USAC Endorsement: Kim Davis for Academic Affairs Commissioner
Endorsed
Kim Davis
Academic Affairs Commissioner Candidate
Bruins United
Between two and four board members met with each candidate to discuss his or her platform, goals and evaluation of the current council and knowledge of USAC.
We also considered how the candidates would interact with the rest of the council and represent a diversity of student needs.
The board then selected endorsements for each office by a majority vote.
We reserved the right to not endorse a candidate for certain uncontested positions.
Voting begins today on MyUCLA at 10 a.m. and runs through Thursday at 6 p.m.
See who the board endorsed:
By Editorial Board
May 7, 2012 8:14 a.m.
This board endorses Kim Davis for the uncontested position of Academic Affairs Commissioner.
Davis has experience in the Undergraduate Students Association Council, as she worked in the Interval Vice President’s office for two years, and served as as chief of staff in the office this year.
Davis also demonstrated a thorough understanding of the academic affairs commission, applauding the fact the executive office became more visible to students this year with the implementation of syllabus previews and advocacy efforts on behalf of a new proposed General Education diversity requirement.
However, Davis said she understands that time will prove the biggest challenge next year: her predecessor, Raquel Saxe, was unable to complete many of her goals because of her limited time in office.
For this reason, some of Davis’s platforms seek to continue the initiatives of Saxe’s office, including fostering academic well-being and empowering student voice.
Davis needs to formulate clearer ideas and prioritize her platforms. Her promise to empower the student voice is vague, and the lack of a mobile class enrollment application is not the most pressing need the student body faces.
However, the board commends Davis’s attempt to implement mid-quarter evaluations in classes. This goal seems feasible and in the students’ best interest.
The administration had already begun to think about enforcing this, and Davis said she would be the person to spearhead student efforts to have this idea reach fruition.
Davis acknowledged that time may impede mobile class enrollment from becoming a reality, but said that she remains optimistic progress will be made.
Ultimately, the board cautions Davis to remain wary of vague platforms that aim to overcome student inequity, and instead actively advocate for specific goals that will have a tangible effect on student lives.
