By Maggy Athanasious

As the only candidate with two years of actual USAC experience, a USAC-appointed committee position, and almost perfect USAC council meeting attendance, I have more than enough experience for the position of general representative.

The top priorities of my office are to address the transportation problem, particularly BruinGo!, and to work with General Representative Adam Harmetz on combating Tidal Wave II.

In the coming year I plan to increase accessibility and the visibility of USAC. The way I will do this is by creating a USAC-wide internship program for course credit, utilizing the USAC web resources, creating an ASUCLA off-campus meal plan, holding regular office hours on Bruin Walk, and submitting articles to the Daily Bruin about what my office is doing. As well as being important to the student body, these goals are very feasible within a one-year term, a point that is lacking from several of my opponents’ plans.

I am confident that my knowledge of USAC is unmatched by any of my opponents, and my experience this year as chief of staff to General Representative David Dahle gives me the ability to become an effective leader immediately if elected.



By Dria Fern

I’ve been concerned with student issues for two years now as a member of the On Campus Housing Council, where I put on events such as the All Hill Formal, Casino Night and free movie nights. I doubt my opponent has done as much for the student body.

My experience isn’t limited to on-campus housing. I’m the president of the Disabled Student Union and the undergraduate representative to the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Disability, where I serve as an advocate for UCLA’s disabled students.

Student Empowerment! claims to have a commitment to diversity, but judging by their funding practices toward DSU, they clearly do not want the voices of the disabled heard on this campus.

Representation is the overarching theme of the SURE slate. As of now, you are not being represented in the Academic Senate. Only 11 of 18 undergraduate appointments have been made, which means that we don’t have a voice.

We must bring the Academic Affairs Commission back to the students. This should be done by increasing the number of academic programs available to students – such as tutoring services and tutorial programs – not by paying for hip-hop DJs, an expense made by this year’s AAC.

We are all students first and our voices will be heard.



By Justin Levi

According to the Daily Bruin’s implication, I support the abhorrent concept of South African apartheid. If The Bruin had been responsible in accurately representing my views on council taking political stances, they would know that I believe USAC was justified in taking a stance in favor of divestment from South Africa in the early 1980s.

I believe in a council free from certain political stances because it inevitably alienates a certain group of people and is divisive to students. My opponent T.J. Cordero clearly favors such divisiveness, as evidenced by his funding allocations as Finance Chair. As president of JSU, I witnessed firsthand how Student Empowerment! ensures that many student groups will not receive equitable funding. Cordero bears direct responsibility for this, as well as many questionable funding allocations for which he is almost solely accountable, despite the Daily Bruin’s warped opinion.

The Bruin also states that Cordero “has demonstrated” the realization of his vision, yet it only cites things he “plans to” or “has pledged” to do. And the experience the Daily Bruin touts is virtually nonexistent relative to the IVP position.

The choice for IVP comes down to Cordero, a man at the forefront of Student Empowerment! corruption, or myself, who has the experience necessary to bring honesty and decency back to student government.



By Luke Patterson

I am disappointed that the Bruin stated I have no plans for next year. I presented them with several ideas for Cultural Affairs Programming, such as expanding our film series and Eclectic, co-programming with Campus Events and UCLA Performing Arts for better entertainment, as well as holding forums dealing with pertinent political and social issues.

The Bruin also undermined the importance of my previous experience as CAC chief of staff this year. Because of this experience, I have already established necessary connections an out-of-house candidate wouldn’t have. I also have experience programming the UCLA Jazz Reggae festival, which is the largest student-run event in the nation. I have also handled budget issues that have arisen as a result of growing costs and our office’s stagnant source of income.

Likewise, I am not running for CAC to get a vote on council. A vote on council is simply an additional – albeit extremely important responsibility – to the duties I would have as commissioner.

Given the amount of time, work, dedication and headaches involved in running this commission, I would not be running unless I truly believed I am the only person who can run the office at its full potential.