What sets Raquel Saxe apart is that she understands the campus, student government, and most importantly, how to get things done.
As this year’s Academic Affairs commissioner, Saxe accomplished or made progress on all of her platforms, except for saving Covel Peer Learning Labs ““ which was beyond the reach of her office.
Saxe clearly articulated how her work with academics will translate to the External Vice President’s Office, which focuses on lobbying for students and creating a space at UCLA for off-campus issues. For example, Saxe pointed out that UC advocacy efforts all come back to academics ““ each time the budget gets cut, so do academic programs and services.
Though we do not doubt Saxe’s abilities, we question the direction of her platforms, which do not markedly differ from those of her opponent, Lana Habib El-Farra. Both candidates’ plans sound good on paper but will likely have no tangible impact on students.
Saxe said she would advocate for an undergraduate student seat on the UC Board of Regents, a proposal that has floated around for years without any results. Additionally, adding another student to the board is not enough to change the way regents vote.
Further, Saxe wants to unify California education systems to advocate for investments in schools. But she seemed fuzzy on how to ensure these lobbying efforts are effective ““ despite lobbying, hundreds of millions have been slashed from the UC in recent years.
We encourage Saxe to improve upon her platforms, and learning more about UC issues and California politics is a good place to start. When asked about these topics, her answers lacked clarity. Nevertheless, this board believes that Saxe has lots of know-how, giving her the edge for the external vice president position.