Image by A.S.
The following information is based on candidates’ official statements, interviews with the UCSD Guardian and a survey sent out to all candidates by the UCSD Guardian. Blank sections “On the Issues” and “Priorities” sections reflect that a candidate did not fill out the survey. The “Platform” section highlights each candidates’ main proposals but is not necessarily a complete list. The UCSD Guardian sincerely thanks the 2017 A.S. election candidates for their cooperation and openness.
Aaron Dalton Burgess, President (Independent)
Experience:
President of Crafton Hills College Student Government
Platform:
Improve transparency by broadcasting A.S. meetings in high quality
Send out press releases on A.S. accomplishments, plans, and overall vision
Creating an Inter-Club Council
Integration of athletics community into student government
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Lesly Figueroa, President (Students Determined*)
Experience:
Muir College Council
RA at the Village
AVP of Environmental Justice
Triton Food Pantry
Carbon Neutrality Fellow for the UC Office of the President
Basic Needs Committee Representative
Long Range Development Plan Commitee Representative
Platform:
Sustainability of the Triton Food Pantry
Make food more affordable by introducing more options at Price Center
Provide on-campus emergency housing for off-campus students and advocate for off-campus, university-owned housing
Establishing a bike sharing program, reducing the usage of cars on campus, negotiating with staff for them to use forms of transportation other than cars
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Advocate for rerouting of shuttles to reach farther off-campus | Working with students, staff, and faculty to have everyone participate in alternative transportation as well as providing greater incentives, and equitably distributing parking spots.
Protecting Undocumented Students – Ensure that undocumented students are safe by working closely with students doing this work and supporting them to push policies forward | Continue to support of the UCSD Undocumented Student Services Center | Expanding financial support | Removing police from the UCSD | Implementing a strong sanctuary campus policy
Overcrowding in Housing – Place student advocacy to be at the forefront of campus planning among the new capital projects coming | Create working groups to have students participate in the planning process to accommodate new students and assist anyone in need of housing
Improving Campus Sprit and Community – Support Triton Athletics to work closely with AS to increase campus spirit through the games and connecting athletics more to our campus community | Support the six colleges and their respective college councils to increase the amount of events and connection to UCSD
Tuition Increases – Advocate at the statewide level to fund higher education and work together in collaboration with other UC’s | Create statewide coalitions to prevent tuition increases in the future and for any recent increases | Work with our financial aid offices to support students who will be impacted by the increases.
Priorities: transportation, environment and waste, basic needs security and campus planning
*Due to a filing error, Figureoa will be listed as an independent on Tritonlink.
Gus Guerrero, President (Independent)
Experience:
Muir College Council President
Beta Theta Pi member
HDH
Human Resources
Works with International Students at Extension
Platform:
Unify the campus
Create a cohesive commuter experience
Centralized center for wellness with the Zone, CARE, etc.
Make A.S. more visible
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Getting shuttles to improve their service in Regents Lots and Glider Port because people shouldn’t wait/walk 25 minutes to get to classes when they’re parked on-campus | Working with MTS to better improve the stops around UCSD is a must. Getting onto this campus to learn should be the least of students worries
Protecting Undocumented Students – Working with UCSD administration as well as both the local government and larger government by lobbying through our external affairs office and beyond. | “Undocumented or not, your voice should be heard and you should be able to only worry about your studies. It’s a sad reality that this isn’t the case, but we can push forward.”
Overcrowding in Housing – “Students should have multiple options at an affordable rate that is supported by the University and easily accessible. Quads in a room designed for a double or even a triple is unacceptable and A.S. should be at the forefront of working on continuing the push for affordable off-campus housing and on-campus housing along with the Colleges.”
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Creating a unified front amongst the colleges, greek life, student athletes, student organizations, co-op’s and more | Increasing outreach and collaboration
Tuition Increases – Ensuring the campus knows how to speak up for itself because past tuition increases have been halted by student outcries.
