Sophia Kozak, Christina Paganini, and Christine Sol all think
they could greatly enrich the academic experience of UCLA students,
and are competing for the chance to do so on behalf of the student
body.
The three are candidates for Academic Affairs Commissioner of
the Undergraduate Students Association Council, and each said they
are passionate about making a difference in academics at UCLA.
Second-year geography and political science student Paganini is
running as a United Independents candidate, and said she has the
ideas and experience to get things done: intangibles, she said,
that her competitors lack.
“I want to make it clear this office should be out
advocating for issues that affect education. That drive and
involvement is something I don’t think either of my opponents
reflect,” Paganini said.
Paganini is an athletic tutor, was a representative for CalPIRG
during fall quarter, and worked in current External Vice President
Chris Neal’s office this year.
“I believe being in office is not the only way to empower
students, but it’s one way,” said fourth-year Kozak,
who is running under the Students First! slate.
Kozak has worked on the UCLA Clothesline Project, which raises
awareness about sexual violence on campus, and has been involved in
the UCLA Environmental Coalition, with the goal of improving the
relationship between USAC and student groups.
“I’d like to see USAC actively engaging with
students more in the work we’re all doing to solidify
partnership between student government and student
organizations,” she said.
Sol, running under the Students United for Reform and Equality
slate, is a second-year political science student who said
she’s always been interested in academic policies and
issues.
“It’s the ultimate challenge, something I feel I am
best suited for,” she said.
She has been involved in the Political Science Student
Organization, worked on the On-Campus Housing Council, and is a
member of the Kappa Delta sorority.
Current Academic Affairs Commissioner Chris Diaz said the
position has a “humongous workload,” and that
he’d like to see the office expand even more in terms of
programming.
The three candidates think that the office has come up short
this year with its goals, but each is also confident she can pick
up the slack with various programs designed to enrich
education.
Kozak’s ultimate vision is for “social change”
on campus through admissions and curriculum reform in addition to
utilization of alternative forms of education like
student-initiated classes.
Sol said she would reevaluate the current course reader policy,
as some professors still illegally sell readers out of their
classrooms. She would also push the Professors in the Union
program, where students share a meal with professors and talk about
academic issues face to face in the student union.
Paganini said she wants to organize a
“Re-orientation” fair for incoming students that would
help them with their academic concerns more extensively than at the
standard orientation.
The academic calendar, the firing of lecturers, and overcrowded
classrooms are also issues Paganini said the commissioner should be
looking at.
The diversity requirement is a big issue with all three
candidates, who all said they would not replicate the lack of
success the current administration has had in passing it. The
requirement would mandate students to take certain classes about
various cultures and underrepresented groups.
Elections for all positions take place May 6-8.