USAC installs, gives advice to new council
By Heather Rabkin
June 6, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Members of the undergraduate student government, along with
their family and friends, gathered together Saturday afternoon for
the formal installation ceremony of the 2004-2005 newly elected
officials.
Current Undergraduate Student Association Council members passed
on the reins to their successors through speeches, gifts and words
of wisdom.
Some students reminisced about their involvement with USAC and
the UCLA community, while others looked toward the future.
“Its been a long year, a very long year,” said Anica
McKesey, 2003-2004 president.
Nearly every member of this year’s council thanked one
another, demonstrating the close relationships they have
formed.
Tutram Nguyen, the former Facilities commissioner, said when she
first came to USAC, she was “blown away by the sincerity from
the majority of the council.”
Most councilmembers are being succeeded by people they have
already had close contact with, or students that have positions on
this year’s council.
“I always remember saying, “˜I love that guy, I love
that guy,’ but after a while I started saying,
“˜That’s the new Cultural Affairs
commissioner,'” said Kelly Wynn, former Cultural
Affairs commissioner to Shantanu Bhuiyan, who will be taking her
place.
Other students followed the tradition of previous years as they
looked to the new members coming in.
“I know my successor, and I don’t like him,”
Jason Gaulton said jokingly. Gaulton was last year’s Campus
Events commissioner and will continue the post for the 2004-2005
term. Gaulton added that it has been a tradition for commissioners
at this post to hold office for two consecutive years.
The dedication and amount of time some councilmembers put into
their duties was clear as they passed on necessary supplies to the
new members taking their places.
Wynn advised the new council that they will need “a pillow
and sheets for late nights. Tylenol ““ self explanatory.
Scope … to freshen up. And nourishment. You have to remember to
eat.”
Other advice given echoed many of the same sentiments.Â
“Sleep is overrated. One to two hours a week is OK, and
caffeine is an essential food group,” said Justin Schreiber,
outgoing Community Service commissioner.
Most incoming councilmembers were still eager to take on the
responsibility lain before them, especially Allende Palma/Saracho,
former internal vice president and 2004-2005 president.
“I am honored and humbled to have worked with such a great
group last year. … Others helped me empower myself to go to the
next level,” Palma/Saracho said.
As part of her final words to both the new and old council,
McKesey addressed each member specifically, recounting both the
good times and bad times they had shared.
“Bureaucracy and hierarchy are not always the way to
ensure work gets done,” McKesey said as she addressed Josh
Lawson, outgoing general representative who also ran for president
this year, “We got things passed with or without you. Change
doesn’t come from changing the constitution.”
McKesey’s sentiments reflect the hostility that has
defined the relationship between Lawson and the rest of council
throughout the year.
Though last year’s council faced many problems that will
continue to present themselves to the 2004-2005 council,
Palma/Saracho is confident that they will be successful.
“Our responsibility to one another … calls us to action.
It is this responsibility, with ever-present love for our
communities, that allows us to humbly and with gratitude to those
who came before us commit ourselves to the work ahead,”
Palma/Saracho said.
