PanARMENIAN.Net
For the first time ever OSCE called election in Armenia democratic
13.05.2007 15:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Parliamentarian elections in Armenia were
democratic, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, head of
OSCE PA observation mission Tone Tingsgaard stated to journalists in
Yerevan. She said compared with previous elections, in principle the
May 12 parliamentarian elections were held in accordance with
international democratic standards.
Asheville Citizen-Times, NC
May 13 2007
Neufeld’s column: Books explore battle between good and evil
by Rob Neufeld, Citizen-Times Correspondent
published May 13, 2007 12:15 am
Comment » e-mail this Print this
Imagine a middle school history teacher beginning the year with the
statement, `Students, we’re going to study one main topic, and that
is: How can good win over evil?’ The first task would be to name the
good and evil.
Advertisement
Pick a critical year
`Hope and Fear in America, 1919′ – that’s the subtitle of Ann
Hagedorn’s new book, `Savage Peace.’ 1919 is her pick for a horrible
year. Lynchings, deportations, plague, riots, fear mongering and
domestic spying followed in the wake of the WWI Armistice.
On Christmas Day 1918, then-journalist Carl Sandburg was arrested and
interrogated in New York for bringing his Russian research home from
Sweden. His name was spelled `Sandberg,’ which made him sound German
or Jewish.
Fear of Germans (there were more than 8 million people of German
descent in the United States in 1910) and of Bolsheviks continued
after the war with the extension of the Alien and Sedition Acts. It
became legal to arrest people for criticizing the government, even
off-handedly. And your neighbor might report you.
The Justice Department enlisted volunteer spies from patriotic
organizations and created the largest unofficial espionage network in
history, states Hagedorn. The major volunteer spy group, the American
Protective League, went underground in 1921 when the hysteria died
down, but its members were recruited into the Ku Klux Klan in the
1920s and the FBI in 1935.
Murder, Inc.
Paranoia and propaganda seem to be ingredients in an evil-doing brew.
But that isn’t explanation enough. So, we turn to a new book about
World War I, `A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to
1918′ by G.J. Meyer. The world that had been undone was one in which
people were high on optimism about worldwide peace.
The tipping point, every basic text tells, was an assassination – of
Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. `The murders aroused
little interest’ in Europe, Meyer writes. `In the two decades before
1914, presidents of the United States, France, Mexico, Guatemala,
Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic had been murdered. So had prime
ministers of Russia, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Persia, and Egypt, and
kings, queens, and empresses of Austria, Italy, Serbia, Portugal, and
Greece.’
No wonder kids turn off to history. It’s not just the `Decline and
Fall’ litany, it’s also the cynicism. And the confusion – where was
the worldwide peace?
When you try to locate the bad seed of 1914, you first come to The
Black Hand, the Serbian nationalist group to which the assassins had
belonged. The assassins, as it turns out, had been riff-raff, whom
some powerful people had engaged to redress some old, old hurts over
economic prizes – namely, Constantinople.
Nationalism, Meyer demonstrates, becomes a tool for getting popular
support for a few big players’ private aims. Then history students –
people like you and me – are sucked into wars that warp our minds and
make us into mirror images of our enemy. Just look at the way the
multicultural Young Turks became the Turks who committed sadistic
genocide against the Armenians in 1915, as Meyer relates.
It’s not a pretty fairy tale.
Fairy tales
Our historical fantasies (books and movies) glorify in heroism and
slaughter. There’s no doubt who the good guys are: us, the ones who
don’t look like monsters.
`The Lord of the Rings’ is more sophisticated than most fantasies.
Power – via the ring – corrupts anybody, Tolkien shows. But it is not
sophisticated enough. Common life is lacking except in idylls. HBO
dramas come closer to the mark, though they’re too dark.
Two great contemporary authors – John Updike and Ward Just – have
attempted to come to human terms with terrorism in their 2006 novels,
`The Terrorist’ and `Forgetfulness.’ But they have not hit the mark
in terms of popularity.
Best-selling British historical suspense writer Anne Perry has just
completed her five-novel saga about World War I with `We Shall Not
Sleep.’ Throughout the series, her characters have sought out a
mysterious English traitor, nicknamed `The Peacemaker,’ and in the
process have become complicit in war crimes.
OK, we’re ill at ease. But we still don’t have the story that has the
resonance of a fairy tale, the substance of history and the clarity
of a confession. I rejoiced when I put my hands on Zachary Karabell’s
new book, `Peace Be Upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian, and
Jewish Coexistence.’ It’s must reading for scholars, who might then
take the message of hope – told through specific historical episodes
– to us readers who like to be entertained as well as edified.
