Three candidates for the Undergraduate Students Association Council transfer student representative attended a debate Wednesday.

The Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. Four candidates are running for the position of Transfer Student Representative. Benjamin Tsimmuaj Lee, a third-year political science transfer student, did not attend Wednesday’s debate.

Michael Green II, a third-year gender studies transfer student, said he hopes to create a transfer student association, acquire funding for transfer student events and advocate for marginalized communities.

Green added that specific orientations should exist for non-traditional students, including student-parents and undocumented students.

“Non-traditional students are incredibly important to me as a transfer student,” he said. “Most of the time, the issue is not being oriented into UCLA,” he said. 

Green has leadership experience as the former student government president of his community college, he said.

Carlos Rodriguez, an economics transfer student, said he will be an ally to all underserved transfers, including formerly incarcerated, low-income students and student-parents.

Rodriguez said one issue transfer students face is the lack of information available to them about UCLA-specific opportunities. He added that, if elected, he would hold town halls to combat this information gap.

“I need to hold town halls as a transfer student representative and just be easily accessible to marginalized student groups like parenting Bruins so that I’m directly hearing their feedback,” he said.

Rodriguez added that he hopes to increase accessibility for student-parents by sending them emails about on-campus resources.

Mona Tavassoli, a third-year political science transfer student, said her leadership experience as president of two student organizations while at community college makes her a strong candidate for the position.

“I plan on being here and plan on being completely committed for all three quarters,” she said. “My experience at the community college level as a leader really helps demonstrate my longevity in my impact.”

Tavassoli added that she wants to spread the word about UCLA leadership opportunities to first-year transfer students so they later take on these positions.

“I really plan to ensure that my office engages with as many first-year transfers as possible,” she said. “I am building a wide variety of very engaged, very experienced candidates for the next year who would be able to continue the legacy I leave behind.”

Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA starting May 10 and ending May 17.