Four candidates to run unopposed
Hopefuls for commissions all in-house, will be council members
By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Reporter
Four candidates in the upcoming spring elections will run unopposed, and all are evaluating their potential involvement in the politics of student government.
Runners for the Campus Events, Cultural Affairs, Community Service and Student Welfare Commissions are all in-house candidates, meaning they currently work in the commissions they seek.
These candidates will also be voting members of the 2001-02 Undergraduate Students Association Council, helping to determine campus policy in addition to the duties of their respective commissions.
CSC candidate Sunny Sanchez said she will not necessarily increase her level of political activity as a member of USAC.
“I think it’s for the best interest of my commission to remain open on whether or not to be political,” said Sanchez, a fourth-year American literature and culture student.
CSC coordinates student-organized and student-initiated activities that are concerned with the social, political, environmental and educational improvement of the community.
Rahul Marwah, current chief of staff for the cultural affairs commission, sees value in being a member of council. As opposed to the conventionally politically-inclined positions such as president and vice president, Marwah said the other commissioners can provide impartiality.
“It’s important to have those offices and voting members to come with an objective attitude,” said Marwah, a fourth-year economics student. He is running unopposed because James Ngo, the other CAC candidate, failed to attend the Elections Board’s mandatory candidate meeting April 24.
CAC is in charge of planning cultural performing arts functions and stimulating student interest in cultural activities. The commission also includes the Cultural Affairs jazz, poetry, concert and art series, as well as the Jazz/Reggae Festival.
For these candidates, attending council meetings often takes time away from their obligations to their commissions. Nevertheless, Ryan Wilson, a second-year undeclared student and candidate for campus events commission, emphasized the importance of going to these meetings.
“Attendance at meetings is the most important part of the job because I’m the liaison between my office and council,” Wilson said. “Otherwise the distance between my office and council grows.”
CEC organizes many events on campus, including the Ackerman Grand Ballroom film series, concert Series, UCLA Mardi Gras and the Associated Students Speakers Program.
Fannie Huang, the current community service commissioner, reiterated that while council meetings take time away from her duties, they are necessary for the well-being of her commission.
“It’s a little frustrating when I commit hours to these meetings, but it’s important because a lot of things that go on in USAC affect my commission,” Huang said.
One of the most important duties given to members of council is the power to vote on USAC policies and measures.
“Having a vote is vital because it’s good to have political and non-political counterparts to bring about new views toward the same issue,” said Peter Trinh, a third-year business economics and physiological science student running for SWC.
The SWC is responsible for organizing and promoting activities which promote the health and welfare of students through awareness and education.
Trinh said because the vote is so important, his level of involvement is going to be “tremendous.”
But current Campus Events Commissioner Jared Seltzer warned that programming commissioners should be wary of the level they involve themselves in council matters.
“Active involvement and participation are important, but I don’t recommend commissioners to ever prioritize politics over programming,” Seltzer said.
All candidates had the option of putting up signboards around campus advertising their campaigns. But because these four candidates are unopposed, Sanchez and Trinh opted not to put any up while Marwah and Wilson decided to do so.
“I want to have fun with it and use it as an advertisement for the office and my position,” Wilson said.
Marwah initially chose to post a signboard because his position was still being contested at the time he had to notify E-Board whether he wished to have a sign.
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