Endorsement: Kozak qualified to stress diversity in academic affairs

Academic Affairs commissioner candidate Sophia Kozak exhibits a
strong comprehension of the duties and direction of the Academic
Affairs Commission, and is the best candidate among the three
running.

All three AAC candidates chose the Diversity Requirement as a
major platform item, but Kozak has the experience needed to create
a fair and successful program. Based upon similar programs now in
place at all other UC schools, the Diversity Requirement would
alter UCLA’s General Education requirements to include core
classes that address ethnic, cultural, religious or sexual
issues.

Kozak currently works in the AAC office as the curriculum reform
coordinator and has collaborated with the UCLA Academic Senate on
the diversity requirement campaign. This campaign relies heavily on
liaison efforts between student leaders and faculty members. Kozak
has established relationships with key members of the Academic
Senate who will rule on the details of the plan. This close-working
relationship makes Kozak ideal as the primary student voice on
academic issues.

Kozak’s operational vision for the diversity program
includes innovative projects such as student-run classes, more
student departmental Senates and the departmentalization of the
ethnic studies centers.

Kozak’s general goal is to ensure that students receive
what she calls a “relevant education,” which includes
the opportunity to learn about cultures and histories that are
inadequately represented in existing classes.

Kozak feels that the Academic Senate is very close to a final
draft proposal for the diversity requirement and hopes to see her
efforts to fruition.

Certainly, Kozak does not limit her vision to the diversity
requirement issue. In her platform statement, she says that her
goals fit into broader Students First! plans.

She intends to help the Student Initiated Outreach Committee
make UCLA representative of “all communities that exist in
California” and plans to fight against student fee increases
and cuts to student services. Success in these areas would further
protect the diversity of people and programs on the UCLA
campus.

AAC candidates Christine Sol and Christina Paganini have similar
goals for the commission, but offer less direct experience with the
AAC than does Kozak.

Sol is also ambiguous about one of her other stated goals: to
reduce the influence of the minimum progress requirement. She says
it’s “impossible” to repeal, but wants to try to
indirectly mitigate its effects anyway.

Strangely, Sol listed in her resume a stint as an AAC staff
member, although she never actually began working for that office.
In contrast, Kozak offers substantial experience and a set of goals
that fulfill long-term USAC priorities. She is an excellent choice
for Academic Affairs commissioner.