Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside (ASUCR) members impact UCR through advocacy, the creation of initiatives through bills and resolutions and collaboration with the campus community. To familiarize the student body with the actions of their student representatives, The Highlander met with five of them — two Vice Presidents and three Senators — to learn more about their recent and upcoming initiatives.
Anahita Hooshyari far – Vice President of Sustainability
Coming into the Vice President of Sustainability (VPS) position with three years of ASUCR experience, Hooshyari far has been able to implement projects that have been in the office’s pipeline.
For instance, Hooshyari far has planned the Sip n’ Save project since her freshman year and ultimately launched it during winter of 2026. The project is a collaboration between the Green Campus Action Plan (GCAP) and the Highlander Union Building (HUB) Dining, which incentivizes students to bring reusable cups to decrease plastic waste.
Among other recent projects, Hooshyari far also aims to expand her office’s goals to center “climate emotions, climate justice and also the people … people and the environment aren’t separate from each other.”
With this aim, Hooshyari far hosted events such as the Climate Cafe, which allowed students to discuss their emotions regarding climate concerns, and a screening of the HBO film “Katrina Babies,” which discussed the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Black community in New Orleans.
In her final quarter, Hooshyari far will focus on implementing other projects, such as kickstarting a Recycling Regalia initiative and installing compost bins in campus housing communities.
Brandon Edward Dunbar – Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Having stepped into his role at the beginning of the winter quarter, VP of DEI Dunbar has been slowly transitioning into the role and working on several initiatives. As such, he has been making efforts to increase inclusivity in the office and be more present in the community.
He notes his intersectionality and unique identity as a non-traditional college student as central to shaping his approach to DEI work, allowing him to have the mindset of “we are DEI first, not ASUCR first.”
He further noted that the Office of DEI hosts a Diversity Council comprising representatives from each of the Student Resource Centers on campus as a means to represent the voices of students from each of the student populations served by those centers.
VP of DEI Dunbar ultimately claimed, “I’m more of a people person than I am more of a student [government] person.”
Anthony Ching – College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) Senator
CNAS Senator Ching has served as a senator for two years and expanded on two resolutions currently in his legislative pipeline.
The first, a textbook transparency resolution, would call on course descriptions to more accurately reflect fees for required textbooks before a student signs up for a course.
Ching explained that this effort would build upon prior initiatives by senators to advocate for open textbook programs and pave the way for faculty to adopt open textbooks or possibly open low cost courses.
Ching’s other resolution would focus on expanding public knowledge of pre-existing resources to support CNAS students in finding post-graduate opportunities and show administration a demand for more.
To accomplish this, Ching is planning on collaborating with the CNAS Dean Peter W. Atkinson, the Career Center and the post grad career opportunities center.
As a possible upcoming project, Ching is looking to create a resolution to call for further grade transparency in courses. Motivated by his personal experiences and conversations with friends, he is currently looking to survey other students and assess possible demand for this action.
Rohan Vig – College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) Senator
CNAS Senator Vig serves on the Legislative Advocacy Committee and GCAP Committee, and was also a GCAP intern in the year prior. His time as a GCAP intern centered around environmentally progressive legislation, which has influenced his current focus on environmental issues as a senator.
Recent resolutions he has worked on include a UC Student Association housing resolution highlighting the struggles students face in regard to accessing affordable housing.
Furthermore, after seeking feedback from student athletes about issues with the We Are Highlander Spirit Committee, he explained efforts to integrate the committee under the Office of the President as an Athletics Liaison.
In terms of his advocacy for environmental justice, Senator Vig has worked on a resolution in regard to lack of consideration for Indigenous people at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, as well as a resolution advocating for decarbonizing heating systems.
Pia Prashanth – School of Public Policy (SPP) Senator
SPP Senator Prashanth sits on the Legislative Advocacy Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee.
Her work in these committees includes championing 24-hour library access, advocacy for the local government, progress on the University Terrace Homes project and generally expanding ways in which she can support SPP students with her unique access to the dean.
Senator Prashanth has spearheaded resolutions asserting ASUCR’s stance in solidarity with the Iranian community and the undocumented and immigrant communities at UCR. Additionally, she has also worked on resolutions acknowledging Women’s History Month and gender inequity within higher education, as well an in-progress resolution acknowledging Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Looking to the future, Senator Prashanth would like to meet with university administration to ensure immigration enforcement activity on California college and university campuses is being properly reported, as outlined in California Senate Bill 98.
Describing herself as cognizant of being only one Senator and individual, Senator Prashanth has initiated a Dean’s Student Advisory Board that represents students across different years and demographics. The board serves to identify and close the gap with any issues experienced by SPP students.
