Letters to the editor

Cohen’s goals affect all students

Whether it’s fighting Taco Bell or Proposition 54,
supporting the diversity requirement, or battling for outreach
programs, the problem with Students First! and Genevieve Espinosa
is that they only represent a small number of students, mainly
underrepresented minorities.

While these are all good causes, the rest of us deserve
representation too. Otherwise, the money we spend in undergraduate
council fees are wasted. I am the only candidate running to
represent the entire student body. I am an advocating
voice for issues we all struggle with, such as housing and textbook
prices, the lack of parking spots, problems with student group
relations, and the ability for everyone to have access to the
student government.

The office of internal vice president is too important and far
reaching to allow someone to represent merely a fraction of the
student body and keep things the same as last year. I have seen the
problems students still face and will not allow USAC to continue
avoiding them. It is more important now than ever for reform,
change and progress.

Jonathan Cohen Internal vice president
candidate

Chan’s experience far-reaching

I found it humorous when the Daily Bruin lied about my
“lack of experience” (“IVP capability lies in
Espinosa,” May 10). Even though it is clear my
qualifications exceed any other candidate’s, the editorial
board’s manipulative writing leaves behind an inaccurate
impression. 

If there is one quality that will trump the endorsement of any
other IVP candidate, it would be my wealth of experiences in
serving the UCLA community. Ranging from my roles on campus as a
USAC assistant general representative and Community Service
Commission director to my positions as a resident assistant,
program assistant and Student Health Advocate on the Hill, I
challenge you to find a candidate who has served a more diverse
group of students than I have. My platform is designed to address
the current issues our entire student body faces. These include
fighting segregation, alternative funding sources for outreach, and
reducing USAC apathy.

While I personally know most students will find inspiration from
realistic propositions, I understand others have to receive
enlightenment from empty promises and delusions of grandeur. These,
I assure you, will never come out of my mouth.

However, I acknowledge my changes are too constructive for an
editorial board that is endorsing a candidate who
“would generally keep things the way they
are.”

Darren Chan Internal vice president
candidate

The Bruin misses key point

First, I would like to thank The Bruin for its endorsement
(“IVP capability lies in Espinosa,” May 10).

Second, I would like to highlight the fact that the endorsement
missed a critical message of my platform. Collective responsibility
means everyone on this campus, including student leaders,
administration, faculty and council, works together to reclaim our
university. It is our collective responsibility to ensure UCLA
reflects the diverse community in which we live and that our
education empowers us to be socially responsible caretakers of
society. No other candidate has a more comprehensive understanding
of, and relevant experience in, achieving this vision than Allende
Palma/Saracho, the current internal vice president and Students
First! presidential candidate.

My reasons for expanding the Student Advocacy Collective,
initiated by Palma/Saracho, is not simply for continuity, but
because the program furthers collective responsibility, which I
cannot achieve alone. Palma/Saracho possesses unmatched experience
and concrete solutions to move this council forward. He is the only
candidate that incorporates the advocacy efforts of the IVP and
external vice president positions. It is imperative that the
president facilitate collective representation and collective
action by all members of council on behalf of students.

Genevieve Espinosa Internal vice president
candidate

Hassani’s views, experience best

In USAC elections this week, you’ll be faced with a
choice. You can either choose to follow the trends of favoritism
and biased decision-making that has been the status quo for so
long, or you can elect me and together we will achieve drastic and
fundamental changes designed to benefit the entire student
body.

As a former vice president at El Camino college, I led a rally
at Pershing Square against fee increases. I lobbied in Sacramento,
speaking one-on-one with state legislators to battle against
injustices. I helped pass a multi-million dollar bond measure last
year that benefited student services at my previous campus. I took
action to see that the diversity requirement at UCLA would pass,
and I reached out to the community by being a phoneline
volunteer.

To put more such actions into effect at UCLA, I have simple
plans that are permanent and realistic, consistent to the Equal
Access principles. My newsletter will be a powerful source for
students to voice concerns on any matter, keeping our leaders
accountable for their wide ranged promises. As internal vice
president, I will be reachable. My time will be devoted to seeing
that student concerns are given a fair opportunity to be heard.
I will the one effectively lobbying to repeal the expected
cumulative progress. I will be the one demanding fee
freezes and fighting for funding our outreach programs on campus. I
will be successful because I know how to fight to win. You need to
be the one to put an end to the election as a popularity
contest.

Mona Hassani Internal vice president
candidate

Bruin off mark on its endorsements

After reading the endorsements, I was disheartened that three
candidates who have concrete goals and unmatched experiences were
not endorsed, including presidential candidate Allende
Palma/Saracho, general representative candidate Anneli Villarin
and, specifically, general representative candidate Tommy
Tseng.

