Student Leadership
Oakes Student Senate
The Oakes Senate is the governing body for Oakes students. The primary responsibilities of the senate include the allocation of the College Membership fund, making recommendations on policies and positions that affect students, staffing and publicizing student elections, informing Oakes students about issues and events occurring both at UCSC and across the University of California, and the appointment of students to university committees, including Academic Senate, Student Union Assembly, Student Committee on Committees, Core Council, and SUGB.
The Oakes Senate also sponsors and plans a variety of exciting events for the college. Events include The Big One, Oakes Town Hall, West Fest and Oakes Family Dinner.
Weekly Meetings
The Senate meets weekly to discuss relevant campus issues and hear presentations about campus programs and initiatives. *Senate Meetings are now hosted remotely through Zoom *.
Check the official Oakes Senate Instagram page for the link (uploaded weekly)! New faces are always welcome!
Got a question for us but can’t make our meeting time?
If you would like to present to Oakes Senate, please email oakessen@ucsc.edu.
If it is regarding a budget proposal, please refer to the “Request Funding” section below.
Get Involved
Oakes students are encouraged to attend meetings at any time during the quarter and are welcome to email elected chairs in advance of a meeting to request an agenda topic or present on a relevant issue (see email address above). Additionally, Oakes Senate hosts a Town Hall Meeting each quarter to give updates, answer questions, and hear ideas from Oakes students.
Any affiliated Oakes College student can gain voting status from Oakes Senate by attending three consecutive meetings. To retain voting privileges, senators must attend two-thirds of the Senate meetings each quarter.
Request Funding
Oakes Student Senate provides limited funding for the implementation of events and programs that serve the Oakes Community. To be eligible for funding from the Oakes Student Senate, you must be one of the following:
- A registered SOAR organization
- A registered Student Media organization
- An organization or club affiliated with OPERS
- A group or organization affiliated with a campus unit and/or academic department with a FOAPAL available for fund transfers
Please submit your funding request using the online form below. Once you have put in your request, you will be contacted by email with an invitation to present at a meeting. It is recommended you submit your funding request as far in advance as possible, as a limit is put on the number of funding proposals heard at each senate meeting.
After you have been confirmed on the agenda, be sure to bring a completed funding request form to your presentation. Copies can be found in the Oakes Student Life Office or you may print the PDF.
Read the Constitution
The Oakes Senate Constitution outlines the function and structure of the senate body, duties of senate chairs, guidance regarding funding awards, and rules around elections of chairs and representatives. The constitution was last updated in Fall 2019 and is reviewed for updates every three years.
Senate Calendar
Senate Meetings
Senate meetings are now on Zoom! Posted on the instagram bio weekly! Follow us on Instagram.
Senate Co-Chair
Name: Joshua Barsky
Pronouns: He/him/his
Major: Math Theory and Computation B.S. + Computer Science minor
Year: 5th Year
I love making a positive impact in my community and speaking on behalf of those whose voices need to be heard. I also love to see and contribute to the growth of my peers around me while I also learn and grow too. Oakes Senate gave me an opportunity to learn more about my community but most of all learn more deeply about myself and question my own upbringing.
Senate Co-Chair
Name: Miguel Salcedo Maciel
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Major: Politics
Year: 5th Year
In high school, student government always intrigued me, but by the time I decided to join it was too late. That interest followed me into college and into my first Oakes Senate meeting my freshman year. Unfortunately, I got discouraged to continue going after losing an election during that first meeting. One day I bumped into an Oakes Senate meeting as I was walking into the OLC with an old friend of mine in the beginning of my 3rd year. Noticing an interest in my eyes, my friend convinced me into staying and that same day I was elected into a position. Eventually that interest flourished into passion as I got more and more involved with Oakes Senate and the SUA. My Oakes Core class had sparked a passion of fighting for a more just society and Oakes Senate was an avenue for that, so I took it!
Chair of Events
Name: Veronica Angulo
Pronouns: She/Her/They
Major: Earth and Planetary Science B.S. with a focus on Geology
Year: 3rd Year
I wanted to be more involved in Oakes after I realized we didn’t have a generator for power outages. I wanted to see if I could stand with other student and make a difference. Anyone who wants to be involved in improving Oakes College as a whole. As well as anyone who just wants to befriend other Oakes Affiliates.
Chair of Public Relations
Name: Yael Gutierrez
Pronouns: He/him
Position: Chair of Public Relations
Major: Chemistry B.S with a concentration in Biochemistry + Physics minor
Year: 3rd Year
When I first applied to university housing, Oakes College was my first choice due to the community and values; I chose Oakes College not only for the beauty, but also to take part in Oakes Senate. The sense of inclusion and advocacy for underrepresented voices led me to become part of a welcoming community. I attended my first Oakes Senate meeting by myself which was nerve-racking. However, Oakes Senate welcomed me and I have made amazing friends. Additionally, I decided to join Oakes Senate to take part in discussions that will benefit the Oakes community. Being part of Oakes Senate has made me more aware of campus wide issues. OOOOOOAKES!
Chair of Records
Name: Kal Glenn
Pronouns: Any Pronouns (they/he/she)
Major: Community Studies and Education
Year: 3rd Year
I decided to join Oakes Senate because of the strong sense of community I feel here at Oakes college. I have met some of my favorites here and have enjoyed the classes that were given here in Oakes. This is a community I strongly care about and as a community studies I always want to create a string from folks of different and similar backgrounds.
