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It has almost become a tradition. Year after year, as the elections for the undergraduate student government near, a new group of students surfaces with plans to take control of the council away from the Students First! slate who has had a firm grip on it for over 10 years.

Spring quarter at UCLA is marked by student politics and slates competing for power, and it will become more visible as the general elections, scheduled to take place during fifth week, approaches.

Slates are groups of candidates running together in the elections in order to increase their chances of a victory. The slate often has a number of shared platforms and a group of supporters who help them in their campaign efforts.

Bruins United is the newest of these slates. Formed to run candidates in this year’s elections, its leaders say that they are more than a group of candidates and that they resemble a political party more than a slate.

Alex Gruenberg, Undergraduate Students Association Council’s current Financial Supports commissioner and one of the leaders of Bruins United, foresees the slate to be one that students can identify with for a long time.

Gruenberg said it became clear through speaking to leaders on campus that the vision of what USAC could do for students needed to be broadened. He added that student government is currently very divided, and if approached the right way and with the issues that concern students, more people can get involved.

“The bigger issue facing students right now is that there is no united front,” Gruenberg said. “We need people that can bring everyone together.”

USAC President Allende Palma/Saracho, who ran with the Students First! slate last year and the previous year as the internal vice president, said he was not surprised by the formation of a new slate with the promise of uniting the campus.

“It sounds like the same thing they do every year,” he said. “I guess we’ll just have to see how much more their platform has to offer.”

Bruins United leaders say their slate is running on issues they believe are important to the majority of students.

Elizabeth Vega, a resident assistant who has also been involved with the On Campus Housing Council, said she decided to be a part of Bruins United after her experience with USAC and OCHC led her to believe that there is not an adequate relationship between the two bodies.

She also said student government was falling short in emphasizing campus spirit.

Gruenberg said among Bruins United’s platforms is institutional change, including the possibility of a senate system to replace the current council.

He added that the group is also advocating issues ranging from school spirit, to Westwood life, to bringing a pub to campus.

As a councilmember, Gruenberg said the council currently does not work with all the entities that it could, such as the Athletic Department.

But Palma/Saracho said the council shouldn’t be caught up with “small stuff,” and issues like quality of education or rising fees are more important.

“The students can decide for themselves if Students First! is meeting their needs,” he said.

Students First!, who has had control over the council in recent history, has had to face numerous slates who are often running solely to oppose them.

Last year it was the Equal Access Coalition, formed with the stated hope of bringing reform to student government.

Gruenberg, who ran with the slate, said EAC has not been abandoned, and its aspects are being integrated with Bruins United.

Though he did not release a list, Gruenberg said supporters are not limited to groups that supported EAC in the past.

Doug Ludlow, who ran for USAC president as an independent during last year’s elections, said though he is graduating this spring, he got involved with Bruins United because he wanted to make a mark at UCLA.

Ludlow said what can set this group apart from previous slates is that Bruins United’s core principles are not in response to Students First! tactics.

“This is not a reactionary slate,” he said.

Ludlow added that one of the main problems with the current student government is that there is a disconnect between the campus and the government.

“While Bruins United can’t solve this entirely, they can bring new perspective to student government,” Ludlow said.

With reports from Melinda Dudley, Bruin contributor.