Priorities: Transportation, CAPS and student mental health, Campus Community
Tara Vahdani, President (THRIVE)
Experience:
Chief of Staff to A.S. President
Marshall College Council A.S. Senator
Marshall College Council Student-at-Large
A.S. Office of External Affairs
A.S. Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
RA at Revelle
Social Justice Peer Educator at the Women’s Center
Platform:
Further the A.S. Fellowship program
Collect data on student workers, develop a Student @ Work Survey and explore the potential for an undergraduate student union
Develop off-campus, university-owned housing
Alternatives for more affordable food, like an on-campus grocery store
Advocate for academic issues that affect students in the Academic Senate
Introduce summer storage lockers
Reform the HDH housing waitlist
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Working with Transportation to secure target goals for the number of S spots the university has available to undergraduates moving forward. “Creating this threshold will allow us as student leaders to better advocate and put pressure on the university to ensure that the number of spaces available to students grows over time”
Protecting Undocumented Students – Looking to the undocumented THRIVE candidate and other individuals who are intimately familiar with what it is like being an undocumented student for direction on how she can best support their work
Overcrowding in Housing – Supporting the development of an off-campus housing model
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Supporting the A.S. Office of Athletics and Spirit’s efforts to lessen the information gap between Athletics and the larger student body | Making the athletic games more widely known to students via the dining halls and Price Center in particular
Tuition Increases – Engaging the Chancellor and working with the VP External Affairs at the UC level to help illuminate to decision-makers what residue rises in tuition have on the students
Priorities: Overcrowding in housing, Student workers, Food insecurity
Dennis Yeh, President (Independent)
Experience:
Former member of the Office of Student Advocacy
Former A.S. Judicial Board member
UCSD Mock Trial
Sigma Chi member
Platform:
Advocate for the average student
Reforming the A.S. Budget to allocate more funding to student orgs
Create a new funding group for career-related events to support pre-professional groups and majors that are underserved or overlooked by the Career Services Center
Start an Asian Students Advisory Board
Shrink A.S.
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Conducting due diligence on the underlying reasons why transportation has been a lasting problem | Speaking with the relevant departments and understanding their differences with administration too
Protecting Undocumented Students – Using external groups and build coalitions to generate support and awareness for this issue | Building credibility with politicians, which will require a strong coalition that transcends just campus groups
Overcrowding in Housing – Emphasizing the gulf between student and administrators | Addressing the administration’s unrealistic goal of making this campus non-commuter | Having extensive meetings with administration with quantitative studies in hand to force a response on whether they truly care for students or not
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Supporting events that the sports teams actually want | Expanding funding for high visibility and value events for the average student like Concert & Events | Adding value to the average student experience
Tuition Increases – Leveraging past connections with state politicians on the education committee to address the lack of funding | Reaching out to external organizations that agree with this stance will help build credibility and clout in Sacramento | Using his real-life lobbying experience fighting for students rights
Priorities: Student org funding, Campus community, Transitioning to D-1
Matthew Arrollado, Vice President of Campus Affairs (THRIVE)
Experience:
ERC College Council A.S. Senator
ERC Director of Publicity
Wellness Cluster Advisory Board
Undergraduate representative for UC SHIP
Beta Theta Pi Member
Campus Spirit Group for D-1 transition
Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity Philanthropy Chair
Platform:
Collecting data from the transportation survey to write a referendum extending the last transportation referendum
Creating two new offices with the funding previously allocated to print media
Expanding the Triton Food Pantry
Ensuring transportation services are student-centered
Hiring staff for programming and advocacy for transfer students and establishing a transfer resource center
Publicizing A.S. senators’ office hours
Introducing an A.S. Press Secretary
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Renegotiating more student-centered routes with MTS | Advocating for more student input when decisions are made regarding transportation in general (i.e. the Regents Shuttle movement)
Protecting Undocumented Students – Helping Adan Chavez with his efforts to make UCSD an HSI because this is not really an issue on his platform
