Why are you running in the ASUO Election?
Hi!! My name is Amaya Peralta (she/her/hers), and I am a junior studying sociology and political science, with a minor in PPPM. I have been part of the ASUO executive team for 2 years. In my roles, I have worked to bridge the connection between UO students and Oregon State Legislators, strengthening student autonomy, as well as creating the foundation to re-establish successful student advocacy bodies beyond the UO campus, such as the Oregon Student Association. During my term as the ASUO Executive Director of Advocacy, I organized a student-led lobby day, which advocated for the passage of HB 4079, an I.C.E. notification bill. Through these experiences, I have seen what student power looks like and why it is essential to the success of our student body. I chose to run for ASUO Vice President with UO Student Power because I am passionate about student advocacy and ensuring that students have a voice. As ASUO Vice President, I plan to collaborate with students to organize around important social issues and make tangible change within the UO community, which is only possible through collective student power. Vote for me and UOSP 04/06-04/10
What are three key student-focused priorities that you would work on if elected?
Quadrian and I both have extensive experience with ASUO, and we have heard and experienced many issues that the student body cares deeply about. If elected, we would: 1.) Continue the fight for a Latinx Cultural Center. Latinx students make up almost 20% of the UO student population, yet we do not have a physical space for our community. With the current political climate and attacks on Latinx communities across the nation, now is the time for the university to step up and show students that we are safe, respected, and that we belong at the UO. As a member of the Latinx Student Coalition, I am committed to building the foundation of a standalone Latinx Cultural Center that holds space for Latinx organizations and students alike to come together and sustain a community. 2.) Institutionalize 24-hour libraries. In the 2025-2026 school year, UOSP successfully launched a pilot program during week 10 and finals week to keep the Science Library open 24 hours for students. If elected, Quadrian and I plan to grow this program. We would work with the library department to increase funding, making this program permanent, as well as expanding to the Knight Library. We want to ensure that libraries are accessible to students at all hours of the day, while providing adequate support for essential student services. 3.) Re-establish the Oregon Student Association (OSA). OSA officially dissolved in 2024, which left a gap in student advocacy and power in the Oregon State Legislature. The Oregon Student Association supported advocacy across the state, giving students a collective voice. UO Student Power is committed to bringing back the Oregon Student Association or a similar entity, building a coalition across all Oregon public university student governments, and advocating for students’ rights and for issues that students care about. With this, we hope to connect students with the legislature through accessible lobby days, training, and workshops. With the re-establishment of the Oregon Student Association, we can ensure that students have a strong voice in policy-making that impacts our state. As Vice President, I would work extensively on all of the projects outlined above while supporting the executive team. In my role, I hope to bridge the connection between ASUO executive, senate, and the larger student body, educating students on how student government serves student needs, and how collective action can lead to student power.