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  Adam Harmetz

By nature, the duties of the general representative are broad and somewhat ambiguous. Representatives are asked to stand for the concerns of the entire undergraduate population – a daunting task that may sometimes seem impossible. Because of this, a good candidate has to be able to define large campus issues that affect students of all types – and create a specific and detailed plan for progress.

Among this year’s general representative candidates, Adam Harmetz, Michelle Styczynski, and Allende Palma-Saracho were the only three who displayed a working knowledge of large-scale campus issues and offered concrete solutions.

All three candidates cited housing, transportation, overcrowding, diversity and community relations as pressing issues. But each candidate also offered a detailed plan for the certain issue they hope to focus on.

  Michelle Stczynski

Harmetz, who is currently the chair of the On Campus Housing Council, outlined a plan to combat overcrowding. He says he will spend fall quarter forming a report based on research he and his staff will put together on the capacity of campus hot spots like housing, classrooms, and other communal spaces. Harmetz anticipates that this research will ultimately show the need for enrollment caps, and after he completes his work he will take it to the administration with his recommendations.

Styczynski, who has also worked on the hill as a resident adviser and member of OCHC, discussed improving community relations with Westwood homeowners to bring live and other sorts of entertainment back to the Village. She’s already met with several community leaders to discuss Westwood's future and plans to send student representatives to Homeowners Association meetings.

  Allende Palma-Saracho

Palma-Saracho discussed both BruinGo! and campus diversity as his top priorities. He also wants to start a “know your rights” campaign to inform students of their rights as renters, employees, in cases of sexual harassment and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students. In addition to this, he will establish a workers’ appreciation day for employees in campus service jobs to honor their hard work in maintaining campus facilities.

By contrast, general representative candidates Jenny Lam and Maggy Athanasious showed little insight regarding major student issues like housing, transportation and overcrowding. Lam cited hate crimes – of which she admitted only five cases have been reported since 1999 – and improved childcare services as the two most important issues the university currently faces. Both these issues are relevant and valuable to campus, but as someone running for “general” representative, Lam has focused too narrowly.

Athanasious said she had no plans for change on any of the major issues and would instead wait for a student survey to tell her what is important. Aside from the fact that it’s glaringly obvious what the issues are – housing, transportation and access to education – Athanasious’ only goals were to initiate an Associated Students of UCLA sponsored meal plan for off-campus students and increase the visibility of USAC. Like Lam’s goals, these also have value, but the former certainly doesn’t take precedence over an issue like housing, and the latter only helps students in a limited way. Knowing about USAC doesn’t mean its doing anything for them.

The best bet for a solid general representative package is a combination of Harmetz, Styczynski and Palma-Saracho. With Harmetz’s focus on overcrowding, Styczynski’s work with the Homeowners Association, and Palma-Saracho’s commitment to diversity and student rights, the campus should have its needs covered.

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