Dave Valk is not one to sit quietly ““ he is determined to change the current undergraduate student government at UCLA by running for president as an independent candidate.
Born and raised in what he describes as the “bubble” of Mission Viejo, he said his conservative surroundings at home, which contrast to his own views, have influenced his decision to speak out for what he believes in.
A second-year political science and sociology student, Valk said he has several friends in both of the major slates and agrees with many of their ideas.
But Valk said one reason he is running is because he believes the two-slate system is wrong because it limits students’ choices.
“Both parties say they represent diversity, but neither do,” he said. “Students need a leader who is unbiased, not tainted by slate politics, and able to bridge the gap between the parties.”
Another criticism Valk has of the two major slates is their campaign spending. Valk said the two slates have spent thousands, while he agreed to the $600 voluntary spending limit.
“If someone who spends as little as me could win, it would be a testament to the students who believe in change,” he said.
Valk said his personal experiences are important to his campaign, which is why he said he is running as an openly gay candidate.
He added that he is willing to discuss his sexuality because he believes the gay community needs a positive leader who stands up for it, and he hopes that his candidness would help people struggling with their sexuality to accept themselves.
“We’re not at a point in time where we can afford to have gay public figures not speak out,” he said, adding that he hopes his grandchildren will live in a society where being gay is not a stigma.
Maria Springer, a third-year political science student who has worked closely with Valk, said he has an extraordinary ability to mobilize and invigorate people toward achieving greater goals.
“The fact that Dave was able to close down a Westwood street to throw a party shows his ability to surpass bureaucratic absurdity,” Springer said.
Valk successfully shut down a portion of Midvale Avenue this past Saturday, in order to host a block party that served as his campaign rally.
“My reason for throwing this party was to bring together different kinds of people who would otherwise never meet,” he said, adding that he regularly hosts such social events to promote unity and a good time.
His mother, Nancy Valk, said her son looks at problems from all sides and “digs in to his work with his heart.”
“Even though his friends call him Dave, he will always be David to me. And my son David is compassionate and fair ““ a side that people don’t always see,” his mother said.
Valk said that if elected, he would extend his belief in fairness to the Social Justice Speakers Series, which is sponsored by the Undergraduate Students Association Council.
“The current USAC members only bring in one viewpoint, and students need to hear unpopular opinions or ones they disagree with,” he said.
Valk also pledges to work for campus safety, particularly in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings.
“I don’t care if you get on a bullhorn or a public announcement system, but when there’s a school shooting, you shut the school down,” he said.
Valk’s solution would be to implement electronic signboards across campus that can normally be used for student group advertisements, but which would convey important messages in emergencies.
Another campus safety issue Valk wants to work on is providing safe rides for students to prevent sexual assault and drunken driving.
He added that sorority groups have attempted to gain funding for such a program from USAC, but have had their proposals rejected. Valk said he would dedicate funding toward implementing a Safe Rides program, which he says would transport students from local Westwood establishments back to their residences in the dorms or on Hilgard Avenue.
In high school, Valk was the Southern California director of a Safe Rides program, which provides safe, confidential rides to people who have been drinking. He said his experience makes him an ideal candidate to implement such a program at UCLA.
One of Valk’s closest friends, third-year communications studies student Danielle Shrager, said Valk is filled with integrity and thoughtfulness.
“When Dave makes a promise, I know he’ll fulfill it,” Shrager said.
Valk says his work experience is primarily outside of UCLA, where he works as an intern for Equality California, which is described on its Web site as a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization.
Wherever his campaign goes, Valk says he is glad that he can look back and know that he ran what he describes as a respectable campaign.
“I had the luxury of honesty in this campaign. I could tell people the real problems confronting them without worrying about buying their vote,” he said.