Overcrowding in Housing – Although it is not his platform specifically, supporting Tara Vahdani in her efforts to advocate for a UCSD facilitated off-campus housing model | Developing an official UCSD-run housing page that provides all the residential options around the campus area
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Continuing his current work on the campus-wide spirit group | Including other facets of the university when it comes to spirit rather than leaving the burden on Greek Life and Athletics
Tuition Increases – Supporting Adan Chavez in his organizing efforts but helping lead and support actions on our campus that demonstrate the need to fund the UC while he lobbies local and state politicians to support students
Priorities: Transportation, Co-ops & student media, transportation
Adán Chávez, Vice President of External Affairs (THRIVE)
Experience:
A.S. Associate Vice President of Local Affiars
Chief of Staff of the A.S. Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Marshall College Council Student-at-Large
Vice Chair of the A.S. First Year Council
RA at the Raza LLC
Community Liason for MEChA
Hispanic Service Insititution Task Force
University of California Student Association
Platform:
Revisiting UCSD’s connection with local legislators to ensure they prioritize students and applying pressure on them
Expanding CalGrants A and B
Expanding the A.S. Office of External Affairs and reforming it to increase efficiency
Taking the Sanctuary UC Committee on a statewide level
Connecting campaign coordinators with each other
Collaborating with the Joint Academic-Senate Hispanic Serving Institution Administration Task Force
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Refilwe Gqajela, Vice President of External Affairs (Students Determined*)
Experience:
Black Student Union Chair
RA at Sixth College
Founder of UCSD Quidditch
Black Student Union Intern
Student Sustainability Collective Intern
Office of Rep. Scott Peters Intern
Platform:
Institute a holistic sanctuary policy
Divest from Energy Transfer Partners, which has ties with DAPL
Establish a relationship between students and campus workers
Collaborate with the Student Affirmative Action Committee
On the Issues:
Priorities:
* Due to a filing error, Gqajela is listed on Tritonlink as an independent
Mohammed Al Elew, Campus-wide Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
College Democrats Member
Student Life Writer for the Triton
Co-Op Union Representative for the General Store
California College Democrats Technology Director
Platform:
Improve art spaces
Improve relationship between student press and campus orgs
Work with student press to open dialogue on key issues
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation –
Protecting Undocumented Students – Advocating for funds for programs such as Undocumented Student Services and supporting sanctuary campus policies
Overcrowding in Housing – Advocating for resources to help students who would like to live off-campus move off-campus instead of being intimidated by the moving process into staying on-campus
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Investing in eSports and campus-wide events like Sun God
Tuition Increases – Continuing the work he has done with College Democrats in pressuring the state to fund higher education
Priorities: Campus community, Co-ops and student media, Transparency
Aseel Sherif Ali, Campus-wide Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Customer Information Associate for Student Business Services
Student Affirmative Action Committee Representative
Muslim Student Association Member
Armenian Student Association Member
Platform:
Ensuring food remains or becomes more affordable and healthier
Allocating more funding to middle-class scholarships
Create community between student organizations
“Educate students on their financial options”
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Negotiating with transportation services as well as MTS to reduce the cost of the bus sticker for students
Protecting Undocumented Students – Making UCSD a sanctuary campus | Expanding education efforts on the availability of the Dream scholarship and loan program | Working with local law enforcement to advocate for undocumented students
Overcrowding in Housing – Working with administration and local landowners and apartment complex managers to increase the availability of subsidized housing off-campus | Supporting residential building expansion efforts
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Increasing communication between Associated Students and various student organizations on campus | Supporting student orgs both fiscally and through advocacy
Tuition Increases – Increasing funding for non-merit based scholarships, the expansion of a middle-class scholarship program and UCSD-based grants and loans | Continuing work with SAAC to plan protests against proposed tuition hike
Priorities: Food insecurity, Transparency, Tuition
Kian Falah, Campus-wide Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
A.S. Fellowship Director
A.S. Office of College Affairs Chief of Staff
Circle K
Marshall College Orientation Leader
Kaibigang Pilipin@
Platform:
Hosting quarterly town halls with campuswide senators and their constituents
Forming alliances between student orgs and A.S.
