Editorial board endorsement: Ludlow the best presidential choice for all

At a presidential debate Friday, independent candidate Doug
Ludlow noted he was positioned in the middle at the
candidates’ table ““ between Allende Palma/Saracho and
Josh Lawson.

Ludlow relished not being on either extreme. And that is his
campaign message: He would be a president for all students ““
those connected to Palma/Saracho’s slate, Lawson’s
slate and everyone in between or otherwise left out. It’s an
idealistic goal, but Ludlow ““ who has experience with many
types of groups on campus and a set of goals that can appeal to all
students ““ may just be able to get it done.

The Daily Bruin endorses him for the position of Undergraduate
Students Association Council president.

So far, the campaign for the presidency has largely been defined
by the mutual animosity between the Students First! slate and
General Representative Lawson. Ludlow has emerged as both the
freshest and most interesting candidate.

Ludlow shares many of the goals of the other candidates. As
president, he would work to stop student fees increases, end
expected cumulative progress, and make campus transportation more
efficient.

He’s explored other issues too. While Lawson and
Palma/Saracho focus much of their energy on the details of the
student group funding process ““ which one way or another will
be opened up to political and religious groups ““ one of
Ludlow’s big ideas is something to which average students can
easily connect. Ludlow has a realistic plan to save students as
much as $50 on textbooks per quarter. There may be an amount of
truth in Ludlow’s campaign cliché that he presents
“real solutions” for UCLA.

On an issue that concerns all candidates and students ““
fee hikes ““ Ludlow has talked about working with other
campuses to collect signatures in hopes of placing a measure on the
ballot demanding fee freezes. Ludlow is the first to admit this is
ambitious. But when his big ideas are considered along with smaller
and more practical programs, one of Ludlow’s strengths is
revealed ““ he’s determined to get things done, but
he’s not afraid to dream.

The natural concern about Ludlow is his lack of council
experience. And a charge made by Lawson in particular is that
Ludlow is naive to think that he can bring people together the way
he says he would. Ludlow would have to prove this charge wrong if
he is to be successful. While his heart is in the right place,
it’s not as clear that he’s ready for the personal
attacks and bitterness that sometimes define USAC.

And no matter what Ludlow does to try to alleviate the concern,
he does not have the experience of Palma/Saracho or Lawson, and
that could be a weakness.

Palma/Saracho could be described as USAC’s in-house
candidate. He is running on the dominant slate. He has extensive
connections. There is probably truth to his assertion that he would
be able to get to work on problems right away, because he has
connections with numerous faculty and administrators. Palma/Saracho
has said he would be willing to work with members of other slates
and student groups not affiliated with SF!. The truth is
Palma/Saracho could probably get a lot done as president, whether
he worked with them or not. He did not earn The Bruin’s
endorsement, but Palma/Saracho is solidly competent, if not a
remarkably exciting candidate.

Lawson, meantime, has shown a fair amount of contempt for the
council in general and SF! in particular. While he is enthusiastic
and knowledgeable, one has to wonder whether he has simply burned
too many bridges to be effective. Last year, Lawson was an affable
candidate, who said he would work with whoever would work with
him.

Now he just seems bitter. Meeting with the Daily Bruin, he
minced few words in expressing his disdain for the council’s
power structure. He talked about students who had wanted to run on
his slate being “smacked down” by people who oppose
him. He said in the past year he has “(tried) to bust up in
USAC.” When asked why he didn’t attend an Asian Pacific
Coalition endorsement hearing, part of his response included an
explanation (with only a touch of hyperbole) that the group, which
is supportive of SF!, would have called him “evil”
whether he went or not.

Soured relationships with Lawson extend beyond the SF! slate. A
number of those who ran with Lawson on the Students United for
Reform and Equality slate last year express concern about him
becoming president. There are few people with whom Lawson could
work if he were to become president.

In contrast, Ludlow presents moderation. While he clearly has
problems about the way SF! has handled its council dominance, he is
quick to point out that they do very well to represent a good many
students. Ludlow wants to represent those students and everyone
else.

Though he lacks experience, Ludlow’s the right man for the
job. There is absolutely no indication that Ludlow is in the race
for anything but to represent UCLA students. His sincerity is clear
when he talks about working for those who didn’t learn they
could get free mental health help at UCLA until after they
attempted suicide, or about students who came out of the closet to
him when he was an orientation counselor.

A number of Ludlow’s stories start with, “After
waking up at 4:30 in the morning. …” If students gave
Ludlow ““ a tireless and well-meaning person, who has been the
president of Bruin Democrats, a member of the crew team, an
orientation counselor, a Daily Bruin Viewpoint columnist, and who
has two jobs and three majors ““ the chance to work for them,
the results could be impressive.