Netta Avineri, the unopposed candidate for the vice president of academic affairs position in the Graduate Students Association, said her primary goals for next year are to expand funding to graduate students and establish stronger ties with other campus organizations.
Avineri, a fourth-year graduate student in the UCLA Department of Applied Linguistics and TESL, is running as part of the GSA Progress slate, which is unopposed in all four positions.
The entire slate is running on four major platform ideas that encompass funding, transparency, sustainability and improvement of student life. But Avineri said she is also focusing on a personal platform that is relevant to her position in the 2009-2010 academic year.
Avineri plans to work with the various graduate schools to secure additional funding for students ““ particularly those who are studying at UCLA from a foreign country.
“Being an advocate for graduate students to receive funding is important, especially in the current economic situation,” Avineri said.
She added that she will look individually at different departments and address factors such as research and interdisciplinary programs.
“I plan to work with the current administration and see what would be workable in terms of the packages we can offer to graduate students,” she said.
Dianne Tanjuaquio, the legislative liaison for the GSA and a former undergraduate internal vice president, said she has observed Avineri’s professionalism as chair of the board.
“People on the board respect her a lot. I have nothing but respect for her and her work ethic,” Tanjuaquio said.
The other part of Avineri’s platform is her plan to partner with different groups on campus to enhance academic opportunities for graduate students.
Avineri said she will work with existing graduate student organizations such as the UCLA Graduate Writing Center to coprogram events and opportunities for students.
She added that she will also expand GSA’s reach to work with the UCLA Library and the UCLA Career Center and come up with workshops and events geared toward graduate students.
Avineri said she is the right person to conduct these endeavors due in part to her experience as the chair of the Associated Students UCLA board of directors.
“With my time on the board, I’ve had the chance to advocate for graduate students. I’ve learned about how the campus works and developed connections with various individuals,” Avineri said.
She also pointed to her past experience with GSA as chair of the Graduate Writing Center Oversight Committee and her work with international graduate students as relevant to her platform.
Avineri said that she wants to increase her level of involvement in GSA because of her personal interest in and admiration for UCLA.
Jamal Madni, the current GSA president, said Avineri’s enthusiasm and passion for her work stand out.
“Netta lightens up the room with her personality. She brings such positive energy and commitment to the table,” Madni said.