Lia Washington

My name is Lia Washington, and I’m running for ASUCD Senate because I believe every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their education without unnecessary barriers standing in their way.

As a Political Science transfer student, working student, and community organizer, I understand that the challenges students face extend far beyond the classroom. From food and housing insecurity to transportation barriers and concerns about campus safety, too many students are left navigating systems that should be designed to support them.

My experiences in student government and community advocacy have taught me that leadership is not simply about having a seat at the table. It is about listening to the people you represent, asking difficult questions, challenging systems that are not serving students, and ensuring that student voices meaningfully influence the decisions being made.

As a candidate with the Empower slate, I am committed to advancing three priorities:

Basic Needs: Advocate for greater student input in basic-needs funding decisions, expand awareness and accessibility of campus resources, and strengthen support for working, low-income, and transfer students. Access to food, affordable housing, and reliable transportation should not determine whether a student can succeed in higher education.

Equity and Representation: Hold university and student government leadership accountable to their commitments to equity and inclusion. I will work to ensure that students from historically underrepresented communities have meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their education and campus experiences.

Campus Safety: Advocate for a safer, more accessible campus through student-informed improvements to reporting processes, stronger institutional accountability in addressing sexual violence, and greater attention to transportation safety.

I believe higher education should empower students to pursue their aspirations, not create additional obstacles to achieving them. Student government has a responsibility to address those barriers while remaining accessible, transparent, and responsive to the communities it serves.

My campaign is about empowering students to advocate for themselves, their communities, and the education they deserve.

Together, we can build a student government that doesn’t just represent students, but responds to them.

I would be honored to earn your support.