Rob Neufeld writes about books for The Citizen-Times. Contact him at
768-BOOK or RNeufeld@ charter.net. Visit his blog, `The World and
Books,’ at CITIZEN-TIMES.com./booksblog.
BOOKS REVIEWED
– `Savage Peace: Hope and Fear in America, 1919′ by Ann Hagedorn
(Simon & Schuster hardcover, 2007, 553 pages, $30).
– `A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918′ by G.J.
Meyer (Delacorte trade paperback, 2007, 816 pages, $20).
– `We Shall Not Sleep’ by Anne Perry (Ballantine hardcover, 2007, 304
pages, $21.95).
– `Peace Be Upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish
Coexistence’ by Zachary Karabell (Knopf hardcover, 2007, 347 pages,
$26.95).
/pbcs.dll/article?AID0770511099
CONTACTS:
Brian Kabateck Mark
Geragos
Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP Geragos &
Geragos
213-217-5000 213
625-3900
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cell: 310-780-2309
Diane Zakian Rumbaugh Vartkes
Yeghiayan
Rumbaugh Public Relations Yeghiayan
Law Firm
805-493-2877
818-242-7400
[email protected]
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11,
2007
Armenian-American Attorneys Meet With German Officials/
Deutsche & Dresdner Bank, Defendants in Armenian Genocide-Related Case,
Refuse to Meet
BERLIN, GERMANY–Three Armenian-American attorneys, Brian S.
Kabateck, Mark J. Geragos and Vartkes Yeghiayan, are in Berlin, Germany
seeking to meet with officials from Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank over
lawsuits stemming from the 1915 Armenian Genocide in what is now Turkey.
So far, the banks refuse to meet. The attorneys filed a lawsuit last
year against Deutsche and Dresdner Banks charging the two banks held
Armenian families’ money and assets that had been deposited in their
banks before 1915 and retained assets looted by the Turkish government.
(Varoujan Deirmenjian, et. al. v. Deutsche Bank, A.G., Dresdner Bank,
A.G., et. al., January 13, 2006, Los Angeles Superior Court).
The attorneys met with German officials while in Berlin
yesterday. The attorneys believe the meeting was productive. The content
of the meeting is confidential. At a news conference after the meeting,
Kabateck, Geragos and Yeghiayan discussed the present status of the suit
against Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank and asked that the banks be good
corporate citizens and sit down to discuss resolution of the claims
against them.
"The German government has been very admirable in
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide," says Kabateck, partner with the
Los Angeles, California-based Kabateck Brown Kellner. "Turkey says it
didn’t happen. It is shameful that Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank are
acting more in line with Turkey and do not feel obligated to return
assets rightfully belonging to Armenians. It just adds to the disregard
and degradation of a group of people that have suffered horribly."
Deutsche Bank’s attorneys in the United States state that
the banks will not meet with the plaintiff’s attorneys until pending
motions seeking its attorneys’ disqualification for tampering with
plaintiff’s expert consultant are withdrawn. "Deutsche Bank’s
precondition to meet with us appears to be a tacit recognition of the
strength of our expert tampering charges," says Mark Geragos, partner
with Geragos & Geragos. "At this point, just about all the Armenians
who lived through the genocide have passed away. The German banks
probably think if they wait long enough, no one will be left to seek the
assets that were theirs. Armenians are a very determined people. We do
not give up. Now, it’s up to Armenian descendants to make sure their
ancestors are not forgotten."
Kabateck, Geragos and Yeghiayan were in Paris earlier this
week to announce the claim filing process for a $17.5 million settlement
in a class action lawsuit brought against French insurance giant AXA for
life insurance that went unpaid to heirs of those killed during the 1915
Armenian Genocide. (Kyurkjian, et. al. v. AXA, Case No: CV 02-01750 and
Ouzounian, et. al., v. AXA, Case No: CV 05-02596, U.S. District Court,
Central District of California). The suit is the second of its kind.
Attorneys Kabateck, Geragos and Yeghiayan are internationally
representing Armenian descendants in similar cases. In Martin Marootian,
et al. v. New York Life Insurance Company), they reached a settlement
with New York Life in which the insurance company agreed to pay $20
million to descendants of Armenian policyholders killed during the
genocide.
