Student Action announced the ASUC Senate candidacy of four more campus students Wednesday night for the 2019 ASUC elections, marking the second part of a three-day announcement period for the party’s senate slate.
The party named campus junior Gabriela Da Silva and sophomores Shelby Weiss, Rocky Gerosa and Leslie Vasquez Guzman as four candidates it will run in the upcoming April elections.
“I’m ready to get to work because change cannot wait,” Da Silva said in an email. “Though I am one, I will stand for all.”
Da Silva, who is studying public health and media studies, currently serves as the Greek affairs director for ASUC Senator Amma Sarkodee-Adoo. She is also a Dreamers Project Mentorship Program coordinator, a member of Chicanxs/Latinxs in Health Education and an events committee member at Ladies for Change.
Da Silva’s main platforms include recruitment and retention of POC students within Greek life. She also hopes to improve campus mental health and implement healing and prevention services for sexual violence and harassment.
Vasquez Guzman, who is studying political science, currently serves as ASUC Senator Nick Araujo’s director for policy and legislation. She is also a member of the Latinx Pre-Law Society, Hermanas Unidas and the UC Rally Committee.
If elected, Vasquez Guzman hopes to increase educational equity for students of color transitioning to UC Berkeley and representation of and resources available to the campus Latinx community.
“My entire platforms are rooted in the community and just helping all the people … who have done so much for me,” Vasquez Guzman said. “I just want to reciprocate that.”
Weiss, who is also studying political science, currently serves as chief of staff to ASUC Senator Justin Greenwald, whose successful senate campaign she managed in 2018.
In addition to her work in the ASUC, Weiss is a member and former board member of Delta Sigma. She currently sits on the Berkeley Hillel Student Board as an engagement chair and has been chosen as a member of the 2019 Cal in the Capital cohort.
If elected, Weiss hopes to combat anti-Semitism. She also aims to increase the accessibility of information regarding campus organizations, address disaster preparedness in Greek life and improve environmental sustainability.
Gerosa, who is studying political science, currently serves as ASUC Senator Zach Carter’s chief of staff and sits on the UC Berkeley Admissions Communications Student Advisory Board. He also serves on the Queer Student Union executive board and works in the Queer Cal Pals program.
If elected, Gerosa hopes to expand resources for students who struggle with alcohol and substance use, increase sexual health resource accessibility and remove economic barriers to Greek life.
“I’m really excited to be running,” Gerosa said. “It’s really humbling.”
Voting for the ASUC elections will be held April 8, 9 and 10.