Although the new A.S. Council took office amid the controversy surrounding the disqualification of the entire Students First! slate, which left many council seats vacant, and some doubt of the legitimacy of some officers, the new council can still make a beneficial impact on this campus provided they follow a few pieces of sound advice.

First, the new council, or what there is of it, must work to fill the vacant positions quickly and with qualified candidates. One sure way to solifidy the student body’s recent mistrust of the A.S. Council would be to revert to cronyism, something the students who voted in the last A.S. elections expressly indicated they did not want.

Second, the new council needs to favor real action over virtually meaningless resolutions. Considering the current campus climate, the council needs to affect actual change to erase uncertaintly and raise support for the new campus leadership.

For this same reason, the council needs to focus on local issues. While it’s very important to go to Sacramento to lobby against CRENO and to fight against further tuition hikes, the events surrounding the elections and the sharp divide that visibly split UCSD community members as a result proved that the greatest need is right here at home.

Fourth, while it has been said again and again that student organizations are the “”life blood”” of UCSD, don’t forget the individuals that this narrow focus often ignores. Outreach to orgs is great, but the average UCSD student isn’t necesarily part of one. During the last A.S. elections, a mere 17 percent of UCSD students voted. It’s easy and effective to target orgs in order to get elected, but cater to these individuals and there’s a good chance you’ll see that 17 percent figure figure rise come next spring quarter.

Last but not least, the new council should be honest and open about what goes on in the A.S. Council. Cooperating with campus media outlets can only help the new A.S. Council, provided that they are on task and acting honorably on behalf of all of the students of UCSD. Because if they can’t talk about it, something must be wrong.