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Meet Eric
Eric Brock is an Afro-Latino, first-generation student who is a third-year political science major from North Las Vegas, Nevada. He has engaged American University through Black Affinity housing, President Sylvia Burwell's Council on Diversity and Inclusion, and other grassroots initiatives on mental health.
Like so many other families throughout the world, halfway through high school, Eric left his immediate family and hometown of Vegas for a better shot at life. His immediate family sacrificed their close bond for Eric to get a better education in Phoenix, Arizona with his extended family. Or as Eric puts it, "they pulled a Fresh prince of Bel-Air." While in Phoenix, he received the City of Phoenix's Outstanding Young Man of the Year award, and worked on city initiatives to protect residents from the Phoenix Police Department's invasive usage of artificial intelligence.
Select an issue to read the full details of our plans below.
On The Issues
Economic Relief for Students
Economic Relief for Students
Economic Relief for Students
Abolishing greek life
Economic Relief for Students
Economic Relief for Students
Title IX Reform
Economic Relief for Students
Title IX Reform
Mental Health
Student Workers
Title IX Reform
AUPD
Student Workers
Student Workers
Student Workers
Student Workers
Student Workers
Food Insecurity
Academic Support
Academic Support
Academic Support
Academic Support
Academic Support
Affinity Spaces
Academic Support
Affinity Spaces
Ethnic Studies
Ethnic Studies
Affinity Spaces
Economic Relief
Economic Relief for Students.
What is it?
Our plan is to repurpose the Student Involvement Fund and any other available AUSG moneys to be used as a discretionary grant spending for students who need economic assistance.
What does it do?
This plan provides economic relief to students who were financially impacted by Covid-19. This would serve as additional support for students to sustain themselves during this crisis.
Why do we need it?
The price of tuition is increasing and our economic landscape is changing. Many students and their families have lost their jobs, housing, and are in need of relief. For students working remotely, some may not have consistent access to a computer or wifi connection, establishing an unequal playing field for students. We need to promote financial equity on campus.
Has it been done before?
George Washington University has established an assistance fund for students needing to cover emergency expenses. The Chicago Public School District, The State University of New York, and LA Community College District have all distributed laptops to students.
How do we do it?
Work with the University administration to cut fees and lower costs for students. Advocate for a loan and buy program so the University can loan or buy remote students resources such as laptops or wifi.
Greek life
Referendum to Abolish Non Pre-Professional and Cultural Greek Life.
What is it?
Our plan is to have a referendum on whether Greek life (excluding Pre-Professional and Cultural fraternities and sororities) should be banned.
What does it do?
The referendum asks the students whether this type of Greek life should have a place on campus, given the systemic issues it exacerbates. It allows all students to have a voice in the decision making process.
Why do we need it?
The Instagram pages @BlackAtAmericanUniversity and @ExposingAbusers have shared multiple stories exposing racism and sexual assault, respectively. The sheer amount of these stories highlight the university’s inaction and the harm it poses to students of color and survivors of sexual assault. We need to dismantle how white supremacy and rape culture perpetuates themselves on campus.
Has it been done before?
West Virginia University, University of Virginia, and Clemson University have all disbanded their greek life.
How do we do it?
By working with the Student Coalition to Abolish IFC and Panhellenic Greek Life at AU, we can support their cause and allow them to lead the effort of dismantling this oppressive culture on campus.
AUPD
Community oversight of AUPD— until we defund.
What is it?
Our Police Oversight Committee would be a community-based accountability structure that consists of students, faculty, and staff. The Oversight Committee would be a transition plan until AUPD is defunded.
What does it do?
The Police Oversight Committee would be responsible for complaints rendered against the University’s police department and would recommend binding changes to policy and disciplinary measures.
Why do we need it?
Since Congress passed the Clery Act in 1995, data shows that sworn officers have increased while crime rates on campus have decreased. Having a community-led accountability structure allows students to hold a growing department of officers accountable that would otherwise slip through the bureaucracy of Human Resources, university administrators, or high-ranking university officials.
Has it been done before?
A similar committee exists at the University of Michigan and Brown University.
How do we do it?
By working with the Administration, we can restructure the accountability mechanism of AUPD. Eric Brock has worked with President Sylvia Burwell on multiple projects concerning the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan.
It has to go beyond reform.
There's a lot more work to do. Click the button below to see our other stances.
Title IX
Comprehensive Title IX reform.
What is it?
Our plan to redefine Title IX works to protect survivors, and to create transparency and consistency. We modeled our plan after activists around the country, currently advocating for change.
What does it do?
- An external review of the implementation of Title IX at American University, along with a parallel and incorporated committee for student oversight.
- Improved, mandatory, and comprehensive sexual assault and Title IX training for all University hires, students, and student-led organizations.
- The University publicly maintains its commitment to protecting survivors’ rights as outlined in current Title IX policies, despite proposed national rollback efforts.
Why do we need it?
American University has more federal investigations on its handling of Title IX than any other university in D.C.
Has it been done before?
Other universities, such as Princeton, have created an incorporated committee for student oversight that have produced multiple recommendations.
How do we do it?
We will work with leading activists and coordinate with HPAC and the Administration to draft a plan that prioritizes survivors and creates structural change.
There's more.
There's a lot more work to do. Click the button below to see our other stances.
Mental Health
Investing in Mental Health.
What is it?
Our plan to invest in mental health reforms a long overdue system that has left students from necessary care.
What does it do?
