Tuesday, February 24, 1998
UCLA student selected for regent office
REGENTS: Espinoza has many experiences to bring to new
position
By Dennis Lim
Daily Bruin Contributor
Max Espinoza, USAC Academic Affairs Commissioner, has been
nominated to be the next UC student regent.
"I’m extremely honored to receive this nomination," Espinoza
said.
"I look forward to bringing my experience in representing
student concerns and perspectives to the UC Board of Regents as it
deliberates on the many important issues facing the University of
California," he added.
Espinoza, the student regent-designate, was chosen from a field
of 56 applicants from all nine UC campuses. His nomination will be
considered by the full board at its meeting March 19-20.
Espinoza has served as the Academic Affairs Commissioner for the
last two years, and was the chairperson of MEChA the year before
that. He has been a leading campus activist, working extensively on
numerous campus issues.
"I am interested in working with the other regents on issues
related to access, affordability, outreach, retention, diversity
and equal opportunity," Espinoza said.
If appointed, Espinoza will have the same duties as any regent
on the board, which will include voting on all issues affecting the
nine UC campuses.
"According to the constitution (of California), the student
regent is a regent like any other," said Kathryn McClymond, the
current student regent.
Representatives from USAC expressed elation at Espinoza’s
success.
Abi Karlin-Resnick, USAC Community Service Commissioner,
stressed Espinoza’s ability as a student leader.
"He is really strong about giving students a voice, whether it
be through student programs or student rights," Karlin-Resnick
said.
Espinoza’s new position on the board of regents would help make
"many issues at UCLA more noticeable," according to
Karlin-Resnick.
"UCLA has been at the forefront of many issues concerning
education and (Espinoza) has been critical to many of those issues.
I have no reason to believe that he won’t continue to do so as the
new student regent," Karlin-Resnick continued.
Representatives from the University of California Student
Association (UCSA) agreed with Karlin-Resnick.
"We are confident in his ability and hope to continue good
relations with the office of the student regent," said Tomas
Sandoval, the president of UCSA.
"Hopefully he will do a good job helping to represent the issues
and concerns of students," Sandoval continued.
McClymond sees the student regent as a unique position within
the board.
"As a student regent you don’t have to worry about any long-term
political campaigns," she said.
"Your term is short-lived and you don’t have to worry about
pleasing others to keep your position," she continued.
UCSA sees the role of the student regent as a representative of
the students.
On the other hand, Ray Orquilla, a senior analyst with the UC
Office of the President, feels that the student regent has another
role.
"There’s a misconception out there that every time the student
regent speaks, he or she represents the students of the UC system,
when in actuality he or she represents the people of California,"
Orquilla said.
As student regent-designate, Espinoza will sit on the board
meetings and participate in the discussions, but will have no
voting power until July.