Running unopposed, Naasir Lakhani is likely to be next
year’s A.S. vice president of finance and resources. But while the current
all-campus senator and A.S. Finance Office chief of staff will have big shoes
to fill — Vice President of Finance and Resources Sarah Chang is the first to
hold her office after a massive constitutional restructuring and helped lead
the council efficiently despite the transitional year — and unfortunately his
history on the council this year doesn’t necessarily prove he’s ready to meet
the high-set bar.
His council experience is undeniable and when asked about
double dipping — a practice of double-funding organizations that the council is
continually working to avoid — Lakhani said the funding process is completely
objective and the council’s checks and balances stop this from happening.
But Lakhani is guilty of attempting this very offense. “The
Writing’s on the Wall,” a recent event hosted by Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano
de Aztlan and the Muslim Student Association, had already received funding when
Lakhani attempted to provide more money for the event under the guise of his
senator’s project. After some debate the council allotted the organizations
further funding from a different area of the budget. Lakhani defended his actions
by saying he was only trying to bring greater council attention to the
important event, but this situation is inherently subjective. Would another
organization’s event have received this second-consideration funding? No. Does
that mean other events aren’t as important? Certainly not.
Students need someone they can trust handling their fees.
Still, his understanding of the position’s responsibilities and the council’s
inner workings is clear. The election is full of new faces and it will serve
the incoming council well to have a few veterans leading the pack. This board
just hopes Lakhani is ready to leave his past behind and serve his constituents
in the most efficient and fair way possible.
