This post was updated May 4 at 9:44 p.m.

In Wednesday’s Undergraduate Students Association Council election debate, candidates weighed in on whether the council’s internal vice president should focus on connecting students to campus administrators or council processes.  

The USA Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. Two candidates are running for the position of internal vice president. 

[Related: LIVE – USAC 2025 Debates: Night one]

Tommy Contreras, a current general representative, said the UCLA community needs leaders who will not settle for “failed systems” and will value student power, justice and equity. He added that he will continue the work he started as general representative, which has included advocating for an increased minimum wage and paid sick leave for ASUCLA employees.

Contreras, a third-year political science and public affairs student, said the role of the Congressional Advisory Board should be expanded to give a bigger voice to students. He added that he believes Eman Almuti, his opponent and the board’s current committee chair, has not implemented effective changes while in her role. 

“As the current director of the Congressional Advisory Board, my opponent has had the opportunity to make those changes – to make a bylaw change, to expand its input this year – and has not,” Contreras said. “As your next IVP, that would be one of my priorities immediately from day 1.” 

Almuti said she did not have the active role she would have liked because of limitations from USAC. She added that to make the board a more directly accessible space, a referendum would need to pass – which is one of her goals next year. 

Almuti, a third-year psychobiology student, said decisions made by those in elected positions in USAC should be representative of the needs of all students on campus. 

“That’s why I’m implementing a feedback system in the mandatory USAC officer reports where students have the direct opportunity to comment on the ways in which the decisions that USAC officers are making affect them directly,” Almuti said. 

Contreras said he is committed to ensuring there are published transition documents that outline what his IVP office has done that year and also include steps for the next IVP. 

“My campaign is rooted in long and detailed platforms that are ultimately goals that are meant to transform, not just reform,” Contreras said. “With such bold and innovative platforms that require years of advocacy and action, I am committed to ensuring that I outlay a detailed plan that enables IVPs after myself to continue these initiatives to transform UCLA into a campus that works better for students.”

Almuti added that she agreed with what her opponent outlined and that she aims to integrate students into more USAC processes. 

“That’s why I’m implementing the new USAC leadership training and expanding the CIP (Committee Integration Program) initiative that the IVP office has worked on this year – to weave students into all of these processes, to ensure continuity and ensure that students are motivated and that these processes are accessible to all students, regardless of background,” she said. 

Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA from 8 a.m. May 9 until noon May 16.