Candidates running to be the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s international student representative emphasized the importance of legal services and fighting feelings of isolation at a debate Wednesday.
The USA Elections Board and the Daily Bruin co-hosted a series of debates between candidates in the upcoming USAC election. Two candidates are running for the position of international student representative.
[Related: LIVE – USAC 2025 Debates: Night one]
Third-year psychology student Keya Tanna said that she would like to implement new initiatives for career counseling, legal support and mental health resources. As part of her legal support platform she said she would focus on supporting students facing visa insecurity.
Kristiano Sleiman, a second-year physics student , said he wanted to provide access to mental health and legal services, while promoting pre-existing programs and working with the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars.
As part of her mental health platform, Tanna said she would launch “Louder than Labels,” an art installation based on using identity alongside UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services to provide mental health services.
“My goals are that all of you feel at home and feel a sense of belonging and safety on campus. You shouldn’t have to prove that you belong on this campus, because you already do,” Tanna said.
Sleiman – who said he is a dual Lebanese and Australian citizen – said he aims to implement a new orientation program targeted for students from different academic systems, provide more English-as-second-language workshops and continue the ISR office’s cultural events, such as cultural dinners.
Tanna said a primary concern of international students is securing a job interview or offer that could sponsor their visa.
Sleiman, who said he joined the ISR office as a first-year student, said his experience as USAC President Adam Tfayli’s chief of staff demonstrated his experience and track record.
“I came here alone, I didn’t have family, I didn’t have friends here,” Sleiman said. “I left everything behind 10,000 miles away, and so my aim now is to abolish that sense of isolation, and I’m doing so using an accurate track record.”
Students can vote in the election on MyUCLA from 8 a.m. May 9 until noon May 16.
