Our Goals

Summary
• To promote the election of Democratic candidates.
• To educate students about electoral politics.
• To increase voter turnout among young voters.
• To build a community in which students receive ample opportunities for involvement in electoral politics.
• To participate in statewide and national political networks in order to develop a common plan to advocate Democratic Philosophy.
• To provide programming to the UCLA general population that will raise awareness on issues affecting the UCLA community.
• To promote intellectual dialogue and diversity.
• To promote an environment within student politics that reflects the values of democracy, equality, and fair and open elections.
• To promote UCLA's thriving political environment in the community in order to attract more young leaders to UCLA through outreach programs.
• To work with other organizations in order to promote the aforementioned goals.

To promote the election of Democratic candidates.
With the Republican Party controlling the Presidency, both chambers of Congress, the Supreme Court, and a majority of the governorships, the Bruin Democrats are working towards changing the status quo. The Bruin Democrats will achieve this goal by educating students in a myriad of methods including, but not limited to, informational flyers, events, and speakers. The club will continue to promote active involvement in the campaigns of Democratic candidates and bring these campaigns to the UCLA campus. The education and mobilization of voters is critical in helping to elect Democrat candidates. We feel that the Democratic platform fights hard for the needs of the public education system, making it a good fit for the needs of UCLA. Therefore, the campus on the whole will benefit from the election of Democratic candidates. Moreover, the Bruin Democrats believe that by spearheading campaigns to promote candidates, college students will garner more respect and influence in the political world.

To work with other organizations in order promote the aforementioned goals.
Although the United States may have one of the leading political institutions in the world, many Americans still fail to completely understand the complicated process. Many students may have a normative understanding of the political process from their academic studies; we will provide students with a positive understanding. We believe that the best way to facilitate the comprehension of electoral politics is to learn by doing. In the past, we have simulated a UCLA caucus to mirror the style of elections that happens in many other states. Also, many members have learned about politics at a state level by serving as proxy-voters in State Assembly races. We wish to continue and expand upon this learning in this very important year. By registering voters, students learn about barriers that often prevent people from voting. By volunteering in campaigns, students learn about the logistics and strategies of a political race. By going to state and national conventions, students learn how political parties develop platforms. By lobbying politicians, students learn how public opinion influences legislation.

To increase voter turnout among young voters.
The startling figures on low voter youth turnout must be addressed. The Bruin Democrats’ objective is to do this in a multi-step process. The first step is registering students to vote. This part is essential on the UCLA campus as many students change districts and/or their address at the beginning of the year. We are working in conjunction with CALPIRG, the USAC EVP’s office, the Bruin Republicans, and other campus groups to put on programs that work at the grassroots and administrative level to promote voter registration. The second step is educating students on the issues through speakers, forums, displays, and debates. We believe that young people who are more aware and knowledgeable about the issues feel more comfortable with the process, and in turn, are more compelled to vote. The final step in increasing voter turnout is mobilizing the base of potential voters on the actual Election Day. The Bruin Democrats’ publicity and activities on Election Day will provide awareness and a centralized location of voting information to facilitate the participation on Election Day.

To build a community in which students receive ample opportunities for involvement in electoral politics.
One important service that the Bruin Democrats can provide is offering information for students to participate directly into politics through our connections with many political groups and alumni. We believe that involvement in politics now will lead to increased involvement by UCLA students in the future. The Bruin Democrats will provide guides on how to obtain an internship, specifically giving tips on criteria that political offices and organizations look for in interns. In the past the Bruin Democrats have directly enlisted many students to work on the campaigns against Proposition 54, against the recall election, for Barbara Boxer, and for John Kerry in the general Presidential Election. We will continue to promote these types of exciting opportunities. Finally, through our events, speakers, and convention attendance, we will continue to provide many networking opportunities where in the past, students have been offered internships and jobs.

To participate in statewide and national political networks in order to develop a common plan to advocate Democratic Philosophy.
To enhance knowledge about Democratic ideals, the Bruin Democrats will continue to attend state and national conventions and work with activist groups at all levels. The Bruin Democrats are members of the Democratic National Committee, the California Democratic State Party, the Young Democrats of America, the California Young Democrats, the Los Angeles Young Democrats, and the California College Democrats. By continuing our active membership in these organizations, students are able to connect to other Democrats and they are able to develop more fully their own beliefs. Students will also be able to learn about effective strategies to promote the Democratic platform that have worked at other college campuses and amongst the Democratic groups. Many members of the Bruin Democrats have gone on to take on leadership positions in the aforementioned groups. By doing so, these members provide the voice of UCLA within these prominent groups. Moreover, this year the Bruin Democrats plan to host an event for other College Democratic groups to provide an open forum to discuss political issues afflicting college students.

