elections

Dear world,

Today I sat in an auditorium sardine-packed with other students, all on edge and waiting for the ASUC tabulation results from this year's elections.

Ricardo Gomez and Viola Tang won EAVP and AAVP, respectively, as they should over Student Action candidates campaigning on passive platforms with NO previous experience as a Senator. Moreover, some of their platforms, while laudable in nature, pale in importance compared to more pressing issues facing students, such as the new 2012 admissions policies. These policies have had a muddled nature from the start, with little campus awareness of their implementation and negative effects on student diversity. None of the Student Action executive candidates mentioned this, and for a party who is dedicated to representing "every student, every year," it's ironic that they did not campaign to protect students who are interested in maintaining diversity. In the face of big businesses like a second Subway encroaching on lower Sproul, the tired SA platforms of student safety and improving Greek public relations fall ridiculously flat.

Then came the EVP and President positions, where our amazing CalSERVE candidates, Lean Deleon and Eunice Kwon, endured a heartbreaking loss to Nanxi Liu and Noah Stern.

Let me start with Nanxi. To quote the Daily Cal (and believe me, it pains me greatly to do so), "It would be ludicrous to bring in an EVP who hasn't served as a senator and lacks familiarity with this body, regardless of his or her other worthy qualifications. This is why Student Action candidate Nanxi Liu, despite competent responses to our questions at the forum, is not the best candidate for the job." Described as "coldly efficient," Nanxi simply lacked the institutional experience necessary to fulfill her duties. I guess being part of a business fraternity, Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and a whole litany of other business and engineer-related orgs now serve as a substitute for being grounded in community. Nanxi gives off an air of working for personal advancement instead of using the ASUC as a vehicle for activism and change. SA really needs to start picking candidates with a demonstrated vested interest in organizing and advocacy. Wait, I forgot, that's CalSERVE's job.

Noah. Noah Stern. Forget that the Daily Cal endorsed him for his "presence" and "amiable personality" (read: white, male, straight), while Eunice was accused of just not being a leader. Forget that he thinks the office of the ASUC president should be apolitical. Forget that one of his platforms was to "strengthen the Cal Community by harnessing the dynamic student life and energy on our campus" (I think I just threw up in my mouth). Under allegations of voter fraud, generously offering to vote on behalf of students who were simply too tired or lazy to do so, Noah won and part of the auditorium started chanting his name while CalSERVE folk nearby looked on in silence and disappointment. Did he "steal" the election? I don't know. He won by a larger margin than could be accounted for by logging in with other students' CalNet IDs and voting for them. Do I hope that the judicial council disqualifies him? Absolutely.

But who knows. Maybe he'll just sue the ASUC, like a few of his Student Action cronies did a few years back and assume the presidency in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust.

Berkeley, you let me down. You voted in an EVP and president who clearly have less experience, fewer novel ideas, and less heart than their opponents. Can you make up for this next year? I got acquainted with voter ignorance and apathy this campaign season, so I won't be holding my breath, but from an eternal optimist...

Cal WHAT?!
CalSERVE!