Voting for the 2024 Undergraduate Student Government election began Tuesday with a slippery start due to heavy rains and a last-minute decision from one of the presidential tickets to drop out of the race.
Dacity — who ran in their drag persona — and Abitha Nunis released individual statements on their joint Instagram account Friday explaining their decision to part ways.
The duo planned to address food insecurity, USG funding transparency, divestment and USC’s role in the gentrification of the South Los Angeles community. They also had a staunch anti-Greek life stance.
One of the tenets of Dacity and Nunis’ platform was that they would be “uncompromisingly anti-Greek life.” Many students believed that position entailed the abolition of Greek life entirely, although this was not outright stated during their campaign.
“Speaking only for myself, I believe in restorative justice and reform for Greek life,” Dacity, who was campaigning for USG president, said in a Zoom interview Tuesday afternoon. “I want to acknowledge the fact that it’s a racist and sexist institution, and nothing has really changed since the beginning and I stand by everything I said in the debate. You can’t have things like D.E.I in the recruiting aspects of greek life without first acknowledging the aspect that this is a hub of sexual assault.”
Dacity cited two key reasons in their decision to drop out: their safety and the backlash they received on social media, like the anonymous app Sidechat.
“I shouldn’t have done it for my mental health, but I looked on socials and Sidechat and there were hundreds of people saying the most transphobic things, giving me horrible nicknames or comparing me to things,” said Dacity. “I mean, we’re Los Angeles, so I was just very surprised.”
In an individual statement posted to the ticket’s Instagram account, Nunis explained the decision to part ways in their campaign efforts.
“Furthermore, I cannot endorse the abolition of Greek life, considering its harmful impact on the Divine Nine, Latinx and other communities, particularly amidst heightened LAPD surveillance stemming from recent disaffiliations,” Nunis wrote in the statement.
Annenberg Media reached out to Nunis for an interview and did not receive a response.
The duo was able to disband their campaign in time for their names to be removed from the ballot, so students are not able to vote for them anymore.
There are three presidential tickets left in the race. This election cycle marks the first time that ranked-choice voting is used for both the president and senate elections.
USG had to quickly pivot and move all their polling locations inside Tuesday due to the heavy rain.
Originally, the four polling locations for students were supposed to be: Tommy Trojan (moved to Ronald Tutor Campus Center), Alumni Park (moved to Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Center for International and Public Affairs), Pardee Lawn (moved to Jill and Frank Fertitta Hall) and Leavey Library (moved to Wallis Annenberg Hall).
“I think this is a good way for people to start learning about what it’s like to research candidates or to cast a ballot as for a lot of people this might be their first time casting a ballot,” said Alexa Dadson, a freshman majoring in philosophy.
Students can vote in-person from February 20 to February 23 from the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weather permitting, the polling booth location will be moved back to the originally outside locations for the remaining three days of voting.
Students who show proof they’ve voted can receive a ticket and redeem a treat courtesy of USG. The vendor for Tuesday was supposed to be Fluff Ice, but the rains prevented that from happening. Students can still hold onto their ticket and come back on Wednesday for food from Porto’s Bakery and Thursday for treats from Dazzling Donuts.
“Some people have definitely [come] and been like, ‘Where’s the food?’” said Isabella Padilla, a junior majoring in biological sciences who manned the RCC polling location Tuesday. “I feel like food is an incentive for people to come vote.”
The rains and subsequent indoor voting locations may be limiting voter turnout. Last year, only about 20% of undergraduate students turned in a ballot, despite USG efforts to increase civic engagement. Padilla said the rain has negatively affected voter turnout on Tuesday.
Amara Marrero, a junior majoring in environmental studies, said voting in every USG election is valuable as a part of every student’s tuition is given to the organization.
“Your tuition money is going into this, so you should care about who is getting elected,” said Marrero. “Although USG isn’t the dean, they have a lot of power into funding the [recognized student organizations], what they can do in student life … electing people that you want to clearly represent your ideas, it’s really important to so that there’s no more misconceptions.”