Making A.S. meeting minutes and future discussion topics available to students
Partnering with HDH to explore environmentally-friendly options
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Expanding current routes and the number of buses that are able to cover certain areas | Holding the administration accountable to informing students of upcoming transportation changes
Protecting Undocumented Students – Advocating for UCs and the state to become sanctuary spaces | Connecting with local legislators to ensure undocumented students are represented | Supporting resources like Student Legal Services
Overcrowding in Housing – Working with administrators and HDH for off-campus, university-owned housing | Keeping spaces on campus open longer for commuter students
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Establishing system-wide communication between student organizations and campaigns in order for A.S. to take a more active role in seeking student justice
Tuition Increases – Reforming the Board of Regents, including changing their 12-year appointed terms for a more democratic process that will hold them responsible to students and the mission of making the UC accessible and affordable to all groups
Priorities: CAPS and student mental health, environment and waste, transparency
Selena Friedman, Campus-wide Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Track and Field Athlete
College Democrats Member
Platform:
Establish a student working group that interacts with different environmental groups on campus to pinpoint specific goals
Increasing UCSD’s visibility
Making access to Triton TV free and promoting Triton TV
Bringing athletes to freshman orientation
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Supporting an increase in the number of shuttles that are running off campus | Extending the routes so that they reach housing that is outside of the 201/202 range
Protecting Undocumented Students – Continuing conversations with administration and campus police about making UCSD a sanctuary campus
Overcrowding in Housing – Talking to students about their personal housing experiences and bring these concerns to the administration | Using students’ direct experiences to highlight the housing crisis
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Connecting athletics with Greek life, student orgs, and student council groups around campus to work on promoting athletic and spirit events | Bringing athletes to the freshman orientation to pump them up for college | Making Triton TV free for students so that UCSD students can keep updated on their favorite Triton athletes
Tuition Increases – Supporting transparency on how the money from increases is spent
Priorities: Campus community, Environment and waste, Transparency
Ronald Huang, Campus-wide Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Research Assistant at the Autism Center of Excellence
SPACES
Platform:
Ally with students of different backgrounds
Advocate for bringing together students from multicultural communities
Improve accessibility of affordable food
Hold administration responsible for environmental consciousness
Fight against climate change at UCSD
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – “Though it is not part of my platform, I think it’s crucial to improve parking here on campus to improve convenience for students who commute”
Protecting Undocumented Students – Working with other Students Determined candidates to advocate for UCSD becoming a sanctuary campus
Overcrowding in Housing – Talking to the current A.S. President to understand what has been done and what can further be done to provide more spaces for students on campus | Planning to work on reducing the costs of off-campus housing
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Bridging multicultural community organizations on campus in order to better foster diversity, understanding, and allyship | Supporting the efforts done by SAAC organizations in order to form a larger coalition to form an alliance that allows students to feel proud of their culture and school as a whole
Tuition Increases – Working with the administration to reduce costs of living on campus which involve housing and food for students |Ensuring students are still prioritized and that needs/affordability are considered by working with the HDH advisory board to lower costs and increase convenience of food on campus
Priorities: Campus community, Food Insecurity, Environment and waste
Sné Lochan, Campus-wide Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Athletic Training Student, UCSD Athletics
Research Assistant at the UCSD Center for Brain and Cognition
Chi Omega Member
Women Speak Member
Sikh Student Association Member
Platform:
Increasing communication between students and A.S. through efforts like campuswide emails, seeking feedback
Supporting marginalized community
Fundraising for and promoting spaces like CAPS and CARE
Improving the triage process at CAPS
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Extending the hours that not only MTS, but also UCSD sanctioned shuttles, run as to accommodate students who need to stay on campus for longer hours | Discussing the needs of students with the directors of both these systems and really fight for the administration to attend to the needs of the students
Protecting Undocumented Students – Support the other individuals on her slate that are already engaging in conversations on undocumented students and are putting in work to not only make UCSD and California sanctuary places | Being a nonjudgemental senator to give these individuals the verbal/conversational support during this time
Overcrowding in Housing – Holding the administration accountable on spending money FOR the students | Advocating UCSD leasing off-campus options and providing students with shuttles to campus
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Advocating for more events that are similar to “unolympics” to really unite the students, but to have the events be open to all grades instead of just freshmen
Tuition Increases – Engaging in the fight to hold the administration accountable | Participating as in international student in the conversation regarding out of state & international students | Uniting students against tuition hikes
