Next week, students will elect another round of senators to represent them in ASUCD. Voting starts Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. and ends Feb. 18 at 8 a.m. Results will be announced at noon that Friday.
Voters will rank candidates in order of preference through ASUCD’s choice voting system. If a student’s first-choice candidate either wins with extra votes or fails to meet a minimum vote standard, that vote goes toward the voter’s next choice candidate.
This quarter’s group of candidates is remarkably well-qualified, making the decision of whom to vote for exceptionally difficult. The Aggie editorial board interviewed all 13 candidates and our endorsements reflect whom we feel will be most effective.
No. 1 – Eli Yani: Yani has an unbeatable knowledge of the $10.7 million ASUCD budget. Yani served as the 2009-2010 controller, responsible for drafting and implementing the budget and acting as the primary financial advisor to the ASUCD president and senate.
Even though his platforms aren’t exactly serious – moving waffle makers from the dining halls to the CoHo and weeding out communists from ASUCD – he is by far the most ASUCD savvy candidate. Already familiar with ASUCD’s limitations, he will be a voice of fiscal responsibility on the senate table.
No. 2 – Ryan Meyerhoff: While Meyerhoff has never sat on the senate table, he has held multiple positions specializing in the ASUCD bylaws. He is the ASUCD webmaster, former chair of the Elections Committee, former senior associate justice with the ASUCD Court and a current student representative with the Academic Senate.
Despite his platform to start free parking on campus one hour earlier – a similar goal that many have tried and failed – Meyerhoff has solid budget-cutting ideas and will bring institutional knowledge and a centrist perspective to the table.
No. 3 – Miguel Espinoza: Espinoza is familiar enough with ASUCD to be effective while still being new enough to bring a fresh perspective. Espinoza is a commissioner on the Gender and Sexuality Commission and a co-chair with the Queer Student Union. His work with the Student Recruitment and Retention Center, Cross Cultural Center and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center has given him leadership skills and knowledge of student needs.
His platform to pay for transportation for prospective students to visit UC Davis seems unrealistic, but it shows that his heart is in the right place.
No. 4 – Amy Martin: Even though Martin is only a sophomore, she is already an accomplished member of ASUCD. She sits on the senate table as the chair of the Internal Affairs Commission and is chief of staff to the controller. Therefore, she is familiar with both the executive and legislative sides of the association and is well prepared to serve as senator. Her platform goals, such as expanding composting to the Silo and putting Classical Notes online, are sound and doable.
Martin said she wants to represent the Greek community on the table. While there is no problem with being part of a sorority, senate already has a share of Greek perspectives.
No. 5 – Brendan Repicky: With a year of service on the External Affairs Commission under his belt, Repicky understands the structure of ASUCD. He wants to do big things for the campus and profoundly impact all UC Davis students.
Although his platform goals, such as creating a textbook scholarship and more flexible parking, seem outside a senator’s realm of influence, Repicky obviously knows what the average student wants.
No. 6 – Caitlin Alday: As chair of the Gender and Sexuality Commission, Alday has worked with senators, various commissions and outside groups. She has proven her ability to collaborate and be a voice for underrepresented communities. She’ll help the association in its efforts to better represent all groups on campus.
While her goal to create more accessible counseling and major advising lacks a concrete plan, it shows that Alday wants to make changes that will impact all students on campus.
See the candidates debate Wednesday at the ASUCD Coffee House at noon, and vote online at elections.ucdavis.edu.
@All, The endorsement before the debate is definitely a bad move. Why are we endorsing candidates before they’ve even actually argued and defended their platforms. It’s a little ludicrous that the Aggie accepted the endorsement of candidates before truly corroborating their capabilities.
However there’s so much slamming on this thread, it’s upsetting.
Caitlin and Miguel are great candidates, and they are representatives for communities that are highly ignored in the UCD community. The LGBTQQIA communities require more visibility within the senate, they require voices that will help to make change for our queer communities, to have them heard, and to make them safer places.
I’ve known Allison for quite a while and she’s an awesome senate member that understands what social justice is all about. Y’all are picking on her because she chooses to speak her mind, and she’s not just some drone for the ASUCD majority.
@Allison, Womyn are awesome! And I still laugh when people trying to correct us when we spell out “womyn”. There’s a reason why we choose this terminology, and it’s definitely not because we’re uneducated; actually, I think it shows a person is highly educated and an advocate for social justice when they choose to utilize “womyn” as opposed to it’s patriarchy-inducing other: “woman/women”.
Brah. We’re all totes bros.
YEAH OSAHON. Terming the FUCK out in 2 weeks. Yeah man. Dude, you guys fund like safeboats and shit right? Fuck yeah. That’s the shit rite there.
How can I join asucd yo?