The Students of Color Coalition is composed of 6 organizations that represent communities of color on campus: the Black Student Union, Muslim Student Union, Stanford American Indian Organization, Asian American Student Association, MEChA, and NAACP.
After serving as the Deputy Chair of the 19th Undergraduate Senate, working closely with ASSU Execs of years past, and being on this team for the past few weeks, I can say that there is no other slate that I would dedicate so much time and energy to as a campaign manager. Erica and Isaiah not only care immensely about the position and about the Stanford community to which each of us belongs, but they bring unique perspectives and a determination that nothing will get in the way of. They are organized, mission-oriented, and tireless in their pursuit of serving this university. I’ve seen them go out of their way and spend extra time listening to student leaders across campus, amplifying those voices, and speaking with people, never for people. I worked closely with Erica on Senate and have seen up close her ability to navigate sensitive topics and to garner consensus on a divided topic, both with administrators and students. I was an Orientation Coordinator alongside Isaiah and, in addition to being a meticulous planner, he is ceaselessly pragmatic and sets realistic goals in order to achieve huge outcomes. I’m so proud of the work these two have already put forth, and would be willing to work alongside them in any capacity. I know that they are the leaders that this campus needs right now in its time of trial and I am excited to see what they accomplish.
It is relatively easy for the administration to wait Executive slates and Senates out, especially when the administration is made to feel alienated. Without a positive relationship with the administration, nothing gets done, or temporary band-aid solutions are offered for serious and ongoing problems. This is why open communication and collaboration is so essential to a successful executive slate. Erica and Isaiah have proved to be excellent communicators and collaborators working for change within the administration over the three years I have known both of them. On Senate, Erica worked with me and other members of the Student Life Committee to meet with the on-campus police force and the Confidential Support Team so we could reform AlertSU to include resources, trigger warnings, and create a more uniform and professional alert system. This would not have been possible without first establishing a common ground with administrators and uniting around the common goals of student safety and well-being. After interacting with the administration myself and getting to know Isaiah and Erica very well over the course of the last three years, I know Erica and Isaiah are the best choice for ASSU Exec. Because Erica and Isaiah are committed to bringing about sustainable, lasting change through collaboration with those with the power to dramatically improve the student experience at Stanford, they have my vote and unwavering support.
I have known Erica and Isaiah for nearly their entire Stanford careers and would wholeheartedly encourage anyone to vote for them. Having been involved in policy and public service through the Haas Center during my time here, I’ve learned a lot about the issues affecting members of the greater South Bay community and believe Stanford students are in a unique position to help resolve them. Erica and Isaiah recognize this as well, and I believe that under their leadership, our campus community will do a lot to help our neighboring communities. I know Erica and Isaiah share my passions for public service and that they’ll bring that service-oriented mindset to the ASSU, to the benefit of both the student body and the larger South Bay community.
Isaiah is the most qualified candidate, period. Isaiah is and has always been dedicated to idea of leaving something better than it was. This campaign is no exception. I am constantly inspired by his drive for excellence. I'm watched him work closely with administration to quickly bring more transparency and action when it comes to ResEd and mental health, which is no small feat. His dedication to standing up for what is right and to being an ally is unparalleled and I am confident that if elected, he will bring the institutional change that puts students first. Isaiah also consistently looks for ways to improve opportunities for students and critically looks at the systems on campus that could be holding them back. He is a huge ally for FLI students and I've been able to witness and benefit from the work that he has done in improving resources on campus. Isaiah possesses the wonderful ability to create realistic deadlines and to know when he is and isn't at capacity--what you see is what you get and he will always be open and communicative. His sense of balance is just one of his traits that I admire greatly. I am so grateful that I have the pleasure of knowing Isaiah. He enlivens every space that he enters and I know the best is yet to come.
Voting for individuals who will do the work to reach ALL of Stanford’s communities is critical in creating positive and equitable student experiences. That is why I am supporting Erica and Isaiah for ASSU Exec. As a student staff member in one of Stanford’s Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership, I am personally invested in making sure that marginalized communities are supported and actively considered in Stanford’s ever-changing social and academic spheres. Erica’s and Isaiah’s ideas about increasing diversity and representation in Stanford’s faculty, creating a ResED fund for FLI students, and demanding quality and sufficient mental health policies echo their goal of standing with students instead of speaking for them. I’ve had the privilege of knowing them both since frosh year and their continued track record of service and care for student experiences make them excellent candidates!
Erica and Isaiah have been huge supports in my life since frosh year, as friends and as teammates. As president of the Diné (Navajo) Club which is under Stanford American Indian Organization (SAIO), I have noticed Isaiah and Erica's continuous engagement in my community. Isaiah came to our quarterly Frybread Friday at the NACC and brought friends, while Erica has volunteered for Stanford Powwow every year. Isaiah, who I consider one of my closest friends at Stanford, is one of the most organized and outgoing students I know. Working on multiple teams with him in the past years, I understand his diligence and pride in his work. I know I can count on him, and have counted on him, in any situation. Isaiah and Erica are always ready to help, to show up, and to stand up for what they believe in. As president and vice president of ASSU I am positive they won't give us anything else.
As a Resident Assistant and a student involved in sustainability issues on campus, I support Erica and Isaiah. With Erica’s past work to reduce Stanford’s environmental impact as an ASSU senator, I am confident she will continue to push for Stanford to be better when it comes to its impact on the environment and the communities that surround campus. Moreover, I believe this slate is the best positioned to fight to improve ResEd. With Isaiah’s experiences as an RA and Erica’s institutional knowledge on Exec, I am confident that combined they will push to advance support for students and staff members. I support Erica and Isaiah because together they have the experience, dedication, and genuine care to improve Stanford for students.
I’ve had the enormous pleasure of working with Isaiah as his co-leader for Frosh 101, a community building class with a focus on identity within Stanford. Throughout the quarter, he showed unwavering passion for facilitating empowering conversations and ensuring that our students received the support they needed, in any capacity. Isaiah patiently ensured that all sides of a conversation were heard, demonstrating to me and to all those that know him, that he is going to go the extra mile to listen to the problems facing community members. This leadership team makes me incredibly proud and excited to know that my various identities will both be heard and fought for.