Photo collage by Chelsea Nguyen Fleige/Spartan Daily
Cristopher Acosta
Cristopher Acosta, Los Angeles native and political science junior, said his Greek life involvement makes him the best candidate for Associated Students director of intercultural affairs because he has met a plethora of diverse students at San Jose State.
“I feel like I have a very broad understanding of what it means to be a minority,” Acosta said in a phone interview with the Spartan Daily. “I want to be able to provide that representation of understanding and empathy.”
He adds that even though this is his first time running for any position in student government, he is confident his studies in political science will come in handy.
As director of intercultural affairs, he said he would work to make SJSU’s resources abundantly accessible to all students. Through his experience as a peer advisor, he said he learned that first year students did not know the resources available to them.
Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Acosta said there needs to be more of an emphasis on helping international students mentally, particularly those who are from outside the country and cannot go home.
“We’re talking about students that have chosen to come to San Jose State that are almost stranded here,” Acosta said.
Alaa Salim
Computer science junior Alaa Salim said that as an international student, she is the best choice for Associated Students director of intercultural affairs because she understands the plight of minority students.
“I feel like I’ve been a minority my entire life and that hasn’t changed right now,” Salim said in a phone interview with the Spartan Daily. “I understand and empathize with a lot of people’s concerns who are marginalized.”
Even though Salim is running for student government at San Jose State for the first time, she said interning for De Anza College’s student body government helped her develop the skills necessary for the job.
If elected director of intercultural affairs, Salim said she wants to address how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected minority students at SJSU.
Salim said she would assure students that resources such as the UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center, mental health services and housing needs are properly funded and will continue to be available.
SJSU will become more inclusive and transparent in its policy decisions if she secures a role in Associated Students, Salim said.
“I don’t want anyone, anyone, regardless of their background, their legal status . . . to feel like they don’t have a voice.”