As the director of the California Affairs Project in the Office
of the External Vice President, I can attest to Tseng’s
innovative ideas and strong credentials. In addition to being an
intern for this project, he has also been a coordinator for a
diversity of organizations that seek to increase access to
education and fight for justice on and off campus, including the
University Neighborhood Learning Outreach Coalition, the Center for
Labor Research and Education and the Student Worker Front.

With the leadership experience and organizing skills attained
from these organizations, Tseng will apply them to the goals he has
as a general representative, which include his Invest in California
Project, the Change, Not Charity program and the Student Labor
conference.

With innovative ideas and unmatched experience, these candidates
will be sure to put students first.

John Vu External vice presidential
candidate

Site using UCLA name misleading

Recently it came to my attention that some candidates were using
a domain name with the UCLA trademark in it.

The full domain name in question is www.uclastudentsfirst.com.
This same URL was used in last year’s election by candidates
who won virtually every office. Apparently, nobody caught this
blatant violation of UCLA policy last year.

When I noticed it this year, I informed the elections board
chair, The Bruin and Center for Student Programming Associate
Director Kenn Heller. Heller told me he had notified the students
involved, but did not comment further. I never heard anything back
from the E-Board chair.

It has been nearly a week since I made this report. It takes
only 10 minutes to take down a Web site, yet the site is still
running under the same URL. As of Monday night, none of the
candidates’ names were on the site yet (due to election code
rules).

But the domain gives a false impression that UCLA and Students
First! are affiliated. Such a misleading connection could be a
serious advantage. With the election only days away, I ask that
appropriate bodies take fast steps to ensure this advantage is
nullified.

If action is not taken in a timely manner, it could seriously
alter the outcome of the elections in favor of candidates who
violate UCLA policies.

Michi Kono General representative candidate

Tseng has strong ideas, clear plans

I am writing to reiterate my innovative ideas and strong
credentials. I have extensive leadership experience in student
organizing and legislative advocacy. As an intern in the external
vice president’s office and a coordinator for the Student
Worker Front, University Neighborhood Learning and Outreach
Coalition, I fought for higher education on the state and federal
level. I promoted student awareness of social issues, rallied
against homophobia, demanded accountability from the Associated
Students of UCLA, and led the campaign to preserve labor
studies.

My platform has innovative programs that have never been
implemented before. The Invest in California Project educates
students on how our educational problems relate to the California
budget crisis. The Change, Not Charity program will educate the
foundation of a generation of great student activists by training
students to become effective advocates.

Furthermore, my student-labor conference will educate students
on how students and labor can work together to preserve the
quality of and demand access to our university. I am
running not only to inform students but also to empower us to
create positive social change. As general representative, my
unmatched experience and unparalleled ideas will enable me to
effectively serve the student body.

Tommy Tseng General representative
candidate

Villarin a strong representative

On a campus where one student group goes after another primarily
because it fails to understand differences in cultural ideologies,
and where the needs within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgendered community remain marginalized to the extent that LGBT
students are deprived of comfortable living spaces, it is essential
that we educate each other about tolerance, acceptance and
respect.

Next year on council as a Students First! general
representative, I will address the aforementioned issues
innovatively by implementing the Students Explore and Experience
Los Angeles Program to connect students to the diversity of
cultures within Los Angeles, the Student Advocacy Through the Arts
Project by creatively making students conscious of the struggles
that other students face, and the Empowered Women’s
Collective to highlight the needs of all women’s groups on
our campus.

Anneli Villarin General representative
candidate

SF! candidates are most qualified

On Monday The Bruin failed to adequately recognize the need for
USAC general representatives who proactively tackle pressing issues
requiring urgent action. Students First! general representative
candidates Tommy Tseng, Anneli Villarin and I have unmatched
experience, widespread knowledge and the unrivaled ability to
create positive social change in response to pertinent student
concerns.

Tseng, a staff member in the EVP office, thoroughly understands
the current California budget crisis and the effects of funding
cuts at UCLA. His extensive knowledge, lobbying experience and
concrete plans to empower students in the face of rising student
fees make him essential to USAC. Additionally, Villarin’s
leadership in Samahang Pilipino, coupled with her extensive
community activism, clearly establishes her as the most qualified
candidate to link UCLA students to the Los Angeles community.