To provide programming to the UCLA general population that will raise awareness on issues affecting the UCLA community.
The Bruin Democrats believe that decisions made on issues today greatly affect students both in the present and future. The legislative agendas of the government have ramifications in all areas of a student’s life. Thus, we believe that our series of issue oriented activities will educate and inspire students to take an active interest in issues such as healthcare, gay rights, the environment, human rights and more. Moreover, respected speakers in particular fields will also perk interest on issues to a larger audience. Only through awareness will students be able to actively advocate positive legislation and passionately protest negative legislation.

To promote intellectual dialogue and diversity.
On a college campus, it is extremely important to facilitate dialogue about heated issues in an environment that is conducive towards learning and that is respectful. Only through understanding of opposing views do we believe that students can fully develop their own ideologies. In the past we have held a series of debates with the Bruin Republicans, events that are very popular amongst the general student population as the clubs see many new faces. Moreover, there is a wide spectrum of ideology even within the Bruin Democrats, as well as on the UCLA campus. With events to discuss current events and pertinent issues, the Bruin Democrats foster a forum of diverse beliefs even among its own membership. A prime example of promoting intellectual dialogue and diversity occurred in the 2004 Presidential Primary race. Instead of endorsing one candidate, the Bruin Democrats led the effort to educate students about all ten Presidential nominees. Moreover, the Bruin Democrats helped individual members establish clubs advocating the candidacy of a single candidate, so students could further research their favorite candidates and become active with Presidential campaigns. We wish to continue this tradition of providing information to students through speeches, forums, and debates. This marketplace for ideas will foster more well-rounded members, respectful of the ideas of others, in the UCLA community.

To promote an environment within student politics that reflects the values of democracy, equality, and fair and open elections.
The Bruin Democrats believe that the principles of democracy that we advocate so strongly on the national, state, and local levels should also be extended to our student politics. As our members are well versed in electoral politics, the Bruin Democrats believe that the club can bring insight into how to facilitate voter participation in student elections. Moreover, as the Democratic Party strongly endorses voter rights, we wish to apply the same concept to UCLA. It is imperative that all students continue to have the opportunity to vote in student elections to increase participation in a decision that will impact the lives of the UCLA community. The Bruin Democrats believe that all students will benefit from participating in various stages of the USAC election such as attending endorsement hearings, going to debates, and voting in the actual election. As the largest political organization on the UCLA campus, we believe that helping to advertise these events will lead to greater awareness of student politics and increased engagement. Because the politics on our campus is nonpartisan, the Bruin Democrats’ primary concern is not focused necessarily on who students vote for, but rather that they exercise their right to vote. Finally, as one of the largest independent student groups, the Bruin Democrats will also push to ensure that independent groups are funded fairly in this year of great transition.

To promote UCLA’s thriving political environment in the community in order to attract more young leaders to UCLA through outreach programs.
In the past, the Bruin Democrats helped plan an event with the high school division of Generation Dean. Also, the Bruin Democrats have opened their doors to many high school students who were interested in politics, yet had no high school level program to allow them to peruse their passion. Thus, the Bruin Democrats were inspired to create a high school outreach program to assist younger students who are interested in our government. This tour of schools will advocate active youth involvement in politics, one of the overarching goals in our club. Moreover, we believe that this bi-partisan tour with the Bruin Republicans will demonstrate to young people the importance of working with different groups. The Bruin Democrats believe that high school students will see that they too can make a difference and will want to continue to do so in their collegiate years. Moreover, this is a wonderful occasion to highlight the opportunities available offered at our university campus, and serve as part of recruitment for high school students to go to college and UCLA in particular.

To work with other organizations in order promote the aforementioned goals.
As the majority of campus clubs are left-leaning, we believe we have an ample opportunity to successfully co-program many events. Thus, our objective this year is to improve relations and build networks with other groups on campus through inviting them to take part in our activities. In addition to our bipartisan activities with the Bruin Republicans, the Bruin Democrats plan on reaching out and collaborating with Amnesty International, the Progressive Jewish Student Association, the Queer Alliance, the Asian Pacific Coalition, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, CALPIRG, the Political Science Student Organization, and other organizations. Not only will this assure the success of our events, we believe that positive relationships between diverse campus leaders will be to the benefit of all students involved.