"These settlements have brought us one step closer to
universal Genocide recognition by forcing everyone who ignorantly denies
the Armenian Genocide, especially those Turkish citizens who have been
blinded by years of state sponsored propaganda, to come to grips with
reality and see that had there not been a genocide, these multinational
corporations would not have paid millions in settlement," states
Yeghiayan principle of Glendale, California-based Yeghiayan &
Associates.
Armenians can obtain a list of individuals who had purchased insurance
from AXA in the Ottoman Empire between 1880 and 1930 by going to
The instructions are in English and
Armenian. A policy claim form must be filled out and submitted to a
Settlement Fund Board in order to have a claim considered for payment.
The deadline for submission is October 1, 2007.
###
PRESS RELEASE
UN Department of Public Information
Contact: Information Officer Armine Halajyan
Yerevan Office (Armenia)
Tel.: (374 10) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 10) 561 406
Mobile: (374 91) 20 37 25
Press Release
Date: 11 May, 2007
"Youth Career Trail" — UNDP Global Compact Armenia Gives Innovative
Solutions to Youth Employment in Armenia
YEREVAN, May 11, 2007 – Today during a press conference at the UN
Armenia Office UNDP Global Compact Armenia presented its new project
the "Youth Career Trail" related to youth unemployment problems
offering an innovative approach to solve them. This is a paid
internship project to be conducted from June to December 2007 that
offers fresh graduates with an opportunity to be involved for the
first time in an employment relevant to their education. They will
also gain valuable work experience and practical knowledge to become
more competitive in their access to the labor market. The project is
designed to address the difficulties faced by youth in making the
transition from school to work, as well as match both the young
unemployed and host organizations’ needs.
The Global Compact Armenia project coordinator Arman Valesyan in his
briefing told the journalists that within the period of six months
the project is estimated to provide over 60 unemployed graduates
between 19 and 25 years of age with valuable first work experience
with the UN agencies, private sector companies and community-based
organizations in fields relevant to their education.
Global Compact Armenia in cooperation with the host organization will
be responsible for recruiting, selecting, and placing interns. UNDP
Resident Representative Ms. Consuelo Vidal told the audience that the
positions will be located in Yerevan and in the regions. "Host
companies will provide adequate workload and on-job trainings
required for the position," she added. "They will be also encouraged
to hire interns in accordance with their rules and regulations upon
completion of the internship period."
The skills of the young people to enter the job market will also be
enhanced through capacity building for CV preparation, interview
taking, presentation/communication and other skills provided by
American University of Armenia and other training organizations.
Electronic copy of application form can be filled in on
starting 12th of May 2007 or sent via e-mail to the [email protected]. Hard
copy of application form can be submitted to the UNDP Armenia, 14
Petros Adamyan St, Yerevan. The deadline for application submission
is 12:00 of May 29, 2007.
Global Compact Armenia is a project of the United Nations Development
Programme launched in 2006 to promote the corporate social
responsibility (CSR) in Armenia.
* * *
UNDP is the UN’s global development network. It advocates for change
and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help
people build a better life. We operate in 166 countries, working with
them on their own solutions to global and national development
challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people
of UNDP and our wide range of partners.
* * *
UN DPI is the UN’s Department of Public Information. It disseminates
first-hand information about the United Nations global events. Local
DPI offices assist UN Country Teams to disseminate their information
to wider public audiences.
* * *
************************************
Armine Halajyan (Mrs.)
Information Officer
UN Department of Public Information
Yerevan Office (Armenia)
Tel.: (374 10) 560 212
Fax/Tel.: (374 10) 561 406
Mobile: (374 91) 20 37 25
*************************** *********
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS GET PREPARED FOR KOCHARIAN-ALIEV MEETING
By Aghavni Haroutiunian
AZG Armenian Daily
09/05/2007
On May 10, OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Youri Merzliakov (Russia),
Methew Bryza (USA) and Bernard Fasier (France) are to meet in Madrid
to hold their regular consultations for the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue. Youri Merzliakov stated that the consultations
will last a day. In particular, the co-chairs are going to discuss
various issues, including the preparation for the coming meeting of the
Armenian and Azeri presidents envisaged in St. Petersbourg on June 10.
"STRUGGLE FOR KARABAKH" BY NURIDE ATASHI PUBLISHED IN GERMANY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007
Writer Nuride Atashi’s book "Struggle for Karabakh" was published in
Germany on the initiative of Cultural Institution named after Nizami
Ganjavi in Berlin, Germany, Ateshi told the APA.
