Submission: USAC’s exclusivity a disservice to the student body it represents

On Tuesday at the Undergraduate Students Association Council endorsement hearings, I walked off stage after giving my opening statement, a surprise to many in the room. But as a presidential candidate, I could not partake in a process that systematically keeps students from getting involved in their student government.

As I looked around the room on Tuesday, I saw many of the faces I always see in this space, sitting in a room that should have been filled with representatives from all the students organizations USAC represents. However, the endorsement process has become such a long process that many groups don’t want to go through it.

Bureaucracy should never prevent student groups from getting informed about their student government. And yet, Tuesday night’s endorsement hearing demonstrated the corruption of the democratic process in regard to undergraduate student elections.

The endorsement process is a setup for students already involved to ask questions tailored to specific candidates, as was evident when Heather Rosen, the Bruins United candidate for Financial Supports commissioner delivered one of her answers through a clearly prepared song. The purpose of opening the floor to questions from student organizations should be to educate and familiarize students with candidates’ platforms. But how can student groups take such a process seriously when questions like “How thirsty are you?” are tolerated as serious questions?

As I sat and watched all of the candidates go on stage and play in this game, I realized that as a presidential candidate it was my job to stand up to this injustice of the endorsement process.

Do not mistake my actions. I act with purpose to send a message. USAC as it stands needs to be more inclusive of the student body it serves. I am more than confident in my abilities to bring that change and be the USAC president this campus needs. And that was not going to be determined by a room full of students who had already made up their minds.

My actions Tuesday, and the actions of my fellow FIRED UP! candidates who left with me, speak to our character, our integrity and the belief that we should be empowering the students we represent.

We are FIRED UP! Here to put the student voice back in USAC. Rooted in community. Fired up for change.

Rodriguez-Flores is the FIRED UP! candidate for USAC president and a fourth-year Chicana/o studies and Spanish student.