Oct. 13th’s Undergraduate Students Association Council meeting will perhaps be best remembered for its discussion of the controversial “Kanye Western” themed party co-hosted by the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority. However, it was at this same meeting that Genevieve Javidzad, an active Jewish student at UCLA and Pre-Law Society board member, was unanimously confirmed to become the next Judicial Board justice.
The Judicial Board serves as the judicial branch of USAC, reviewing actions of elected student officials and funding bodies in accordance with the Undergraduate Student Association Constitution and Bylaws. The board is made up of five members: one Chief Justice and four Justices.
Javidzad, a third-year English major, brings a passion for judicial issues to the board. She began to note the significance of the Judicial Board from the moment she stepped foot on campus, following cases that were brought before the board.
Throughout her first two years at UCLA, she made learning about USAC’s judicial process a priority. Years later, she brings such knowledge as she takes her seat on the board that controls that same judicial process.
“I decided to become actively involved because it is truly a rewarding role to create a campus environment where students feel safe to voice their concerns if they feel there was an injustice on our campus,” Javidzad said. She hopes to bring a new and unique perspective to the board. Along with Chief Justice Rachel Beyda and Justice Michael Vaysman, she will be one of the board’s three Jewish members.
Before her unanimous confirmation, however, Javidzad went through a long and competitive application process. She applied through the Office of USAC President Heather Rosen, and interviewed with both the office’s Chief of Staff and the USAC Appointments Review Committee, before ultimately presenting her case to the Council.
As Justice Javidzad takes her seat, one thing is clear: as the newest member of the five-person board, she can and will have the opportunity and ability to make a difference on campus.
