Today Jesse Cheng and Alfredo Mireles, student representatives on the UC Board of Regents, kick off their recruitment tour at UC Davis in search for the next student regent.
Over the next five weeks Cheng, current student regent, and Mireles, student regent-designate, will be visiting all of the UC campuses encouraging students to apply for the position. Any UC undergraduate, graduate or professional student is an eligible candidate.
“The tour gives us a chance to meet with various student groups and administrators. It allows us to get to know the campus on a level we usually do not get to,” Cheng said. “We will also be doing a town hall where all students can come ask us questions and find out more about the position.”
As Cheng’s chapter as student regent comes to an end, he is looking toward the future: in June he will be graduating from UC Irvine with a degree in Asian American studies and he has recently been accepted to Teach for America. Cheng is also waiting to hear from several law schools.
Cheng also said that there is no cookie cutter candidate for the position. The regents are really looking for someone who can think in complex ways, is intelligent, demonstrates leadership and has great communication skills.
“My hope is a lot of students come and meet us and tell us about the issues happening on campus,” Mireles said. “But more over I hope a lot of students apply for the position because students need strong advocates during these mutinous times.”
Students that are interested in applying for the position can visit http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/app12.pdf. Applications are due Feb. 17.
Alice Hom in Advising Services is in charge of the regents’ schedules during their visit at UC Davis. She can be contacted for questions about the regents’ itinerary or applying for the student regent position at (530) 752-4475.
– Jaspreet Bahia
