EDITORIAL BOARD Editor in
Chief  Timothy Kudo
Managing Editor
 Michael Falcone
Viewpoint Editor
 Cuauhtemoc Ortega
Staff Representatives
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
 Kelly Rayburn
Editorial Board Assistants
 Maegan Carberry
 Edward Chiao
  Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of
the Daily Bruin Editorial Board. All other columns, letters and
artwork represent the opinions of their authors. Â Â All
submitted material must bear the author’s name, address, telephone
number, registration number, or affiliation with UCLA. Names will
not be withheld except in extreme cases. Â Â The Bruin
complies with the Communication Board’s policy prohibiting the
publication of articles that perpetuate derogatory cultural or
ethnic stereotypes. Â Â When multiple authors submit
material, some names may be kept on file rather than published with
the material. The Bruin reserves the right to edit submitted
material and to determine its placement in the paper. All
submissions become the property of The Bruin. The Communications
Board has a media grievance procedure for resolving complaints
against any of its publications. For a copy of the complete
procedure, contact the Publications office at 118 Kerckhoff Hall.
Daily Bruin 118 Kerckhoff Hall 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, CA
90024 (310) 825-9898
If student apathy is a problem at UCLA, it couldn’t be
clearer than in the 2002 Graduate Student Association and
Undergraduate Student Association Council elections candidate
applications turnout. Six of the 11 USAC positions are uncontested,
as are all three of the GSA positions.
One of the most important things in electing a competent and
effective leader is ensuring at least an adequate pool of
applicants ““ although we should always strive for excellence.
If students are not given a choice, not only is their power taken
away, but the quality of representation is also weaker since
candidates are not challenged to sharpen their goals or improve
their planning.
But the problem does not end at weaker representation. It is
indicative of a larger epidemic that plagues this campus. Voter
turnout for GSA elections was only 15 percent last year, and for
USAC was only 20 percent.
Perhaps since students are temporary members of the university,
they feel less affected by the decisions handled by student
government. But this kind of selfish attitude does nothing for
future Bruins. Students have a responsibility to think beyond their
time here, and participate in the interests of their
successors.
Walking into office unopposed is a failure of democracy, and
students must realize the implications of having over half of their
elected representatives assume office without any sort of
competition. How hard is it to take a few minutes a day to keep up
with the issues, and cast your vote when called upon? How hard is
it to give something of yourself in the interest of the future?
Apparently at this university, it’s like moving
mountains.