Results speak volumes about voters

The votes have been counted, the races have been decided, and the undergraduate student government has a new council ““ one that may not be recognizable to someone involved with student government only three years ago.

Bruins United won eight of 10 contested seats on next year’s council, while this year’s council was split between Students First! and Bruins United, and in 2005, Bruins United secured seven seats in its first year as a slate.

But as recently as 2004, Students First! held a strong majority in council.

The shift in the past few years away from Students First!, a slate with longevity in UCLA student government, to a newer coalition of students demonstrates that this slate seems to be here for the long run as well.

One reason for this change may be that for the first time in a long time, the slate was faced with a well-organized opposition that turned to students outside of those involved in groups typically affiliated with student government.

This year, 30.94 percent of undergraduate students voted in the election, up slightly from last year’s number of 28.32 percent of the student body who voted in the final leg of the race.

In 2004, however, the last time that Students First! held a majority, the turnout was at 26.4 percent, according to Daily Bruin archives.

Perhaps, then, no one is changing minds on who to vote for ““ maybe this new slate is simply convincing more people to come and vote.

Joline Price, general representative and Bruins United’s campaign manager, said she believes the success of the Bruins United slate has hinged on its ability to reach out to a broader spectrum of students.

USAC president-elect Gabe Rose said Bruins United was able to turn out voters who normally would not show an interest or involvement in USAC.

And while Rose said his coalition may not have been as organized as Students First!, a slate that he said is very close-knit, Bruins United was “organized enough.”

Another explanation for the shift could simply be a change of heart in student voters.

Gregory Cendana, the defeated Students First! presidential candidate, said he believes the loss of seats may be due to a shift in the way students are viewing the issues.

Some students may not have believed some of the broader, more ambitious goals of Students First! were feasible, though Cendana said indeed they are.

Whatever the reason, though the presidency was won by more than 600 votes, many of the races were close. For example, Sherlyn Mossahebfar won the facilities commissioner by 105 votes.

Indeed, the majority that Bruins United now holds on council can hardly be considered what in real-world politics would be called a “mandate” ““ not that it will matter in the council’s functioning next year.

I recently talked to a friend with no affiliation with either slate about perceptions of the two groups and the seemingly unnecessary complexities of campus politics.

She wondered why the two coalitions, with strengths in different areas, couldn’t simply combine.

A slate with broad-based appeal and fresh ideas on increasing student involvement can also use the experience of students with a close relationship to many campus organizations and a history of advocacy.

But, turned off by the negative Facebook Flyers and unnecessary partisanship in student government, she was one of 1,113 students who voted for candidates not affiliated with either slate.

Indeed, the shift in power between slates over the past few years has left some tired of both.

E-mail Mishory at [email protected].