Editor’s note: ASUC senate candidate profiles are organized by platform to highlight similarities and differences between candidates with similar goals. While a number of candidates are passionate about many issues, they were asked to identify the platforms that mattered to them most.

Dan Gotesdyner, Independent

Junior transfer student Dan Gotesdyner is running independently for ASUC Senate on platforms of increasing addiction support and addressing the cost of living.

Gotesdyner, a data science major, said he was inspired to run after struggling with addiction in the “substance vortex” of the college environment. His plans include collaborating with the Basic Needs Center to create a dedicated physical space on campus for those struggling with substance abuse.

Gotesdyner also aims to tackle the high cost of attending UC Berkeley, which he said can act as a “barrier to entry” for some. He wants to create an opt-in alternative for certain fees that students pay each semester, particularly the $229 transit fee and the $666 student services fee.

“I think we have the opportunity to make this campus better and more supportive for the students the (ASUC) is meant to serve, and I am running to do my very best to make that happen,” Gotesydner said.

Cece Hammond, Independent

Sophomore Cece Hammond, a cognitive science and media studies double major, is running independently for ASUC Senate on platforms of basic needs, health and wellness and campus sustainability, as well as academic and professional opportunities.

Hammond said she hopes to bridge the gap between how many good ideas are floated and how many end up being executed, focusing on improving “vital” campus resources and basic needs as a way to promote student success and well-being on campus.

Currently, she serves as a communications associate under the Office of the President and on the Sexual Violence Commission, alongside other roles. Outside of the ASUC, Hammond works for UC Berkeley Recreation and Wellbeing and is the vice president of executive affairs for Kappa Alpha Theta.

“I don’t think that anyone here deserves to feel like a small fish in a big pond,” Hammond said. “It’s a big university, but at the end of the day, we are all simply a community.”

Kavyun Parker, Independent

Sophomore Kavyun Parker is running for ASUC Senate as an independent to advocate for affordable housing accessibility, BIPOC advocacy and educational resource development.

Parker, a lead executive for Black and African student empowerment in Senator Margaret Solomon’s office, has two years of ASUC experience and is endorsed by the Black Student Union.

Parker hopes to expand visibility for affordable housing opportunities — such as the Berkeley Student Cooperative — and collaborate with local organizations to increase food security. He also aims to expand Open Educational Resources to improve affordability.

Parker further plans to increase internship and fellowship listings to expand opportunities for BIPOC and first-generation students, among others. He will also push for greater accountability for student organizations regarding discrimination and increased Black representation in institutional decision-making.

“If there’s something wrong, it’s wrong; if something is right, it’s right — and I’m gonna stand up and I’m gonna say it,” Parker said.