Editorial: USAC should focus on students, not politics

There are 25 students running for Undergraduate Students
Association Council offices. They hail from diverse backgrounds,
have various ideas on how to make USAC more visible, and cite
different reasons for wanting to be on student government. Some
candidates are running almost solely because they don’t like
the way USAC has operated the last few years.

Still, on some issues, nearly all agree.

The Bruin interviewed 24 of 25 candidates over the weekend, and
not a single one expressed support for student fee increases or
UCLA’s expected cumulative progress policy. Advocating for
expansion of the BruinGo! program and lobbying against outreach
cuts were other efforts on which nearly all agreed.

Sadly, candidates and other students should probably expect
little in the way of proactive effort by UCLA’s
administration, the University of California regents or the state
government.

Students’ positions on these issues have been clear the
last few years ““ and not much has changed.

Does anyone hear the student voice?

Given how stubborn the powers-that-be are about keeping
anti-student policies, only a strong and universal voice has even a
chance of changing things in students’ favor.

Since candidates do agree on many of the big issues, the
question becomes how hard will they work as councilmembers and how
focused will their efforts be.

In recent years, much discussion has been focused on the
internal structure and politics of student government.

While these issues are important, it is also important that
councilmembers put their work in perspective. Technical issues like
voting rules, campaign regulations, student group funding and bylaw
changes are part of the job ““ but USAC’s ultimate
mission is to fight for students and make campus life more vibrant
and inclusive.