She stated the first chapter of 6-chapter book contains thorough
information about the history, past of Azerbaijan, detailed history
of Caucasian Albania, literature, ancient culture, great people of our
country. The second chapter is dedicated to the present condition and
economic growth in Azerbaijan. The third chapter is dedicated to the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the causes of the conflict, systematic
and organized division of Azerbaijani lands (Darband, Iravan,
Zangazur) and planned banishment of Azerbaijanis from their original
lands. Information is given about the tragedy of January 20, Khojaly
genocide, its causes. The fourth chapter is dedicated to Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and other Azerbaijani officials’ approaches and
concrete opinions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Interview with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, head of Azerbaijani
parliamentary delegation to PACE Samad Seyidov on Nagorno Karabakh
has been published in this chapter. The fifth chapter is dedicated to
the chronicle of official negotiations carried out for the peaceful
solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict in 2006. Ateshi’s interviews
with Bundestag members on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are given in
the 6th chapter of the book. Interviews with the chief of Bundestag
Caucasus Friendship Group Stefan Reich, parliamentarian Vili Vimmer
and Secretary of State of German Interior Ministry Dr. Cristof Bergner
are also published in the book. The author of the preface of the book
is the dean of Potsdam State University Prof. Vilfrid Fuhrmann.
TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: JEWS’ ROLE IN SUPPORT OF INTERESTS OF TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN IS UNDENIABLE
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007
Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel Namik Tan has been interviewed by the
APA’s Israel bureau
Namik Tan was born in the city of Mardin, Turkey in 1956. He graduated
from the faculty of law of Ankara University. He started working in
Turkish Foreign Ministry since 1982. He worked in Turkey’s Embassies
in Moscow, Abu Dhabi and Washington, as well as in different posts
in the Foreign Ministry. He assumed the position of ambassador to
Israel since January 2007.
– What is your assessment strategic cooperation between Turkey
and Israel?
– Turkey-Israel strategic cooperation is important both from regional
and global aspect. Turkey and Israel are democratic and secular
countries of the Middle East. Turkey has at the same time historical
peculiarity in the region. Turkey is historically linked 6to these
lands and unlike Israel, it is cooperating with all countries of the
Middle East. We have political relations with Syria, Saudi Arabia,
Iraq and Iran and strategic partnership with Israel. We have always
respected Jews. Turkey is the first Muslim country to recognize
Israeli state. Turkey-Israel cooperation has been constant within
59 years. Turkey tries to play a constructive diplomatic role in the
Middle East. There are a lot of problems in the region – problems of
Iraq, Syria and Iran. But I think the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
should be solved first of all. This conflict continues to have a
negative influence on other problems. If Israel-Palestine conflict
is solved, other problems will also be solved. Turkey tries to be
constructive in these problems. For instance, official Ankara organized
a meeting of Larijani with Solana, Turkish president Mr. Sezer
organized a meeting of Afghanistan’s and Pakistan’s Presidents.
As to Israel-Turkey cooperation, I can say that we are cooperating
in the spheres of agriculture, tourism, high technology, security
and defense industry. Trade turnover between the two countries is
$2.5mln. We intend to increase it by $5bn in several years. 450,000
tourists come to Turkey from Israel every year. It means that 1,500
men come to Turkey from Israel every day. Israelis love Turkey and
feel themselves safe there. We intend to reconstruct one of the
buildings remained from the times of Ottoman Empire in Tel Aviv and
open Turkish Cultural Center.
– Mr. Ambassador, there were efforts to debate the so-called Armenian
genocide at the Israeli parliament two months ago, but they failed.
What is official Ankara’s position regarding that?
– We wish that this issue not to be included into the agenda any
more. Jews living in Turkey know very well that Turks never committed
genocide. We call these the events of 1915. Armenians, who served in
the Ottoman Army that time supported by Russia struggled against the
Ottoman State and bloody battles, occurred, there were losses from both
sides. But it is has nothing to do with genocide. We offer Armenians
to establish a joint commission of historians, bring historians
from other countries to investigate our archives and make a common
decision. Or else they turn these events to a political trade. 1915
events should not be the topic of discussion of the world parliaments,
but the topic of investigation by historians.
– What is your assessment of the cooperation between Turkey and
Azerbaijan?
– Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation based on the principle "one nation-two
states". We accept Azerbaijani people as our native people. Following
the establishment of Azerbaijan-Israeli International Association
two weeks ago, we were all impressed by the song "Chirpinirdi
Gara Deniz" (The Black Sea fought) by Azerbaijani singer Khatira
at the event attended by Nazim Ibrahimov, head of State Committee
for Azerbaijanis Living Abroad. I can not forget this song till
now. We love Azerbaijan heartily. We try to solve all the problems
together. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is the best example
of our strategic partnership. One can not feel any difference while
leaving Azerbaijan for Turkey. We have the same language, culture,
mentality. Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation is of strategic character.
– How do you assess the establishment of Israel-Azerbaijan
International Association?
– We, Turkey welcome the establishment of Israel-Azerbaijan
International Association. I consider this important and heartily
support it. This association can protect the interests of Turkish world
in the Middle East. It is of great importance in struggling against the
occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenians, the claims on so-called
Armenian genocide. Of course, this organization will contribute to
the Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation. At the same time, it will spread
Azerbaijan’s national interests and Azerbaijan’s truths to the world. I
want to underline that 100,000 Turkish Jews live in Israel. They
have "From Turkey" Society there. I hope serious cooperation will
be established between Israeli-Azerbaijan International Association
and this society. Because, their have common interests, goals and
strategic priorities. If we achieve a constructive cooperation of
these two organizations, we would contribute to Azerbaijan, Turkey,
and Turkish world. If you cooperate with Israel, you cooperate with
strong Jewish lobby. Jewish lobby is influential in France, Italy,
Germany and America. Jewish lobby is represented as real political
power at the US Congress and several parliaments of Europe. In this
context, our Jewish friends’ role in support of interests of Turkey
and Azerbaijan in the world is undeniable.
AZERBAIJANI STUDENT ATTACKS ARMENIAN GIRL WITH KARABAKH FLAG
Panorama.am
20:21 04/05/2007
Moscow department of the Union of Armenians in Russia condemned any
acts based on national intolerance and expressed regret to the Rector
of Russian University of Friendship among Nations (RUDN).
The union referred to the conflict between Armenian and Azerbaijani
students in Moscow. Moscow unit of Union of Armenians in Russia
released a statement in this regard which says in particular,
"On May 1, festivities were organized at the Russian University of
Friendship among Nations commemorating friendship and solidarity
among different nationalities studying in this higher educational
establishment. However, the festivities darkened because of massive
conflict between Azerbaijani and Armenian students. The conflict
started because an Azerbaijani student attacked an Armenian girl who
was carrying the flag of Nagorno Karabakh on her shoulders. Snatching
away the flag, the Azerbaijani tore it into pieces together with his
friends. Believing in their impunity, the Azerbaijanis also attacked
an Armenian young man who was holding a flag in his hand. They got
rebuff which turned into massive disorder."
Moscow unit of Union of Armenians in Russia attracts the attention
of the public and particularly leadership of Azerbaijani community
that their community member acted like hooligans, which was against
the declared idea of the festivities. "In a festival where all
nationalities presented their national symbols, it was quite natural,
that students originating from Nagorno Karabakh would hold a flag
symbolizing their country." The union explained that the flag had
nothing to do with the status of Nagorno Karabakh referring to the
example of Russian districts, which have their own flags.
Moscow unit of Union of Armenians in Russia calls the leadership
of the Azerbaijani community not to move the conflict between our
nations to the Russian territory.
MOSCOW PROBES SHOOTING OF AZERI STUDENT
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 2 2007
State of health of Azerbaijani student Aghali Alishov injured during
the scuffle between Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the People’s
Friendship University after Patricia Lumumba in Moscow is stabile,
9th department of the hospital told the APA.
Aghali Alishov who has already been taken to hospital ward was
interrogated by law-enforcement bodies. The hospital said the patient
feels normal.
Azerbaijani students told APA that Aghali was for the first time
interrogated yesterday after the surgery. Law-enforcement bodies
interrogated him in order to launch criminal case on the incident.
The police are probing footages made by security cameras of the
university. Azerbaijani students said Azerbaijani Diaspora in Moscow
assumed his treatment expenditures.
Azerbaijani and Armenian students will today meet in the University
to clarify the incident. The students will debate on prevention such
incidents in the future".
Press secretary of the People’s Friendship University Galina Kuzmina
said injured Aghali Alishov is not the student of their university.
"Aghali Alishov is not out student. Yesterday’s exhibition was open
and anyone was able to participate there. Special public commission
has been established to investigate the incident. The commission will
publicize the results of the investigation soon".
Moscow Interior Affairs Office told APA the criminal case is being
investigated but the details of the process are not publicized because
of investigation secret.