With expected cumulative progress limiting many students from
on-going community involvement, Villarin’s Students Explore
and Experience Los Angeles program, Student Advocacy Through the
Arts Project, and Empowered Women’s Collective are imperative
in order to ensure that students are connected to the
community.

I have not only demonstrated commitment to community service,
but I have also facilitated campus-wide collective action. I will
continue to foster cooperation and efficiently use our increasingly
limited campus resources. Unlike other candidates, all three SF!
general representative candidates will utilize our diverse
experiences and unparalleled knowledge and work collaboratively to
address student concerns requiring prompt attention.

Jenny Wood General representative candidate

Being staff doesn’t ensure leadership

It is unfortunate The Bruin was so enamored by the notion of
another “independent” commission that it decided to
forgo choosing a candidate with tested leadership and long-term
vision.

My opponent’s work with the Book Lending Program is
commendable, but his staff position alone is not sufficient
leadership experience to be the Financial Supports commissioner. In
contrast, I am currently a director in the Student Welfare
Commission, where under my guidance, we have conducted the most
successful blood drives in the commission’s history. I have
served UCLA as an orientation counselor and student leader in the
Office of Residential Life in addition to other programming
roles.

The Bruin correctly stated I propose “greatly increasing
the office’s lobbying activity,” which is extremely
important since the current commission engages in absolutely no
advocacy. However, my vision for the commission next year also
contains such programming ideas as a Financial Fair during Welcome
Week, a Web site to provide students answers to their financial
concerns, and the creation of Student Advocacy Groups.

My opponent has not proposed sufficient new programs or advocacy
roles. There may come a time when the financial supports commission
will be able to draw solely on in-house candidates, but this is not
it.

Alex Gruenberg Financial Supports commissioner
candidate

EAC candidates will make USAC fair

Equal Access Coalition candidates all have strong credentials
and the conviction necessary to see their visions
through. 

Each candidate brings a unique experience in leadership,
advocacy and programming. With a fresh enthusiasm, we will advocate
and work with all Bruins to implement real change at UCLA. To
achieve equal access to funding, the coalition and my commission
will ensure that all student groups, regardless of their
viewpoints, will have the ability to apply for USAC
funds. With presidential candidate Josh Lawson, we will
continue to carry the torch of proactive leadership in this area.
In an effort to see equal access to education, my slate will
continue to work with the entire council to fight the frightening
trend of the booming cost of education.

The specific goals I have for Facilities Commission, namely
improving the perimeter for joggers and adding Metropolitan
Transportation Authority to BruinGo!, are definitely ambitious and
will serve to directly benefit the UCLA community as a whole.

Pavan Tripathi Facilities commissioner
candidate

Bhuiyan won’t just keep status quo

I am pleased The Bruin has chosen to endorse me for Cultural
Affairs commissioner, but I must say that I will definitely not be
content with simply maintaining the status quo, as the Bruin might
imply.

Upholding the quality programming that has been established
within the commission through Students First! leadership is
essential, but beyond that, I am here to make our programs more
interactive and more reflective of our diverse student body. I will
establish a student outreach committee to ensure that more student
performers are incorporated into our programs, and that students
are actively engaged in our programs.

Furthermore, I am here to facilitate a greater connection with
the countless student organizations on this campus. There are many
student organizations that provide quality and culturally or
socially relevant programming. I will ensure that these student
organizations can continue to provide their programs through the
creation of a Cultural Programming Fund. Moreover, I will provide
comprehensive programming workshops for student groups to ensure
that more quality programs are constantly being generated.

Lastly, to ensure that student groups can take advantage of the
programming fund and the programming workshops, I will establish an
organizational liaison to reach out to student groups.

Working as a collective is essential to SF! and the work that I
will do next year as Cultural Affairs commissioner.

Santanu Bhuiyan Cultural Affairs commissioner
candidate

USAC not open to Greek community

USAC is an organization which claims representation of all UCLA
student groups, yet constantly and openly attacks 12 percent of the
undergraduate student body: the Greek community.

For an organization supporting the unbiased representation of
student groups at UCLA, it’s interesting how USAC sponsors a
Web site defaming all members of the Greek community and labels us
a conglomeration of sexist, racist and intolerant people. This
statement speaks volumes about myself, seeing as my ethnicity is
Lebanese and Palestinian, and I am a brother of a historically
Jewish fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau.

Diversityatucla.org contains an account of the problems
fraternities have caused on our campus from 1925 to 1996,
fraternity songbook excerpts, and articles pertaining to Greek
“atrocities.”

However, there are no recorded events post-1996. So why does
USAC have a Web site assaulting the largest multifaceted group on
campus? To lobby for the recently passed diversity requirement.