Priorities: DEI requirement and campus diversity, transparency, CAPS and student mental health
Miguel Angel Tapia, Campus-wide Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Office of External Affairs
UConsent Chair of Awareness
Muir College – VP of Internal Affairs
Platform:
Making UCSD a sanctuary campus
Create a chair for community centers in A.S. Council
Work with SAAC organizations to improve underrepresented students’ experience
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Extend shuttle routes, increase number and frequency of shuttles
Protecting Undocumented Students – Increase funding for Undocumented Students Center, collaborate with community organizations and administration to institutionalize a sanctaury campus policy
Overcrowding in Housing – Work with HDH and other powers to create budget friendly off-campus housing, work with MTS to extend shuttle routes to cheaper off-campus housing areas
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Subsidize Triton TV,
Tuition Increases – Work with UCSA and UCSD administration to prevent further tuition increases
Priorities: Protecting undocumented students, campus community, DEI requirement and campus diversity
Monica Valdez, Campus-wide Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
Warren College Council
Board of Out-of-State Students (founding member)
Platform:
Work with administration to secure university-owned off-campus housing
Work with resource centers to increase community outreach
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation –
Protecting Undocumented Students – Make herself available to students and work on promoting campus resources
Overcrowding in Housing – University-owned off-campus housing, transform unused campus spaces into 24/7 study/nap lounges
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Collaborate with campus resource centers to increase community outreach
Tuition Increases –
Priorities: Overcrowding in housing, campus community, transparency
Itsi Sanchez Rea, Campus-wide Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
MiRA
Oasis
Undocumented Students Center
Platform:
Work with financial aid office to alleviate pressure on CAPS
Increase transparency of A.S. Council
Make UCSD a Latino-serving campus
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation –
Protecting Undocumented Students – Work with existing campus offices (Student Legal Services, Office of Student Affairs, etc.) to create solutions for emergency situations
Overcrowding in Housing – Expand identity-based housing
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Collaborate with campus resource centers to increase community outreach
Tuition Increases –
Priorities: Protecting undocumented students, CAPS and student mental health, transparency
Katya Avendano, Off-Campus Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Muir College Council
UCSD Delegate
UCSA
Platform:
Work with UCAB to establish better food options in Price Center
Expand resources for commuter students
Work with RAs to create workshops about how to go about off-campus housing
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Advocating for more shuttle routes
Protecting Undocumented Students – Continuing the dialogue about safe spaces
Overcrowding in Housing – Informing students about other housing options
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Increasing social media presence about athletics
Tuition Increases – Bringing students to conferences, keep students informed
Priorities: Campus community, food insecurity, transparency
Marlie Adamson, Off-Campus Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
OASIS tutor
Pi Beta Phi community service chair
Greeks United for Inclusivity and Diversity
Platform:
Expand Community Dining Plan
Increase school spirit by providing incentives to attend games
Work with the individual college residential life offices to revamp the commuter lounges
Develop programs off campus to allow off campus students to socialize and create a community away from UCSD
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Working with MTS to increase amount of buses and frequency, inform students about trolley system
Protecting Undocumented Students –
Overcrowding in Housing – University-owned off-campus housing
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Establishing an incentive program to encourage students to attend athletics events
Tuition Increases –
Priorities: Transportation, campus community, transitioning to D-I
Leony Cristy Hermosilla Mijares, Off-Campus Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
SPACES Overnight Coordinator
OASIS Academic Tradition Counselor
College Ambassador
Activities Coordinator at Kaibigang Pilipin@
Platform:
Reform transportation
Introduce mergency housing for off-campus students and explore more affordable housing options
Establish resources and workshops to prepare commuter students for living off-campus and improve their wellbeing
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Mariam Geysimonyan, Off-Campus Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
Armenian Student Association President
OASIS Facilitator
VP External Relations on Junior Panhellic Council
PHC Delegate for Kappa Kappa Gamma
Platform:
Installing bike lockers to promote greater bike security
Advocating for alternative parking solutions
Expanding opportunities for learning about diversity, equity, & inclusion beyond the DEI requirement
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Kristiana Cuevas, Transfer Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
SPACES Transfer Coordinator
Global Health Program Student Representative
Public Health Brigades Social Chair
Platform:
Fostering collaboration between transfer orgs
Establishing and improving transfer mentorship programs and opporunities
Partnering with CAPS and SHS to aid the experiences and circumstances of transfer students
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Amy Clare Henderson, Arts and Humanities Senator (Independent)
Experience:
Platform:
“it is important that the Art and Humanities students needs are heard because it is essential that every student at UCSD feels equally important and well represented within the school so that they can reach their full potential not only at UCSD and within their field of study.”
