If you’ve ever been interested in getting involved with student government, or have even just attended any of the events on campus sponsored by ASUCI, chances are that you may be familiar with the name Neil Bautista. With an extensive resume ranging from summer SPOP staffer to former Humanities Representative in the Legislative Council, it certainly is no surprise that his name is recognized amongst the student community. But besides his involvement with several campaigns and organizations around campus, what exactly makes Neil so deserving of this week’s Campus Celebrity? Her Campus spoke with the leader in Academic Affairs to answer just that.
As the current Vice President in the Office of Academic Affairs, Neil is responsible for providing input for university plans to promote the development of undergraduate studies, as well as focusing on the matters concerning the quality of academics. The Vice President must act as a strong advocate for the students’ needs. Neil makes it his priority to engage the students with issues that will affect them, and in turn, commits to listening to their interests and demands. Such issues and interests that have been addressed within the board of executives include tuition hikes, the potential loss of resources on campus, and even the call for divestment of UC funding from organizations in violation of human rights.
While most of the student body might recognize Neil by the position he carries in the Office of Academic Affairs, those who are more familiar with the work he does in ASUCI know that there is much more to his character than his title. Despite having 6 commissions and several ASUCI interns running under him, Neil destabilizes the structures of power that often alienate leaders from their people. He instead establishes a more personal relationship with the students by implementing mentorship programs within his office, and leadership courses geared toward first and second years.
Along with representing the students, Neil has also been a strong advocate for LGBT acceptance and awareness. Identifying as queer himself, and recognizing the need for a place for other students who identify gay (or are still in the closet) to be able to feel safe and accepted, Neil has worked closely with the LGBT Resource Center and with Delta Lambda Phi (the National Social Fraternity for gay, bi, or progressive men) to keep in touch with any current campaigns and to plan for future collaborative events.
With all these commitments on his plate, it’s hard to believe that Neil can dedicate sufficient time to schoolwork, much less commit time to any other projects. Not only can he balance his studies, ASUCI work, and a job with the UCI Extension program, but he is currently working on his senior thesis to present for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. Though he admits that it can be hard to find some time for himself, he genuinely enjoys serving in his position for the opportunity to speak with the students, hear their stories, and “help them find the different ways they can grow in this university.”
This year will be Neil’s last year working with ASUCI, as he will be graduating in June with a BA in English and a Minor in Spanish and Education. But for Neil, it certainly does not mean the end of the fight. A firm believer in the power of language, Neil plans to go to grad school to attend the rhetoric program with an emphasis on feminism, cultural studies, gender and/or sexuality so that he can study and understand how the language articulated in literature can spur forth an entire movement. “It really speaks to me…When I read other texts by queer Asian Americans or queer Latino/Hispanic authors, I can see how their inner sexual identity is interwoven into what they write, and therefore giving a voice to those who originally have none.”