Campus freshman Thin Rati Oo is running independently for ASUC Senate on platforms centered on international student issues, pre-law resources and campus life.
Oo, a public health and anthropology major, noted the lack of student resources is one of many prominent issues on campus that especially impact underrepresented and marginalized students. Her plans seek to address that issue by strengthening existing campus resources and developing new ones for international and pre-law student communities, both of which she identifies with, as well as the broader campus community.
Given her experience as an intern for the ASUC Office of the Executive Vice President, Oo noted she believes she will be able to navigate and achieve her plans with ease.
“I want to continue making a change during my time at Cal, giving back to the community as much as I can and making a positive impact for everyone,” Oo said in an email. “It starts by being the one representing the voices of the silenced.”
Oo, whose hometown is Mandalay, Myanmar, seeks to tackle issues confronting international students — including the lack of awareness about available campus resources.
Oo noted three plans to address that issue can be achieved within one year, such as working with the Berkeley International Office to create a Canvas module centered on resources for international students. She also hopes to create a database with scholarships and fellowships directed toward international students and promote cross-cultural awareness between different international student communities.
“Most international students, even myself before, don’t know certain resources are available to us,” Oo said in the email.
Her campaign also focuses on identifying and strengthening resources for pre-law students, which would especially support junior transfers and freshmen like herself that are often unaware of those resources.
She hopes to work with the Cal Career Center to establish an alumni network that could mentor pre-law students on a one-on-one basis. Oo also aims to work with the campus’ communication team to identify and circulate pre-law resources, such as creating a weekly newsletter with updates on pre-law opportunities and professional skills.
“(The plan) will also help develop useful professional skills, such as writing a resume and cover letter, that they could even utilize in other aspects of their life,” Oo said in the email.
Oo also noted she has plans to support the broader student community on campus. She hopes to implement an optional stress-management seminar that would be offered every semester and count for course credit. The seminar would address students’ mental health struggles, which Oo believes is another prominent issue on campus.
She also plans to support campus administration’s long-term plan for the Cal 1 Card and strengthen the ASUC’s transparency about club funding and the Annual Budgeting and Spaces Application, Oo added.
ASUC Executive Vice President Giancarlo Fernandez said in an official endorsement he believes Oo will make “an incredible ASUC Senator.”
“You can depend on Thin to speak up on student issues and to always provide great insight on strengthening community here at Cal,” Fernandez said in the endorsement.