“I want to expand the opportunities available to students that study none STEM majors and in general I would love be able to represent the Arts and Humanities students so UCSD is a school where student of all academic fields feel equal.”
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Brenda B. Alvarez, Biological Sciences Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
SPACES CDE
RA at the Village
MEChA Member
International Health Collective Member
Platform:
Collaborate with biology student orgs to promote involvement & accessibility to campus resources
Introduce a career fair for diverse career opportunities
Working on diversity to accomplish the Plan of Action, Faculty Expectations & mentorship for underserved students
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Megan Amanda Hirsch, Biological Sciences Senator (Independent)
Experience:
Platform:
“I would like to be the voice for the Biological Science. Ever since I was eleven I knew that I wanted to do become a wildlife vet. I was so excited when I found out I would be majoring in Marine Biology at UCSD. I would like to be the voice for the people who have the same passion for biology that I do.”
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Anika Balse, Biological Sciences Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
AS First Year Council Treasurer
Flying Samaritans Board
UCSD Hospital Volunteer
Chi Omega Philanthropy Committee
Platform:
Establishing programs for personalized dialogue between alumni, advisors & faculty and students for career/professional guidance
Destigmatizing careers outside health/medical school
Building well-rounded students with non-science curriculum
Fostering a more supportive, encouraging biology community
Promoting individual student voices to differentiate experiences and goals as biological sciences majors
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation –
Protecting Undocumented Students – Reaching out to the various cultural resources centers and opening a dialogue between the faculty, advisors, and bio department admins about issues that undocumented students
Overcrowding in Housing –
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Holding office hours and open conversations with students to focus on the big issues in our department, and address them to the student body | Promoting study & tutor groups in which students can collaborate would promote a cohesive environment for learning
Tuition Increases –
Priorities:
Campus community, The DEI requirement and campus diversity, Academic/Career advising
Hrishikesh Rajan Barokar, Engineering Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
American Society of Mechanical Engineers President
Triton Engineering Student Council Administrative Assistant to President
ESW Finance Team
Food Co-Op Member
Platform:
Working with IDEA & all departments to have equipped spaces for project teams to thrive
Working with the A.S. Office of External Affairs and the Dean’s Office to attract money to undergraduate engineering projects and spaces
Working for higher inclusivity & accessibility w/in societies
Increasing leadership & scholarship opportunities for women
Introducing measures through AS for greater project funds
Expanding the travel fund program for competitive project teams
Pursuing project acceleration space at JSOE
Developing an online platform for simple & smooth project/org recruitment
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Working with VP Campus, Commuter Senators & UCSD Transportation for higher reliability on bus services | Looking at long-term solutions for eg. more buses on streets | Growing the highly successful TritonRides (TR) program is another idea
Protecting Undocumented Students – Growing the Undocumented Student Services and the Student Legal Services
Overcrowding in Housing – Supporting the creation of an off-campus housing model similar to that of SDSU | Advocating for student welfare in the coming expansion of UCSD | Supporting sustainable growth options for the university
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Facilitating engineering students coming together to achieve high goals by giving tools and support to individual organizations for conferences, hackathons, project teams | Facilitating social interactions by creating spaces for engineers to meet and work by collaborating with IDEA center
Tuition Increases – Besides advocacy for college affordability, I will address tuition increase by supporting the VP External Affairs in lobbying efforts with local and state legislators so that they prioritize student interest when deciding legislation especially on decisions of the affordability, accessibility, and quality of UC.
Priorities: Campus community, Diversity and the DEI requirement, Co-ops and student media
Stig Patrick Terrebonne, Engineering Senator (Independent)
Experience:
Platform:
“As a dedicated engineer, I just want to each student to enjoy their time at UCSD while easily finding their path to the future they dream of. If you want to get a job, I’ll provide company funded projects, social events, hackathons, and maker spaces that will most definitely increase the likelihood of kindling that first job. You will be able to stuff your resume with awesome activities as well as meet the most important recruiters around. If you want to do research, I will make sure the right opportunities are constantly knocking on your doorstep, all you gotta do it open that door! Let’s do this!!”