- Increases funding for physical infrastructure so mental health services can expand.
- Hires an additional case manager.
- Dedicates resources to students with pre-existing conditions.
- Moves the Counseling Center to an online scheduling system.
Why do we need it?
Mental health services currently have no way to expand their resources. The accreditation process for the Counseling Center requires more space for the University to hire more counselors.
Has it been done before?
Mental Health reform on college campuses is a national movement. While we are not alone in this fight, we would be among the first to effectively bring change.
How do we do it?
The Office of Campus Life has not returned the calls of organizers regarding these issues. We will use the office of AUSG and collective grassroots organizing to pressure the administration to advocate for these changes.
Student Workers
Support for Student Workers.
What is it?
Our plan is to create a task force of student workers to support their wants, needs and to expand remote work. It also makes the Federal Work Study (FWS) job search more transparent and update more regularly.
What does it do?
Gives greater transparency between student workers and the administration, assuring their needs are heard. By updating the FWS job search directory, it makes it easier for FWS to find employment on-campus.
Why do we need it?
FWS students struggle to find employment on-campus to satisfy the needs of their financial aid package. By working with the administration, we can expand support and services to benefit FWS students
Has it been done before?
The Ohio State University has worked on expanding their method of outreach to student workers, including job fairs, online ads, and direct outreach to contact potential hires.
How do we do it?
We will work with students, staff, and the Human Resources office to establish the task force and outline the best ways to support student workers, especially FWS students.
Food Insecurity
Fighting food insecurity on our campus starts with sharing meal swipes.
What is it?
Our plan for food insecurity and meals ensures that the University adopts an equitable meal-donation system.
What does it do?
- Creates a meal share program that allows students to donate or request meal swipes. There is no application or qualification process, and all requests will be handled discreetly.
- The University’s current model for food leaves many students without meal options during the end of the semester.
Has it been done before?
MIT created an app that allows students, both undergraduate and graduate, to access the shared meal system. AU has previously allowed students to donate swipes to students.
How do we do it?
We will work with students, staff, and the administration to coordinate with Chartwell in taking an equitable step towards food security on campus.
Academic Support
Creating flexibility for students starts with grades and attendance.
What is it?
Our plan to increase academic support ensures that the University reforms it’s approach to flexibility during a pandemic, from absences to access.
What does it do?
- Advocates for more flexibility with attendance to accommodate for students who are impacted by the coronavirus.
- Makes sure all in person classes are optional in order to keep students, especially immunocompromised students safe, as well as preventing people who were unable to secure housing after AU stopped allowing non freshman into dorms from being negatively impacted.
- Extends the Pass/Fail deadline to the end of the semester and make it available to all courses.
- Creates a discreet reporting system that allows students to vocalize barriers to access. This allows the university to understand who needs laptops, wifi, or other tools to perform successfully in remote learning.
- Adopts an additional reporting system that allows students to vocalize concerns with professors or other academic related issues during the semester.
Why do we need it?
We are still in the midst of a global pandemic and we as students should not be held to the same standard as we are during a normal semester. Amending the attendance policy would accommodate all students both in D.C and remote. We don’t know what the world will look like as the semester progresses, we need a flexible system that adapts with how the world is changing.
Has it been done before?
AU themselves extended the pass/fail deadline last year, they can do it again.
How do we do it?
We will work with students, staff, and faculty to coordinate with the Provost in order to tackle the inequities of access, accessibility, and success.
Affinity spaces
Dedicating affinity spaces on campus.
What is it?
An affinity space is a reserved location on campus for students with similar interests or identities (international students, veterans, and students of color).
What does it do?
Our plan for advocating for affinity spaces on campus structures student organizations for increased funding and spaces, and provides community and solidarity depending on the community and what best fits their needs.
Why do we need it?
Student organizations are continuing to be left out of the funding process and the capacity to reserve spaces. Transforming the way students advocate for affinity spaces will also allow student interaction and face time with the administration for additional resources.
Has it been done before?
Eric Brock started a petition for Black Affinity Housing and collected over a thousand signatures in a week after being inspired by hard-working upperclassmen and alum. Starting this semester, Black Affinity Housing will start at Hughes Hall, where after the pandemic, the Administration will continue its commitment and promise to a renovated Roper Hall with a dedicated budget and graduate assistant to carry out a promising program.
How do we do it?
After meeting with the specific community that requests affinity spaces or funding, Eric Brock will work with the existing contacts he made at the Office of Housing and Residence Life and administration, bringing students to the table to help facilitate and accomplish additional Affinity spaces around campus.
Ethnic Studies
Advocating for Ethnic Studies.
What is it?
Our plan to secure funding for Ethnic Studies requires a structural commitment from the University for current and future development.
What does it do?
Ensures that the University has a detailed plan to expand Ethnic Studies, such as Black and Latinx studies, with a commitment to hiring faculty of color and marginalized identities.
Why do we need it?
The University’s current lack of funding to Ethnic Studies “ignores” cultural academics and limits its expansion. The African American & African Diaspora Studies program is separated into multiple schools, with no core program. In the School of International Service, an African track is open-- but the university currently offers no classes to progress in the track.
Has it been done before?
The University of California, Los Angeles has a dedicated center for Chicano Studies.
How do we do it?
Consulting Professor Sybil Williams, the Director of African American and African Diaspora Studies, and the new Latinx studies Director, we will work with a culmination of students, faculty, and staff to coordinate with Provost in solidifying a strategic funding plan for Ethnic Studies.