A.S. IVP Victoria Ly summer update

During the summer, Associated Students 2026-27 Internal Vice President Victoria Ly has been streamlining internal senate communication systems and developing plans to connect Associated Students with the larger student body.

The role of the Internal Vice President (IVP) is to oversee the Associated Students (A.S.) Senate and chair its weekly meetings. Ly, a fourth-year sociology and psychological & brain sciences double major, was a senator on the 76th Senate. She served on the Liaison Committee — a role that facilitates communication between the Senate and Boards, Committees and Units (BCUs). She described her new position as IVP being “an extension of that role.”

Ly has begun implementing communication channels that improve how BCUs advertise their events and initiatives through A.S. Ly explained that before when BCUs wanted to create advertisements, they had to go through three separate channels: fill out a form for a social media post, compile a newsletter and create a graphic. 

To streamline the BCU advertising process, Ly has been working with A.S. career staff to consolidate these forms into one system, improving efficiency for both parties. 

“Improving our communication system, both internally [and externally], is better for the team and A.S. and the people involved, but also for the broader student body,” Ly said. “With all the information in one spot, [students] don’t have to go searching for it.” 

Communication between the Senate and BCUs was a frequent point of concern during the previous Senate’s term; in an attempt to improve these relationships, Ly has been prioritizing communication between A.S. entities and highlighting the Senate as a resource to BCUs.

“I feel like sometimes last year [BCUs] were undersupported, and because they were undersupported, they failed to do some of their duties and that’s connected to Senate,” Ly said. “So I think providing the resources that both groups need to succeed and be able to do their jobs is already step one, and then step two is how do we communicate with each other.”  

Ly expressed that the Senate’s relations with BCUs have started off positively, crediting the time they spent in the summer to retrain officials and ensuring BCUs had all the necessary information they needed. 

Another issue Ly has been tackling is campus safety. Over the summer she has been supporting the Senate advocacy chair in pursuing safety initiative integration within A.S. and keeping the conversation about safety present. 

With the lack of a permanent A.S. entity focused on campus safety, Ly mentioned the possibility of the Senate introducing a new BCU or reviving the Public Safety Commission. Nonetheless, Ly plans to focus on collaborating with existing groups with similar goals in the meantime. 

Outside of her work as IVP, Ly has worked with fourth-year political science major and A.S. President E.J. Raad and fourth-year economics and philosophy double major and External Vice President for Local Affairs Noah Luken to solidify the University library hours, a goal that was set by the previous IVP and alum Enri Lala. As a result of their efforts, it now opens at 7 a.m. instead of 8 a.m., and late night study has been extended until 3 a.m. 

“We have been continuing to talk to the library, seeing what we can do, what students need,” Ly said. “I don’t think 24 hours will be back on the table anytime soon, but depending on what students need, [we’ll be] advocating for that.” 

Ly also hopes to develop a Gaucho mentorship program, in which students can connect with alumni in their field of study, who can serve as mentors. Ly believes it is “essential to have programs that are working on professional development” for students.  

Despite not having concrete plans yet, Ly has been thinking about ways to improve UC Santa Barbara’s campus pride. She explained when visiting other UC campuses that she noticed a difference in the way students represent their school. 

“It’s like when you go to those campuses, they’re screaming at you what school they are and it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride for being there,” Ly said. “[The pride is] everywhere telling you, ‘This is my school,’ and I feel like UCSB doesn’t really have that as much … I want to help things that foster a sense of belonging and pride.”

Before developing more detailed plans for her personal projects, Ly said her immediate priority is strengthening A.S.’s internal communication systems and improving transparency and coordination between its entities.

A version of this article appeared on p.3  of the Oct. 1 print edition of the Daily Nexus.