GSA candidates voice positions

Editor’s note: In “GSA candidates voice
positions” (News, April 17), the story reported that
presidential candidate Anthony Dunbar was accused of seeking an
endorsement from Shane Markstrum of the Engineering GSA after
publicly declaring not to seek endorsements, which may have been a
violation of the GSA Elections Code. The code states that
candidates cannot lie or publicize false information in
campaigning.

The article erroneously omitted the fact that
Markstrum’s allegation was discredited by Elections Chair
Tiffany Nurrenbern at GSA’s candidate debate.

At the Graduate Students Association elections debate Friday,
presidential candidates Anthony Dunbar and Monica Sanchez Rivas
gave their campaign statements, answered questions from the
audience, and in some cases, Dunbar found himself on the defensive
for his past performance and qualifications.

Dunbar, a doctoral student in information studies, was accused
by his opponent and her supporters of failing to fulfill his duties
as GSA director of communication, among other things.

In a tamer portion of the debate, Dunbar defined his goals as
including communication among the graduate student community.

“We need some media savvy,” Dunbar said. “If
you put in infrastructure, students can have vehicles whereby they
can express themselves through communication, through information,
and so forth.”

Sanchez, a doctoral student in education running with the
Students Taking Action and Reenergizing GSA slate, spoke of several
of her past accomplishments with GSA, including the work
she’s done as director of community service, as well as a
student representative.

“I have worked to establish the first GSA Community
Service Commission. We’ve been successful in bringing
together graduate students from all parts of campus,” Sanchez
said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet with
administrators and really make important decisions that help
graduate students get resources through the Graduate Resources
Center.”

During the audience question-and-answer period, Rivas spoke of
Dunbar’s alleged “nonattendance at community service
events and failure to issue a single press release about any of the
GSA activities, even though that’s part of the job
description,” which Dunbar dismissed as “mere
exaggeration.”

During the questioning, Shane Markstrum, the forum
representative from the Engineering GSA, criticized Dunbar for
seeking endorsements after publicly declaring that he would not do
so during the campaign.

According to GSA bylaws, election candidates cannot lie or
publicize false information in the process of their campaigns.

Dunbar responded to these allegations by saying that he did not
specifically ask for endorsements, but that he could not prevent
individuals from submitting them to the director of elections, if
they so desired.

Also during the questioning, Jared Fox, the current GSA
president, said many cabinet members have encountered problems
working with Dunbar.

“Many people have complained that he’s acted
inappropriately, including bullying people and yelling at
people,” Fox said. “I know there are so many people who
are so upset with the way he’s treated them that I’m
sure word about his behavior will get out.”

Dunbar stated that many of the accusations being made were a
charge against his character, and that he did not have time to
respond to all of them in the course of the debate.

Before the presidential debate, the three other election
candidates, all running unopposed, gave statements addressing what
their goals were for next year. Each is a member of the STAR GSA
slate with Sanchez.

Mac Marston, the incumbent vice president of internal affairs,
spoke about the only referendum on the ballot, which would fund a
graduate writing center “to help with writing theses,
dissertations, grant proposals, etc.”

Cindy Mosqueda, the incumbent vice president of external
affairs, spoke of her goal to work with University of California
students systemwide by “maintaining a close relationship with
the UC Student Association and National Association of Graduate and
Professional Students.”

Janet Cummings, a doctoral student in health services running
for vice president of academic affairs, said she wants to increase
participation in and awareness of the student survey component of
departmental reviews conducted by the Graduate Council of the
Academic Senate.

“In the past, the response rate has been very low,”
Cummings said. “It’s been a missed opportunity for
students to provide input on how to improve their
department.”

Cummings also spoke of her goal to work with other candidates to
find additional sources of funding for the writing center.