Following a sweep of four executive seats last year, the Student Action party announced its executive candidates Sunday for the upcoming 2012 ASUC general election.
Current Student Action Senators Connor Landgraf, Justin Sayarath and Shahryar Abbasi will run for the offices of president, executive vice president and external affairs vice president, respectively. Natalie Gavello, communications director for the ASUC Office of the President, will run for academic affairs vice president.
Landgraf said he is running on a three-pronged platform of advocacy for students, more ASUC involvement in everyday student life and increasing technology and innovation. He said he believes the ASUC should support Occupy Cal and advocate for a second voting position on the UC Board of Regents.
He added that he would have opposed the ASUC Auxiliary realignment — a shift that moved the business branch of the ASUC from Administration and Finance to the Division of Student Affairs in July — more strongly than current ASUC President Vishalli Loomba had. Landgraf said he was in Europe while the transition occurred and did not fully understand its implications.
A Student Action press release said Sayarath has authored or co-authored more than 15 percent of senate bills this year. In comparison, Landgraf has authored or co-authored less than 5 percent of about 316 bills introduced to the senate, and Abbasi has authored or co-authored over 10 percent.
Sayarath’s platform includes expanding student resources and technology services through consolidating different websites to make them easier to access for student groups.
While current Executive Vice President Chris Alabastro has chiefly managed logistical issues surrounding the Lower Sproul Plaza renovation and student groups’ relocation from Eshleman Hall during his term, Sayarath said he hopes to “be more available to students.”
CalSERVE — which has historically been Student Action’s primary rival student political party — announced its slate Feb. 27.
Current CalSERVE Senators Andrew Albright, Anthony Galace and Sydney Fang will run for the offices of president, executive vice president and external affairs vice president, respectively. Naomi Wilson, co-chair of the campus Black Student Union, will run for academic affairs vice president. Neither party is running a candidate for student advocate, which is the fifth executive office and is traditionally non-partisan.
Both Student Action and CalSERVE’s executive slates consist of three candidates who are current senators and one who is not. In both cases, the candidate who is not a senator is running for academic affairs vice president.
Overall trends show that Student Action has held a dominant position in the elections since the party was founded in 1995.
In the last 16 elections, there have been only two instances where Student Action did not win any executive seats, and the party has won both the president and executive vice president positions 12 times.
Student Action currently holds 11 out of a possible 20 seats in the ASUC Senate and has consistently won seven to 11 seats in the senate over the past six years. The party has not yet announced its senate slate, but according to Landgraf, a retreat March 9 to 11 occurred for executive candidates, senate candidates and other party members.
Voting for the election will be held April 10, 11 and 12.
Chloe Hunt is the lead student government reporter.
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Maybe they’ll be better than this year’s Executive Board. I take that back – Joey Freeman was the only good thing about the ASUC Execs this year. Vishalli? She did not defend students nor did she show any leadership throughout the year. Chris? The only thing I remember/know about him is that I guess he thinks its ok to walk around upper sproul drunk and assume noone is watching. Lastly, Julia who? She was practically nonexistent this entire year. I remember she came to class and used the word “disinvestment” 4 times in one sentence. Using the word “disinvestment” does not make you look smart. Also, what was up with AAVP grants this year? I know so many people who applied for them and would not hear back for weeks. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AAVP.
Before you guys talk badly about these individuals, why don’t you take the time to meet them and understand their views. Politics are so messed up in our country and you commenters are showing why. Why would you attack Natalie’s style? How does that in anyway contribute to the discussion of who should represent students in the student government. Have you ever talked to her? Have you ever experienced the wonderful things about her? My guess is no. Because you’re spending your time being negative from behind a screen.
If you don’t agree with Student Action, that’s one thing. But that’s no reason for personal attacks.
The idea of student government is ridiculous to begin with. The only reasonable response to such a ridiculous idea is to mock it viciously.
If you look closely, she looks like shes pushing 60. Pearl earrings, big granny necklace, the horror.
Well, I want to fuck that granny.
Ah, the face of diversity. Butch-looking white girl, gay kid of vaguely Southeast Asian descent, Middle-Eastern-y kid, and weak, non-dominant, awkward-looking white boy.
I don’t mind, nothing wrong with making everyone feel included, but it’s always amusing how hard they try.
Also, Landgraf supports Occupy? LOL fucking idiot.
She has short hair (obviously BUTCH), he has straight teeth (GAAY!), he is clean shaven with a pleasant smile (awkward and non-dominant!), he is Middle Eastern (oh no! they try too hard!). I hope you’re not a student. If you are, I’ve lost complete faith in the admissions board.
Usually before ASUC elections students chalk up the sidewalks with campaign slogans,
better watch out.
At UC-Irvine UCPD told students they would be arrested for vandalism if they chalked up the sidewalk.
At UC-Riverside the administration claimed that content of messages would have to be approved by administrators before it could be written in chalk on the sidewalk, or else!
CA Penal Code Section 594 says chalk on sidewalk = defacement.
http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/594.html
If UC claims it cost more than $400 to power wash off the side walk, then its a felony.
That’s great!
shahryar is an easy choice
Anyone remember the year that Student Action lost the election, then sued the ASUC in district court, and then tried to get their $20,000 legal fee reimbursed by the ASUC?
That’s right, Student Action wanted to spend $20,000 of YOUR money to sue YOU.
(Google “oren gabriel asuc lawsuit” if you don’t remember all the details, these sleazebags need to be exposed!)
Jesus Christ, you’ve been posting this word for word for longer than anybody’s been in school. This happened when Rick Santorum was still a sitting US Senator and most of these kids were high school freshmen. ASUC is retarded, but dude, chill.
It’s unfortunate that you want to hide the past. Dishonest.
actually, the school sued Student Action, and the execs were advised BY THEIR FACULTY ADVISORS to use be represented by the ASUC lawyer. Who did a fabulous job I might add. Check the facts.
More dishonesty.
You might want to reevaluate your posting, lest you commit libel. Student Action was never a party to any of those suits. This was half a decade ago, time for you to move on.
Remember that Naomi Wolf, co-chair of the Black Student Union and a primary supporter of bringing the bigot Louis Farrakhan to campus, is Cal Slave’s candidate for academic affairs vice-president. Given that she ia a representative of Cal Slave, it is incumbent upon all reasonable students to vote for Student Action…
CalServe is suppose to represent the diversity of the student body, yet not only is Naomi Wilson a primary supporter of bringing Farrakhan, but also Andrew Albright and other calserve senators thought that it was ok for BSU to bring him. How can CalServe represent the diversity of campus when it’s candidates are in support of bringing a racist, sexist and homophobic man to campus? I had vote for CalServe for the past 3 years but not this year.
Lol. Not once has Andy said he supports Farrakhan. Andy is gay and Farrakhan is a homophobe. If you’re talking about the bill which passed in Senate for ABC, every single senator voted in favor of it. So I don’t know what you’re talking about.
He need to be more careful with the comments and likes he makes on facebook because some people actually notice.
Lol yeah the gay candidate is cool with the homophobe coming to campus. Makes soooo much sense. Learn your facts before you start bashing people. the senate all voted for the same bill and CS and SA haven’t voted any differently on any of the farrakahn bills u loser
it’s called “no enemies on the left”, and it is absolutely representative of the calserve mentality.
All these political parties are losers for not voting against the Farrakahn bills. It’s as simple as that.
Yeah he’s a Republican but a hot one hahahahaha.
isn’t Connor a Republican? Aren’t Republicans leading us in the wrong direction already? Why have them screw up our student government?
lol
Anyone remembered what they promised to do last year?
Anyone think it matters?