Joshua Gabbay

My name is Josh Gabbay, and I am running for On Campus Senator. As a first-year Economics and Accounting student living in the dorms, I know firsthand what it means to navigate a new campus, build community, and figure out the complexities of student life, including housing.
UCSB is one of the most vibrant and talented student communities in the country, but too many students feel disconnected from the resources and support they need, especially when it comes to housing. The transition from on-campus living to finding a place in Isla Vista is overwhelming. Lease agreements, tenant rights, deadlines, and costs are all confusing and stressful to navigate without proper guidance. Students deserve better. I want to push for clearer, more accessible housing resources, dedicated workshops, and direct connections to advisors so that no student has to figure it out alone or make a costly mistake.
Beyond housing, I bring a genuine commitment to building community. Through my involvement in the Entrepreneurship Club and Gaucho Real Estate Association, I have built relationships across campus and developed a real understanding of what students care about. I also founded SubleaseIV, a platform built specifically to help UCSB students find and list subleases in Isla Vista. I built it because I watched students scramble to find housing over the summer with no centralized place to turn, paying too much or settling for bad situations. SubleaseIV now gives students a free, student-run tool to navigate that process. That same instinct to identify a real problem and build a real solution is exactly what I will bring into the Senate.
I am not running to add a title to my resume. I am running because I genuinely care about the students on this campus and want to make their experience better, more supported, and more connected. I would be honored to earn your vote.