Bruins United unqualified to lead

Bruins United is incapable of leadership.

Formed initially in response to Students First! in 2005, Bruins United pledged to represent all students and enhance the UCLA college experience. Bruins United promised to improve student life and to address important campus issues.

After a whole year in office last year, however, Bruins United failed to accomplish a platform devoted almost entirely to Undie Run. Bruins United does not understand the roles and responsibilities of student government and has never demonstrated a genuine commitment to student issues.

Instead of addressing important problems like rising tuition prices, enrollment and accessibility, Bruins United’s platform last year consisted primarily of silly efforts to bring a bar to campus and promote school spirit. So while students struggled to pay for school and do well in class, Bruins United decided to concentrate on ensuring that students have the ability to run in their underwear through Royce Quad during finals week.

Furthermore, Bruins United failed to achieve the great majority of its platform items. Since its inception, Bruins United has clamored for a bar on campus without success. Bruins United claims to have defended Undie Run since 2004 even though it was the work of Students First! Facilities Commissioner Galen Roth that ultimately revised the route this year.

Nor did Bruins United accomplish its few, substantive goals. Bruins United has failed to create a business minor after working on it for two years. “Concerts for Cash,” designed to raise funds for student organizations, was a prominent platform goal last year and USAC president Gabe Rose’s chief campaign promise. The concert series, however, was an absolute failure and never got off the ground. Bruins United’s most impressive accomplishment last year was arguably the installation of 17 new street lights in Westwood.

After a sound defeat in last year’s elections by Students First!, Bruins United radically modified its platform. The slate has finally realized that school spirit is not a legitimate platform item and is now campaigning for important student issues like affordability, sustainability, transparency and campus safety.

Unfortunately for Bruins United, Students First! has characteristically campaigned for issues like affordability and sustainability for years. In fact, a significant number of Bruins United platform items this year are identical to ones that Students First! has been working on or has already accomplished.

For example, Bruins United promises to create a textbook coalition that will include students and officials in order to minimize textbook costs. Students First! already created a coalition this year by partnering with ASUCLA and CALPIRG. Bruins United also intends to encourage local and statewide voter participation by increasing voter registration and education. Students First! external vice president candidate Susan Li, however, broke the UCLA record for student voter registration just this past year. Bruins United wants to combine Zimride and UCLA carpooling databases in order to create a single comprehensive carpool system, but Students First! already supported and passed an identical Zimride resolution earlier this year.

So not only has Bruins United consistently failed to achieve its own platform items, it intends to work on platform items that Students First! has already accomplished! It looks like Bruins United reworded the minutes to Students First! USAC meetings and pasted them onto its Web site.

Bruins United has not had a historically strong platform, nor is it known for its quality candidates. Myles Hamby, Bruins United’s candidate for Student Welfare Commissioner, does not have a significant amount of relevant experience and should not be entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing one of the largest USAC offices. Specifically, Hamby does not have experience working with the Student Welfare Commission. By putting forth an unqualified candidate, Bruins United shows that it does not take student government seriously.

Contrary to Bruins United’s current slogan, student government is not a big “party.” USAC is a powerful tool for creating change on campus and in the community. Student government has a responsibility to serve every student with intelligent and effective programs and initiatives. Bruins United has failed to perform in the past and can no longer be permitted to represent UCLA students.