Sanchez grew up witnessing violence and inequality while navigating cultural dichotomies. Before transferring to UC Berkeley, Sanchez made a meaningful impact on her community college campus as the president of the Students for Political Awareness and Action club and as an ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Know Your Rights Ambassador Program. Being a transfer student and observing low transfer rates at her community college give her unique insights on the specific inequities transfer students face. 

Her platforms revolve around five pillars: basic needs with regard to food security and menstrual resources, equity in the workforce and academia, accessibility to mental health resources, retention of student populations in community colleges and secure housing. With a strong emphasis on the pillars of basic needs and mental health, Sanchez hopes to collaborate with the farmers market to make nutritious food accessible, as well as extend the Basic Needs Center for students who cannot leave campus during breaks. This encompasses an extension of library hours, providing menstrual products in dorms and instituting anti-bias training within Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, and eTang to fight cultural stigmas surrounding mental health. However, to actualize these plans, Sanchez needs to narrow her focus. We hope to see her follow through with effective delegation, organization and focus to match her impressive track record. 

Ultimately, Sanchez is passionate about her platforms and recognizes the diversity among the transfer students community. From formerly incarcerated individuals to undocumented immigrants, students need a someone within the ASUC who will approach their struggles through an intersectional lens — and this is something Sanchez can bring to the table. 

Vote Aileen Sanchez for transfer representative.