TEDDY FOR PRESIDENT

Hey y’all! My name is Theodora “Teddy” Lake, I use she/her pronouns, and I’m a third-year student studying political science. Outside of the classroom, I serve as an ASUC Senator,* as well as the Chair* of the University and External Affairs Committee. My work as an ASUC Senator,* centers on academically, socially, emotionally, and artistically empowering the campus community, with a specific emphasis on the queer/trans community, as I am the community’s only endorsed ASUC Senator*.

Through all of my many projects, resolutions, and programs, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the ASUC, which has allowed me to identify its often-overwhelming flaws. Additionally, I’ve learned how to communicate directly with students to convey their positions in my advocacy and make them feel connected to and invested in student governance.

I’m running for ASUC President,* because I’m not done fighting for the best that Berkeley can be— and that work cannot be accomplished alone. As President*, I will continue to use my platform and privilege to center others over myself, while also challenging this University to become a better version of itself. My platforms are informed by three questions I ask myself every day.

How can we make the ASUC into an institution that works for everyone?

How can we energize the campus behind a shared sense of community?

What does it mean to truly be the #1 public University?

To reform the ASUC, I plan to take up a series of initiatives that will, ultimately, increase the ASUC’s transparency to the campus community, broaden accessibility to the ASUC for all students (especially those historically excluded from the institution), and reimagine the ASUC’s potential to positively impact student life and beyond. With respect to campus climate, I will use the Presidency to develop impactful programming that connects the campus community and intentionally uplifts diverse narratives, amplify student priorities through strategic advocacy, and hold the University accountable for its promises to center those in the margins. Finally, I plan to push Berkeley to care more deeply for its students, by streamlining access to basic needs for food insecure and unhoused students, implementing alternative safety tactics to reduce militarized police presence, and establish an all-encompassing understanding of wellness on campus.

I’m ready. Are you?

Read more about my platforms and goals below!

AN ASUC FOR YOU

If only one thing about the ASUC is clear to students on campus, it’s that the Association is ineffective, out-of-touch, and inaccessible. As ASUC President,* Teddy will transform the ASUC into an institution that works for everyone, specifically by addressing matters pertaining to its transparency, accessibility, and impact. Firstly, Teddy will implement measures to increase the ASUC’s transparency to the campus community, so that the population is able to better hold the ASUC accountable. Teddy will, secondly, create reforms to broaden accessibility to the ASUC for all students, especially those historically excluded from the institution. Finally, Teddy will work with leaders and campus stakeholders to reimagine the ASUC’s potential to positively impact student life and beyond.

RECONFIGURING THE CAMPUS CLIMATE

With the tense sociopolitical climate looming overhead, UC Berkeley’s campus climate has become deeply unhealthy. AS ASUC President,* Teddy will energize the campus behind a shared sense of community, specifically through programming, advocacy, and holding the University accountable for its target 2020 goals. Firstly, Teddy will use the Office of the President to develop impactful programming that connects the campus community and intentionally uplifts diverse narratives. Teddy will, also, keep constant channels of communication open for the student body, so that her advocacy priorities as President* remain in harmony with the most pressing needs on campus. Finally, Teddy will ensure UC Berkeley is ready to enter 2020, by holding the University accountable for its years-old promises to center those in the margins.

BECOMING BERKELEY

Despite being heralded as the “#1 Public University” in America, UC Berkeley consistently fails its most vulnerable students. As ASUC President,* Teddy will challenge administrators, faculty, and students to think more critically about what it truly means to be the “#1 Public University,” particularly with respect to basic needs, safety, and wellness on campus. Firstly, Teddy will develop infrastructure to streamline access to basic needs for food insecure and unhoused students, while also giving consideration to UC Berkeley’s food insecure and unhoused neighbors. Teddy will, also, work to implement alternative safety tactics to reduce militarized police presence on campus, which will ultimately make Berkeley safer for students more likely to suffer police violence. Lastly, Teddy will work with relevant campus entities to combat the culture of self-sacrificing and establish an all-encompassing understanding of wellness on campus.

Qualifications and Leadership Roles

ASUC Senator*, Endorsed by the LGBTQ+ Community (2018-2019)

Chair*, University and External Affairs Committee (2018-2019)

Undergraduate/ASUC Representative*, Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on LGBTQ+ Communities on Campus (2018-2019)

ASUC Representative*, Admissions Communications Student Advisory Board (2019)

ASUC Representative*, UC Berkeley Budget Taskforce (2019)

ASUC Representative*, Community Projects Advisory Board (2018-2019)

ASUC Representative*, Lower Basement Space Allocation and Renewal Committee (2019)

ASUC Liaison*, Residence Hall Association (2018-2019)

Revisions Coordinator*, ASUC Advocacy Agenda (2018-2019)

Allocations Senator*, Public Service Fund (2018-2019)

Director*, QT+ Health and Wellness Summit (2019)

Founder*, QT+ Study Buddy Search (2019)

Founder*, QT+ Student Needs Survey (2018)

Founder*, GIA MAG (2018)

Title IX Lobby Team Leader*, EAVP Washington DC Lobbying Trip (2018)

Student Assistant*, Archeological Research Facility (2018-2019)

Director*, “Bat Boy: the Musical” (2017)

Graphic Designer*, BareStage Productions (2018-2019)

Lead Event Manager*, Bring Change to Mind (2017)

Lead Event Manager*, The Jenesse Center for Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention (2017)

Associate Event Manager*, Kershaw's Challenge (2017)

Visiting Events Associate*, The TransLatin@ Coalition (2017-2018)

Featured Actor*, BareStage's "Heathers: the Musical" (2017)

Founder & CFO*, The Last Orchard Theatre Company (2015-2017)

Founding Member*, LACHSA PRIDE (2016)

Program Volunteer*, AYSO's Very Important Players (2011-2016)

Director*, The Last Orchard’s “Bad Seed” (2015)

Cast Member*, The Disney Store (2018-2019)

Events Assistant*, The Artemis Agency (2018)

Intern*, The Artemis Agency (2017)

Student Theatre Department Head*, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (2015-2016)

* As always, titles are for identification purposes only.