Editor, Daily Nexus,

The Open People’s Party was created in the spring of 2006 as an alternative to the one-sided, inefficient student government. From the start, OPP has made positive changes directly affecting students. We give more students an opportunity to run by reaching out to a wide variety of student groups so the UCSB campus and community get the policies and programming they want and deserve. We believe Associated Students, above all else, should focus on improving UCSB and Isla Vista for the current students.

OPP won half of the executive and legislative positions in the last election. The A.S. President, Stephanie Brower – a member of OPP – fought for and successfully saved skateboarding on campus after an attempted ban. Our members of the Legislative Council have passed bills and resolutions supporting campus groups and the average student. We have passed legislation to increase students’ voice in negotiating with the administration, advocated against fee increases, increased available funding to Club Sports and led the fight against the university’s proposed increase to the minimum unit requirement.

With election time drawing near, your chance to get involved in Associated Students is quickly approaching. As members of the OPP, we want to inform everyone with a desire to get involved in student government that now is the time to act. If you are a dedicated critical thinker who wants to make a difference at your university, please come and check OPP out. We want everyone to see what OPP has to offer before declaring candidacy, which begins Friday and ends in two weeks.

OPP believes Associated Students is the place on campus where the students’ needs are identified and met. It is the hub for activism on campus, community service, environmental awareness and all other activities that are important and necessary to enrich UCSB. Being apart of Legislative Council is not only merely an involvement in a single group, but of a diverse community with people of all interests and backgrounds. By declaring candidacy, you can be part of an important change.

Many of you see yourself moving swiftly through UCSB and on to the rest of your life, but here you have a chance to leave a mark on UCSB.

Two years after its creation, the OPP has created a new legacy in Associated Students for making changes that you – the students – wanted accomplished. But to continue this momentum, we need dedicated, effective leaders like you to carry on the work we’ve started. We will be holding a meeting next Tuesday, Feb. 26. If you are interested in becoming a part of this important organization on campus, please come speak with us and get involved.

Our door is always open!

If you have any more questions or would like to know the location of Tuesday’s meeting, please contact us at OpenPeoplesParty2008@gmail.com.

STEPHANIE BROWER, ALEXANDRA HAMILTON, ALEX VAN WAGNER, J.P. PRIMEAU

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