Shaina Taebi
Hello! My name is Shaina Taebi and I am a second year Political Science and Philosophy double major. As International Student Representative, I want to seek to promote the safety of students and their soundness of mind. Due to a culmination of issues at the federal level and foreign conflicts, international students are continuously being met by pressures from external forces. As a first generation immigrant, I am familiar with how difficult the immigration process is, as it has tainted my entire life. I am also familiar with the difficulties of coming to an entirely new environment with an unfamiliar language and having to try and assimilate to the culture. Knowing the stress of these factors I want to work to ease any stress our international community may face when it comes to their immigration status, particularly given the presidential administration’s course of action. Working previously as a legal intern, who shadowed an immigration attorney, I have experience supporting clients through the process of seeking asylum. I want to use my previous skills and experience and work to further partnerships that would continue to expand legal resources available for the international community. But beyond the legal element of this position, I want to also work to further build the community. Currently a series of language classes are facing cuts or being downsized. Oftentimes language classes may serve as an opportunity for students to build that community, and I want to work to try and maintain those spaces. I also want to work with student led organizations to create more events that will continue to celebrate their community. One of my primary values is openness, and I want to apply that mindset to the position by working more closely with organizations to ensure their concerns are heard and their needs met. I want to help support events that would best uplift each community. Additionally, in line with the primary goals of the Sawt slate, I want to work to continue to ensure that the Davis community is abiding by ethical spending. While I believe that there has been a movement made towards allocating funding in a more ethical manner, there is still much progress to be made. My final main priority is to make myself a resource on campus. As it stands, there is still a large population of students that do not feel represented or feel that the student government is not accessible. By being present and active in the community, I want to seek to build a connection with all the different corners of campus in order to ensure that no voice goes unheard. Particularly when considering the continued pressure placed on international students nationwide, I believe that building and supporting a community on campus is essential now more than ever.