Thursday, April 30, 1998
John Strelow
GRO
My first experience with student government at UCLA was poor. It was at convocation a year ago, welcoming all incoming undergraduates to our university. USAC President John Du spoke. Did he speak to welcome us to UCLA? To congratulate us on our accomplishments? To inform us of the services student government could provide?
No. Instead, he said, "Register to vote, and vote against 209!" Apparently, if you supported Proposition 209, your student government did not believe you should vote.
This was not an isolated viewpoint. USAC has continually aligned itself with certain political positions. I support the rights of the members of USAC to voice their opinions and work toward political goals. I resent the fact that they have done so in the name of student representation. As long as we have a student government that asserts certain political positions, it only represents those students who share that viewpoint. I feel strongly that each student must be represented, no matter what their views are.
As a general representative, my responsibility would be to represent all students, even those I may disagree with or who come from a different background. If a concern is brought to me, I will present that viewpoint to USAC at large. It is a responsibility I will take seriously. I look forward to the chance to represent you. All of you.
John Strelow