Learn about who is vying to be your next student government senator
By VINCE BASADA — campus@theaggie.org
The fall ASUCD elections will open on Tuesday, Nov. 12 and close on Saturday, Nov. 16. This cycle features 10 candidates and three slates — temporary political coalitions that will dissolve after the election is over.
The California Aggie interviewed the candidates running to be one of your six student senators and have compiled everything you need to know to make an informed decision this election cycle.
Elevate Slate
Priorities: Bringing communities together and promoting sustainability initiatives.
Lexi Raben, a first-year environmental sciences and management major, is focused on sustainability and fostering community between students. Her platform includes implementing a system to reuse/donate lab supplies and equipment, advocating for longer hours in Shields Library and creating community tables and increased seating in the CoHo and Dining Commons to foster conversation. As a high schooler, she was involved in YMCA Youth and Government, as well as Model UN.
“I’m advocating for [the] increasing of campus community,” Bekar said. “Even though a lot of people do have differences at UC Davis, I still believe that it is crucial for us to be able to work together at the end of the day.”
Independent (No Slate)
Kenneth DuPont, a third-year political science — public service and sociology double major, is running a focused campaign inspired by personal experience. He is running on combating spiking and has called for the distribution of drink covers to students. He is also looking to cap the fees of campus parking tickets and increase cultural and ethnic outreach by the student government.
DuPont is the founder of Optimistic Coloring Books International Gifting Organization, which donates coloring books to over 100 hospitals in over 10 countries. For this work, he and his sister have received a commendation from the city of San Diego (which included getting a day named after them) and an accolade from President Joe Biden. He is currently an intern at California Strategies, a Sacramento-based policy and public affairs consulting firm.
“I’m running because all of [my platform] problems have very simple solutions that can be very easily enforced,” DuPont said. “If it changes just one person’s life, if it just prevents one person from being spiked, that’s all I need. I just want to make sure this campus is safer.”
Solana Rodriguez, a second-year political science — public service major, is a community advisor at The Green and is passionate about improving services for transfer students, as well as the amenities and lighting at that site. Aside from aiding transfers, her platform includes increasing basic needs access, ASUCD outreach and fostering cultural awareness.
Rodriguez is a member of Omega Sigma Nu, a Latina interest society, where she serves as the community service chair and commissioner of cultura and sisterhood. She said she hopes that her representation on the senate table will help to address what she believes is a disconnect between Latinx students and ASUCD. In high school, she was the vice president of Lead Latino and founded the Women United Club, focused on female empowerment.
“There’s a lot of empathy that I hold for people,” Rodriguez said, “When I come and sign myself up for something, I sit down and make sure I get it done.”
Voice Slate
Priorities: Increasing ASUCD transparency and awareness and ensuring on-campus services are equitable, simplistic and accessible.
Ilias Benomar, a first-year political science and history double major, is running on a “humanity”-focused campaign. He wants to improve the accessibility of feminine hygiene products on campus and aid UC-wide goals to reduce single-use plastics.
Benomar was a community organizer for California Assemblymember Esmerelda Soria and former Assemblymember Adam Gray. In high school, he was president of his school’s speech and debate club and its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) club. He also helped organize Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protests at UC Merced, his hometown.
“I think that I can bring something positive to the table and that I can make a positive change for my community and my fellow students,” Benomar said.
Zack Dollins, a first-year political science major, is focused on spreading compassion and hopes to establish himself as a student advocate. His platform includes plans to expand basic needs resources and access to school supplies, improve student safety, enact sustainability initiatives, protect cultural expression and call for greater student government transparency.
In high school, Dollins founded the Kindness Collective Club focused on world betterment and hopes to start a UC Davis chapter in the coming year. He is a member of the Davis College Democrats and the UC Davis Alt Protein Project.
“I’m driven by the unshakable belief that my purpose in life is to better the world,” Dollins said. “I hope to be a beacon of love for every person I come across.”
Zaytuna Slate
Priorities: Improving campus safety and freedom of expression and building closer relationships between ASUCD and identity-based Registered Student Organizations (RSOs).
Nanki Kaur, a third-year biomedical engineering and South Asian studies double major, seeks to bring a STEM perspective to the student senate and represent the Sikh community. Her priorities are to create more 24/7 study spaces on campus, improve the current study room in Shields Library, spread information about available Title IX and harassment resources and advocate for culturally sensitive academic and mental health services.
Kaur previously ran as a candidate in this year’s spring election. She has been involved with multiple RSOs and worked as a Coalition and Solidarity Membership with hopes to build connections between different organizations and ethnic groups. She is currently the chief of staff to Transfer Student Representative Safa Mohammad.
“I’m representing the Sikh community, who right now has a lot of concerns about their safety on campus due to a lot of transnational repression that’s happening politically,” Kaur said. “I think they want to make sure their voice is heard.”
Umar Shaikh, a second-year political science major, wants to ensure minority voices are heard and sees the student senate as the best way to express minority concerns directly to university administration. His platform includes protecting students’ rights to freedom of expression, as well as improving relationships with identity-based RSOs to make the student government more integrated with the student body.
Shaikh is the director of the UC Davis Muslim Student Association’s Political Power Committee and has experience as a competitive debater.
“If I am elected, my No. 1 priority is going to be the students,” Shaikh said. “It’s important that people know [ASUCD] exists, that we have these decision making powers and that we use them in the best way possible.”
Jenna Younes, a third-year international relations major, has been a longtime observer of the senate and hopes to improve other students’ engagement with ASUCD. Her platform is focused on maintaining ethical and transparent student government spending, building ASUCD-RSO relationships, improving student and campus safety and reducing harassment.
In the past, Younes has done media and marketing for several identity-based student organizations, including the UC Davis Arab Student Union, and has worked with the Human RIghts Department.
“To be a representative for my community, a community that’s pretty marginalized — it [is] really important for me to step up,” Younes said.
For students who wish to cast their vote or learn more about the candidates and ballot measure, visit elections.ucdavis.edu. Students can also follow @ucdelections on Instagram for daily election updates.
Note: Candidates Ryan Weber (Elevate Slate) and Jorge Diaz (Independent) were not able to participate in this piece.
Written by: Vince Basada — campus@theaggie.org
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article wrote Lexi Raben’s last name as “Bekar,” due to a transcription mistake. The accuracy of our interview transcriptions and correct name spellings remain ever important to us. Please reach out to editor@theaggie.org if you have any concerns.