Chair of Finances
Name: Rosalva Quintero
Pronouns: she/they
Major: Intensive Psychology Major and Linguistics Minor
Year: 4th Year
I joined Oakes Senate because I wanted to become more involved in my community and have my voice heard in important conversations/topics that would be impacting my community. Oakes Senate was also such a welcoming place when I first joined and I hope to bring that same welcoming energy to any new interests 🙂 I was introduced to Oakes Senate by a friend who was formerly involved and her experiences about the senate were so interesting which led me to attend the first meeting and now here I am!
Chair of Internal Communications
Name: Dayana Pérez
Pronouns: She/her
Major: Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics
Year: 3rd Year
Being a part of Oakes Senate means having a direct impact on shaping the policies and decisions that affect Oakes College. I really value the opportunity that the Senate provides to collaborate with like-minded individuals who I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise and the overall opportunity to participate in a platform that strives to make a difference while simultaneously creating lasting memories. The community at Oakes is amazing, and something I’m really proud I get to be a part of. I joined Oakes Senate because Oakes has become home, and I hope to make that a universal experience for other students.
Librarian
Name: Twisha Shah
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Global and Community Health
Year: Senior
I really like the goals that the team wanted to achieve and wanted to be a part of it to do something beneficial for the students of UCSC. It was a space where I could share my troubles and help others with theirs. Oakes Senate is a great place for any Oakes student who wants to build community, gain knowledge about university policies, organize enjoyable experiences for students, develop leadership skills, and who want to make lasting memories.
Oakes Student Senate officer positions are elected at the end of Winter Quarter. Officers serve yearly terms starting in Spring Quarter and ending in the following academic year’s Winter Quarter. Oakes Student Senate representative positions are elected at the beginning of Fall Quarter. Representatives serve yearly terms starting Fall Quarter and ending at the end of the Spring Quarter of the same academic year.
Oakes Senate Representatives
SUA Representatives
All New SUA members to be announced soon!!
The Student Union Assembly Representatives are required to attend both Oakes Student Senate weekly meetings and SUA weekly meetings. Reps are tasked with keeping the Oakes Student Senate informed with campus issues addressed by SUA as well as serving as a voice for the Oakes Community for SUA by voting on SUA issues on behalf of the Oakes Student Senate. SUA Reps are required to fulfill any commitments as it pertains to the Oakes Community from SUA.
Academic Senate Representative
The Student Academic Senate Representative is required to attend both Oakes Student Senate weekly meetings and all Academic Senate meetings. Reps are tasked with keeping the Oakes Student Senate informed of campus issues addressed by the Academic Senate as well as serving as a voice for the Oakes Community for the Academic Senate. The Academic Senate Rep is required to fulfill any commitments as it pertains to the Oakes Community from the Academic Senate.
SCOC Representative
The Student Committee On Committees Representative is required to attend both Oakes Student Senate weekly meetings and all SCOC meetings. Reps are tasked with keeping the Oakes Student Senate informed of campus issues addressed by the SCOC. SCOC Reps are also required to inform the Oakes Community of vacant Committee positions and actively recruit within the Oakes Community to fill those positions.
SUGB Representative
The Student Union Governance Board Representative is required to attend both Oakes Student Senate weekly meetings and all SUGB meetings. Reps are tasked with keeping the Oakes Student Senate informed of campus issues addressed by the SUGB. SUGB rep is required to fuifill an commitments as it pertains to the Oakes Community from the SUGB.
The Rigoberta Menchú Scholarship
Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a human rights activist from Guatemala. She primarily focuses on Indigenous women’s rights since the Guatemalan Civil War. Rigoberta Menchú also does a lot of work on promoting indigenous rights in the country of Guatemala. The Rigoberta Menchu scholarship will provide one Oakes student with $1,500 to the BayTree Bookstore in order to support them with school supplies.
This scholarship was started by Karina De Leon Montes, Oakes Senates Executive Chair, as her legacy item to Oakes College.
This scholarship will be awarded to ONE recipient per academic year. The scholarship recipient will be selected by a scholarship committee made up of Oakes Senate CPC, Senior Director, & Associate Director, and Oakes Senate Chair.
Application for this year is open until 11.18.2024
Requirements
- Oakes College Affiliate
- Good academic standing (2.0 & above)
- Must be enrolled in the Quarter following the application period
Timeline
Scholarship Opens: Monday, October 14th, 2024
Scholarship Closes: Monday, November 18th, 2024, @ 11:59 PM (No exceptions or late applications will be reviewed)
Scholarship Recipient Notified of award: January 3rd, 2025 via email.
Past Recipients
2021-22 Recipient: Lupe Martinez
Hi everyone,
My name is Lupe Martinez. I am a first-generation college student who is in their 5th year at UCSC! I’m an Oakes affiliate – GOOO OOOAKES!! I am a double major in MCD Biology & Education, Democracy, and Justice. Once I graduate, I will become a Genetic Counselor [manifesting], a health care professional specialized in genetics and counseling to help individuals and families assess their risk for inherited conditions such as genetic disorders or birth defects. I aspire to promote more equity and inclusion in the profession, but more importantly, to expand genetic counseling services and bridging cultural differences in genetic care for low-income, LBGTQ+, disabled, and BIPOC communities. As for outside of school, I currently work at the UCSC COVID-19 Testing Center and as a Programs Assistant for the Genomics Institute. I am honored to have received the Rigoberta Menchu award. I want to thank Oakes College for helping support my path towards higher education. It means so much to me and mi familia!