showed that non-S.U.R.E. groups still
received the highest allocations overall, The Bruin misinformed
readers and insinuated something that is undeniably false.

Under my tenure, USAC has distributed funds to more groups on
campus than ever before in a way that has been fair and unbiased.
It was through the bipartisan effort of my office and many others
on council that USAC was brought out of impending bankruptcy. This
was done by passing the USAC Programming Referendum, which provided
us with more funds to aid student organizations.

It was during my administration that USAC changed the way
elections are conducted from a costly manual ballot voting system
to a more accessible online voting system. During my presidency,
the largest and possibly most extensive survey ever conducted at
UCLA was carried out, obtaining student opinion on current USAC and
national issues.

And lastly, I am fighting to change USAC’s methods of
allocating funds to include all organizations on this campus,
including political and religious groups. Due to the political
realities of council, I had to engage in politics in order to
accomplish these goals ““ goals which have moved the student
body forward and improved campus life. If I had not been political,
the changes I highlighted above would not have been possible.

This whole episode has taught me a few important lessons:

Do not deny what you are. I am a politician as long as I sit on
USAC, as is every other councilmember. USAC is a vehicle that I
will use to shape student government into what it needs to become
““ an open, representative and accountable governmental body.
I do not seek popularity, and I did not get involved in USAC to
make friends. I got involved because USAC had serious problems that
needed to be fixed. My track record speaks for itself.

Dahle is the Undergraduate Students Association Council
president.