SLATE REFUND RUNNING NO CANDIDATES THIS YEAR
Edward Truong (Contact)
The UCLA Daily Bruin, CA
April 30 2007
The slate that emerged in last year’s undergraduate student government
elections to challenge the two dominant slates will be absent from
this year’s elections.
Slate Refund debuted last year as a new coalition of students with
similar ideologies and goals who pooled their campaign resources and
ran together to challenge the dominant slates Students First! and
Bruins United.
But David Lazar, an external vice presidential candidate last year for
Slate Refund and a former Daily Bruin columnist, said the members of
the slate wanted to wait until the next election in order to produce a
"solid campaign with candidates with experience."
During last year’s elections, Slate Refund’s platform consisted of a
proposed $120 refund of mandatory quarterly Undergraduate Students
Association fees. Although there are no Slate Refund candidates
running for the Undergraduate Students Association Council this year,
the slate ran 10 candidates for office last year, none of whom won.
Alec Mouhibian, who was unofficially involved in the Slate Refund
campaign last year, said there were potential candidates interested
in running this year, but the slate never formed due to a lack of
central leadership.
A former Daily Bruin columnist, Mouhibian is the editor of the Bruin
Standard.
"(Slate Refund is) the type of thing that has a very specific and
powerful idea behind it," Mouhibian said. "People have to really
believe in it and articulate it in order for it to persist."
Mouhibian said Garin Hovannisian, last year’s presidential candidate
for Slate Refund and a former Daily Bruin columnist, was the driving
force behind the slate, and because he graduated, there was nobody
to take his place.
In a message via Facebook, Hovannisian said he is currently in a
remote Armenian village and unavailable for comment.
Gregory Cendana, current USAC external vice president and a candidate
for president, said it was "unfortunate" that the slate will not be
a presence in this year’s elections.
"They were able to bring interesting debates and bring useful questions
of what USAC is for," he said.
Lazar said he believes Slate Refund is important because the two
dominant slates, Students First! and Bruins United, create a two-party
system that divides the "spoils" among the winning candidates.
Mouhibian said he believes the current system of two dominant slates is
corrupt because the political aspect of campaigning causes candidates
to "lose sight of the bigger picture."
He added that the two slates produce candidates who "conform to the
demands of protocol" and have a "power-hungry mentality."
But Cendana disagreed with the accusations of slates being too
bureaucratic and said members of his slate, Students First!, voted
against proposals that would take time away from their work.
However, Mouhibian said he believes candidates from the major slates
are better able to navigate the intricacies of the USAC structure.
"People interested in Slate Refund are not ‘student council people,’"
Mouhibian said.
If the slate returns next year and is successful, central leadership
is required to organize candidates and navigate through the protocol
involved, he said.
Lazar said the slate’s plan to be involved in the next USAC elections
will be a serious attempt to reform the council’s structure and the
slate has made a "big shift" in its platform.
"It’s no longer about giving (all of the) money back," he said.
"We’ve really switched our priorities."
"Last year, we were having fun, we didn’t know what we are doing …
(but) we’re no longer free-rolling renegades, we’re looking to make
changes," he said.
Instead of proposing a full refund of student fees, the slate members
recognized that some parts of USAC should be funded, such as student
group funding and the programs from the Campus Events Commission,
Lazar said.
"Campus Events puts on many events that students are interested in,"
he said.
Lazar estimated that the slate "could give back $90 per student
without cutting any of the things students need."
Lazar said the refund would require approval from the student body
and he believes such a referendum to permanently reduce student fees
would pass.
For this year, Lazar said members of the slate plan on supporting
presidential candidate Jose Manaiza, a fourth-year mathematics and
economics student who is running under the True Bruin slate, which
he created. Manaiza is the only candidate of the True Bruin slate.
"Many members of (Slate Refund) do plan to campaign for Jose," Lazar
said. "Jose shares his ideals with the members of Slate Refund."
Manaiza said USAC regulations prevent his platform from including
a refund, which would require a major change to the council’s
constitution.
"It’s not feasible at this point," Manaiza said. "It’s out of my
hands."
While Manaiza said he accepts the endorsement from Slate Refund,
he said he does not plan to align himself with Slate Refund or the
other slates.
"They found my platform to be something that matches with them, but
that doesn’t mean that my platform is totally affiliated with them,"
he said.
Despite the lack of a formal alliance, Lazar said Slate Refund members
are "gearing up" to support Manaiza.