By Aimah Moiz
Can you introduce yourself?
I am Marije Sluiskes and I am 18 years old. I am currently in my second semester and my majors are Physics and Chemistry.
Which position are you running for?
I am running for AAC student advisor!
When did you decide you wanted to run?
I decided I wanted to run at the end of the last semester. For some time, I already knew I wanted to be in a big board; at some point, I thought: “Why wait for another year? Why not right now?” Right now, I feel I am very sure of it.
Why the AAC in particular?
Because the AAC is representing students and trying to improve academic life. I feel that, at UCR, you have this unique opportunity to have some influence over the Board of Studies; at regular Dutch universities, you do no have the kind of influence that the AAC has here. So I feel that we should really use that opportunity. That is what I really wish to do and I feel that I can contribute something.
Why do you feel you would be the right person for this position?
The student advisor is the main contact person of the whole AAC. As student advisor, you should know a lot about the AAC, as well as be able to answer any incoming questions. I find that interesting and it is most likely something I would be good at: especially since I know that I am an approachable person. I am confident that people will be able to approach me with all their questions.
Do you think that you have a very good idea of what the AAC is about?
I think I do now, because I did research, but I feel that most people are really unaware of the AAC’s responsibilities and its influence, because it is not as visible a board as RASA, for example. However, it is very important to know what the AAC does because it is all about your academic life. It is what you are in UCR for, your academics, and people should take more interest in it, whether or not they are interested in running for a position in it.
Is there anything else you would like to tell your voters?
That is a hard question. I have the feeling that it may not seem like the AAC is a very important board; I partly think this is because not everyone has a clear view of what the AAC does. One of my main objectives is to work on the visibility and transparency of the AAC in general.
Aimah Moiz, Class of 2017, is a Mathematics and Physics major from Karachi, Pakistan.
