Ryan Roberts has worked to promote graduate student health and plans to continue his work by reducing the cost of graduate student housing and establishing a graduate student center.
The current Graduate Students Association vice president of internal affairs, Roberts is running for re-election unopposed in the upcoming Graduate Students Association election. Despite the lack of competition for the position of vice president of internal affairs, Roberts maintains an ambitious platform.
Roberts plans to improve the quality of life for UCLA graduate students in his next term.
Roberts, a fourth-year Near Eastern languages and cultures graduate student, is described by many as a hard-working individual and a pleasure to work with.
“He is an exceptionally organized person whose dedication is an evident staple for GSA,” said Jamal Madni, president of the Graduate Students Association.
Together, Madni and Roberts have drafted the proposals of several changes that promise to improve the health and wellness of UCLA graduate students.
Roberts said he relates to the concerns of his constituents, the foremost being the need to improve the mental health of UCLA graduate students. The proposal to establish a graduate students’ center, a locale where graduate students can socialize, would help reduce the isolation many graduate students feel, Roberts said.
Because all the candidates for the Graduate Students Association are running unopposed, the platform and prospective improvements to the graduate student community are the main points in which voters can hold the candidates accountable.
The vice president of internal affairs has the responsibility of “floating around” and keeping in touch with the graduate student community, Roberts said.
Roberts describes his platform as “holistic,” promoting the overall health and success of UCLA graduate students outside of the library or research facility.
For his next term, Roberts is working to pass the Housing Advocacy & Progress for Students referendum, which would improve the housing experience for UCLA graduate students, and he is working to establish a center for graduate students.
As a resident of graduate student housing at UCLA, Roberts said he feels connected to his peers and relates to the issues that residents of graduate housing face.
Roberts said there will be a 4 percent increase in graduate housing rental rates, starting July 1.
This increase in rates for graduate students is not in step with the rest of the housing market, as real-estate rates across the nation are decreasing due to the economic downturn, Roberts added.
With the passage of the graduate student housing referendum, Roberts said he hopes to incorporate the graduate student residents into the larger UCLA community, strengthen their advocacy and work with the housing administration.
Roberts and other graduate student leaders have been working since fall 2008 to create a graduate student center.
“Chancellor Block has informally endorsed the proposal for the graduate student center; a location has been secured off campus on Kinross for the graduate students,” said Miguel Lopez, a third-year graduate student in higher education and organizational change.
Lopez, the candidate for vice president of external affairs, said he has worked with Roberts since the summer, and he commends Roberts’ communication skills.
“His openness and ability to talk to anyone and communication make him very approachable. … He’s also very responsive in e-mails,” he said.