University of California Student Association President Angelica Salceda has resigned from her position, board members said today.
The UC Student Association Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from the undergraduate and graduate student governments of all 10 UC campuses.
In an email sent to the association’s board members earlier this week, Salceda said she had to step down from her position to focus on her academics, several sources on the board said.
Salceda could not immediately be reached for comment.
Though the organization has no vote on the UC Board of Regents, it has pushed certain pieces of legislation in the past ““ such as the Dream Act ““ and lobbied with the regents for a tuition buyout in the 2012 state budget, Salceda told the Bruin in August.
The UC Student Association president is responsible for maintaining communication with the UC president and the chair of the Board of Regents, writing and signing documents on behalf of the association, facilitating meetings and presenting a monthly report to the association board, according to the organization’s website.
Salceda graduated from UCLA in 2007 with bachelor’s degrees in political science and history. She is currently studying law at UC Berkeley, the Daily Bruin reported in August.
“I was shocked,” said John Joanino, a legislative liaison on the association’s board and a third-year sociology student at UCLA.
Salceda will continue to be a board member in the organization, Joanino said.
“I am not disappointed in Angelica; I know she will still do great things for the organization,” he added.
The board plans to elect a new president at UCLA this Saturday, through a special election held at their board meeting, said Lana Habib El-Farra, external vice president for USAC.
El-Farra does not know who will step up to run for the organization’s president, she said.
“I am not worried at all because I know there are incredible leaders on the board that will fill her spot,” Joanino said.
Compiled by Katherine Hafner and Jillian Beck, Bruin senior staff.