The sole candidate for the Undergraduate Students Association Council Academic Affairs commissioner attended a debate Thursday. 

The Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. One candidate is running unopposed for the position of Academic Affairs commissioner. 

Cristopher Espino, who is the current chief of senate in the Academic Affairs Commission, said he hopes to continue working alongside the UCLA bookstore representatives to reduce textbook costs and provide aid to students, particularly marginalized students, in covering them. He added that implementing a system where students opt in, rather than opt out, of purchasing textbooks prevents unnecessary fees.

“We’re getting the conversations rolling in regards to universal basic income for student parents who have very much struggled to navigate this world,” Espino said. “We will be partnering with HSI (Hispanic-serving Institution) to collaborate and help their efforts and ensuring we have HSI status.”

UCLA announced that it was planning on pursuing HSI status, a designation which would require 25% of students to identify as Latinx.

[Related: Minority-serving institution designations and their implications at UCLA]

Espino, a second-year education and social transformation and political science student, said he was in charge of AAC’s relations with the UCLA Academic Senate.

“The work has been done,” Espino said. “A vote from you would be a vote to make academic equity a more tangible reality.”

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