United Independents will better represent students

My recent detachment from the Students United for Reform and
Equality slate, brief spell as an independent, and current position
as the head of the United Independents slate has caused students to
ask several questions.

I believe the appearance of inconsistency stems from a lack of
complete explanation, which I hope to give here. First, every step
I’ve taken has been in the direction of advancing student
representation at UCLA. I recently detached from the S.U.R.E. slate
in order to allow myself to pursue the goal of full and complete
representation, without impediments.

My ties to the S.U.R.E. slate were preventing me from fulfilling
my elected duty ““ that of representing all students and
student groups.

As for the upcoming election, merely disconnecting from the
S.U.R.E. slate and running as an independent would have certainly
been much easier than heading a full slate. In addition, my chances
of being elected would be greater without the task of competing for
the full backing of many student groups.

But in running as an independent, I would have abandoned my
hopes of creating meaningful changes in the slate-dominated USAC
system. Instead, I chose to assemble a slate of qualified, capable
and independent-minded candidates, who can realistically compete
with S.U.R.E. and Student Empowerment!. As a slate, The United
Independents collectively pursue the goal of reforming the USAC
system by diluting the influence of slates and returning council to
a student-focused approach.

Each year, student representation is a necessity for UCLA
students. But now, more than ever, with student fee increases
looming, student input and advocacy is of large value. The question
is what USAC system will provide this ““ the current one,
poisoned with partisan ambition and distrust, or a council of
independent thinkers beholden to no single student or group.

The state of our current student government makes it unrealistic
for any single independent candidate to advance real change.
Specifically, an independent representative could not sit at the
council table and advocate the dilution of slate influence to a
council comprised mostly of slate members. Quite obviously, such
pleas would fall on deaf ears. However, a council consisting of
many representatives, all holding the goal of diluting slate
influence and all focused on providing office-specific
representation, is the strongest and most realistic way to create
change. UI will be the slate to make this goal a reality.

It is the duty of any student representative to seek the
betterment of the student community throughout their term in office
and to see that students are left in a more positive position after
they are gone. This is the reason I joined the S.U.R.E. slate a
year ago ““ to seek to bring about real change.

My attachment with S.U.R.E. did nothing to assist me in
acquiring office, given that I ran unopposed. Yet I still put great
effort into the success and progress of the slate. The relationship
between the S.U.R.E. slate and me was to be reciprocal, and early
in my term it was. I gained a great deal from the experience and
knowledge of some slate members. And while we were able to
collectively advance the interests of the student community,
S.U.R.E. and I diverged as the term progressed. The relationship
was no longer reciprocal.

When it came time to truly focus on the direction the slate
should take, I found that other S.U.R.E members and I were looking
in two different directions. I am not making any attempt to bash
S.U.R.E. The slate was founded in noble and progressive goals;
otherwise, I would have never been a part of it. However, S.U.R.E.
and UI clearly have different views on many issues, large among
them is the existence of slates and partisan politics.

This year, I have worked to achieve the central goal of progress
for the UCLA student government and the student community. I
believe I have done so. I could not enter this year’s
election with a realistic vision for advancing fundamental change
in student government as an independent. But in a coalition of
candidates with independent minds and united goals, such change
becomes a choice for students.

LaFlamme is the USAC financial supports commissioner.