USAC attempted to muster support for passing a diversity
requirement, which promotes the diversity and equality of the
entire UCLA student body, by isolating and attacking 2,500
undergraduate students. No one seems to remember that it is not
only branding Greeks with these defamatory labels, it is also
branding a UCLA student.

But it’s not even the case that Greeks were mentioned in
addition to other groups on campus: We are the target.

Let me reinforce that I am not disputing the truth of past
events. I am saying it is necessary to understand that the Greeks
of today were in junior high when they happened.

As a note, Students First! made the Interfraternity Council a
promise on May 5 to take down the defamatory statements toward IFC
fraternities on this Web site and provide an unbiased account to
support this diversity requirement within a week’s time.
Please join me in making sure this promise is kept and the
promotion of unbiased representation toward UCLA student groups is
maintained.

Mike Hanna Interfraternity Council
president

Husse’s portrayal of Lawson unfair

Erica Husse’s submission “Lawson unfit to head
USAC” (Viewpoint, May 5) is an unfair and biased
representation of presidential candidate Josh Lawson. As a person
who regularly attends council meetings and has worked in both
Husse’s and Lawson’s offices, I can attest to this
fact.

Husse offers the minutes to prove Lawson
“circumvented” and “avoided” council. On
the contrary, the record shows multiple attempts by Lawson to bring
his concerns to the table.

In the fall, Students First! ignored Lawson’s concern over
the blatantly unconstitutional “Presidential Accountability
Guidelines,” which would have allowed the SF! president to
remove students from appointed positions. Lawson was forced to take
his case to the Judicial Board where he won a unanimous
victory.

Council also tabled Lawson’s independent group funding
proposal twice. This proposal would have repaired USAC funding
guidelines that were in violation of federal law and the First
Amendment. But SF! delayed, sending the matter to committee.
President Anica McKesey then refused to appoint Lawson to this
committee, even though he introduced the issue. It wasn’t
until the UC Office of the President became involved that SF!
reversed its well-documented anti-independent funding position to
save face.

It is preposterous for Husse to suggest Lawson somehow desired
to circumvent council and create more work for himself. Rather, he
has been forced to seek other avenues within the system to affect
change. Lawson has been courageous and successful, holding USAC
accountable to both the U.S. Constitution, as well as its own.

Perhaps Husse’s vision of a good leader is one where the
leader is unwilling to represent the students if it means ruffling
feathers. Though she has often voted with Lawson, she has never put
forth the effort to defend her position outside the table. Indeed
this inaction has made her popular with opposing council members,
but reveals she has little desire to advocate.

Husse’s characterization of Lawson’s actions is
misleading and has prompted me to resign from her commission.

I say true leadership is defined by someone like Lawson, who
willingly sacrifices hundreds of extra hours to ensure quality
representation and accountability. This commitment and selflessness
is precisely what students need in a president.

Amy Lucas Director of Operations for General
Representative Josh Lawson Former Financial Supports book lending
co-director

USAC needs more moderate voices

I’d like to address Julio C. Rodriguez’s letter
“Lawson’s views on LGBT community troubling” (May
7).

Although I do not agree with Josh Lawson’s views on
homosexuality, I’ would like to point out that USAC lacks
moderates and conservatives. As a Students First!-dominated council
this year, USAC has been hostile to any political viewpoint besides
the far left. It’s time all students realized this fact in
this election and choose a council that encompasses all voices.

Perhaps no single candidate can ever represent the entire UCLA
campus (after all, we’re bigger and more diverse than many
small towns in this country), but a council of many different
voices can best serve the UCLA community. If we students choose to
“take back” our campus and promote diversity, it is in
our best interest to vote in a council of varying political
ideologies and experiences. With a diverse council, Rodriguez would
have nothing to fear.

Jon M. English 2003 general representative
candidate

Fee referendum needed for UCLA

As candidates for USAC president, we would like to urge students
to vote yes on the Student Voice Referendum.

Ilana Fried’s column, “USAC elections worthy of
students’ interest” (May 6) claimed that “it
seems students cannot influence a system dependent on the will of
the governor and the state Legislature.” On the contrary,
students have exerted power over political decisions in Sacramento
and Washington, D.C. for years, and continue to fight to keep
universities accessible and affordable. However, we must have a
strong, unified voice at the state and federal level to do so. We
must renew our membership in the UC Student Association and the
U.S. Student Association.

We urge you to vote yes on the Student Voice Referendum.

USAC presidential candidates Doug Ludlow, Arash Mozayan
Isfahani and Allende Palma/Saracho