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Colin Feeney, Engineering Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Chem-E-Car-Project Vice President Internal
Triton Engineering Student Council Project Spaces Lead
Academic Connection of Engineers Member
Beta Theta Pi Member
Platform:
Increasing accessibility to engineering workshops and maker spaces
Renovating existing project spaces to better suit students’ needs
Building connections between engineering students and leaders in the industry
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Natasha Morgan-Witts, Physical Sciences Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
American Chemical Society-Student Association Intern
RA at The Village
Platform:
Improving current mentorship structures within physical sciences, providing a support system
Fortifying faculty-student relationships in regards to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Promoting values of learning and information retention, straying away from memorization
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Expanding bus routes and making them more accessible to off-campus students
Protecting Undocumented Students – Continuing to support the work to create sanctuary campuses across the UC system | Creating systems of education for students and faculty especially.
Overcrowding in Housing – Talking and working with the people involved – the residents | Meeting with residents | Coming up with new efficient ideas to combat this issue
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Increasing the sense of community through enhancing the current mentorship structures | Connecting and collaborating with students and faculty to create a program where incoming students get connected to faculty and upperclassmen day one, creating a safety net and sense of support
Tuition Increases – Advocating against the rising tuition prices and for affordable education, especially for low-income students | Pushing for transparency in relation to fees and where they are going.
Priorities: Protecting undocumented students, CAPS and student mental health, Transparency
Nhi Nguyen, Physical Sciences Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
LGBT Resource Center Community Engagement Intern
ERC Welcome Week Ambassador
Queers & Allies of ERC Officer
World AIDS Day Committee
Platform:
Establishing programs to connect faculty and students for professional development
Increasing physical science seminars to engage students & prepare them for future classes/careers
Improving visibility/inclusivity of underrepresented groups in division
Strengthening communication between students, faculty, administration, ResLife, and orgs
Making DEI courses to more applicable to the division & careers
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation –
Protecting Undocumented Students –
Overcrowding in Housing –
Improving Campus Spirit and Community – Improving the relationship and communication between students, the administration, faculty, ResLife, and student orgs
Priorities: Campus community, the DEI requirement and campus diversity, More seminar options and opportunities
Freddy Arriola, Social Sciences Senator (Students Determined)
Experience:
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán Chair
Bi-Lingual Research Assistant, RE-LINK Southeast Program
Platform:
Transforming the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requirement into a more substantial and flexible prerequisite to help social science students take the classes they want
Increasing the accessibility of internships through a social sciences career fair
Establishing cultural competency workshops for students entering the medical or public health fields
On the Issues:
Priorities:
Vaishnavi Paudel, Social Sciences Senator (THRIVE)
Experience:
UCSD Model United Nations President
Perks Coffee Shop Barista
Outback Adventures Wilderness Guide
Vagina Monologues & HerStories 2017 Cast
Platform:
Holding seminars led by professors and graduate students to instruct undergraduate social science majors in diverse skills, such as navigating statistical software
Introducing a mentorship program between graduate & undergraduate students in the same field
Creating and promoting recreational art resources on campus, which are accessible to students of all majors
On the Issues:
Improving Transportation – Working with Off-Campus Senators to renew the MTS contract and advocate for extended hours, more frequent bus stops, and increased stop locations
Protecting Undocumented Students – With the Campus-wide Senators, expanding and relocating the Undocumented Student Services Center | Establishing workshops designed to educate individuals on how to protect themselves and others encountering Immigration Enforcement officers, as well as workshops on accessible legal resources for undocumented students
Overcrowding in Housing – Working with the A.S. President to establish an exploratory committee for an off-campus housing model that facilitates finding affordable student housing off campus | Publishing an on-campus waitlist with HDH | Creating storage lockers on or near campus for summer storage.
Improving Campus Spirit and Community –
Tuition Increases – Working with the VP of External Affairs to pressure California legislators, UC legislators, and our administration to move away from building an institution running for profit, and on the contrary, plan a tuition centered around student resources and student requests
Priorities: Protecting undocumented students, the DEI requirement and campus diversity, Transparency