Four candidates for the Undergraduate Students Association Council internal vice president debated how to best support students’ basic needs – including access to housing and food – Thursday. 

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

Gabrielle Trujillo, a second-year history and public affairs student, said during the debate that she wants to increase protections for student demonstrators, as well as undocumented students. 

Trujillo said in her platform statement that she would implement financial transparency measures, as well as advocate for increased pay for student workers and greater accountability related to campus policing. She added in the platform that she would also advocate for community-led harm reduction training as an alternative to policing. 

“We’ve heard enough people who talk the talk when it comes to student activism and student needs,” Trujillo said. “But now it’s time that we choose somebody who’s going to walk the walk.”

Hesma Valdes, a third-year sociology student, said during the debate that she plans to prioritize student housing and food access. As a transfer student, Valdes would advocate for transfer students and other marginalized student groups, she said.

Valdes said in her platform statement that if elected, she would host quarterly accountability town halls and advocate for increased pay for student workers, increased funding for identity-focused resource centers and student oversight of campus safety decisions.

“Students deserve more than promises,” Valdes said. “We deserve action, transparency and real power in the decisions that shape our lives.”

Abbasali Fazal, a second-year business economics student, said during the debate that he would focus on increasing sustainability and making student events more accessible. 

Fazal said in his platform statement that he aims to expand opportunities for students to attend UCLA sports events, advocate for the accessibility of essential needs resources, support underrepresented communities and increase low-cost and free event options.

“I understand that I’m running for IVP, not just as a title, but this is a responsibility of collective duty and a duty that students need to know who USAC is and what we can do for them and how it can benefit them the most,” Fazal said.

Agrin Khatami, a first-year international development studies and political science student, said during the debate that she would focus on financial transparency. Khatami said in her platform statement that she would advocate for expanded dining hours, sliding-scale parking permit options, guaranteed sick pay for student workers, expanded public transit access and increased resources for immigrant and undocumented students.

Khatami asked another candidate what they would do about addressing unconstitutional behaviors in the IVP office, specifically citing a resolution she said was “drafted behind doors.” 

IVP Tommy Contreras introduced a letter – which the council passed April 14 – condemning an on-campus event with a former Israeli hostage. The letter sparked antisemitism allegations from Jewish student groups, as well as from USAC general representative Talia Davood, who helped organize the event and alleged the letter was intentionally passed at a meeting she could not attend. 

[Related: UCLA student government accused of antisemitism for condemning Israeli hostage talk]

“While USAC has great institutional power, its reach to our student body is not enough,” she said. “USAC has become a bubble of people mingling and talking amongst themselves and not using the power that we have to truly help students to our capacity.”

Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA starting May 8 at 8 a.m. until May 15 at noon.