Angelina Flores

Angelina Flores, a sophomore majoring in nursing, decided to run for office because she is a nontraditional student who is not involved in any organization but wants to make a difference.

“I don’t know much about ASUNM, and I need to educate more of the general public about ASUNM and make sure their voices are heard,” she said.

Flores described the role of an ASUNM senator as a representative accountable to students.

“They have to speak to students, get involved, hear any concerns and bring them up to Senate,” she said. “The senators must be the voice of the students.”

She said she is qualified to serve as a senator because she is different from students already represented on the Senate.

“I know I can go out there, talk with students and understand some of the same concerns they have,” she said.

Flores said her main goal is to educate students and inform them.

“I would do that by being involved in the Senate and The Coalition, which is the best entity that offers direct communication for the students,” she said. “I would go to them, not just sit in an office and wait for them to come to me.”

She said the biggest challenges ASUNM will face this year include dealing with the Daily Lobo’s funding, tuition increases and diversity on campus.

When asked to name three members of the Board of Regents, the president of the University and three student groups, Flores named NEZBY, Hispanic Engineering Society and M.E.Ch.A. as groups.

“I don’t know the regents or the president, but that’s part of what I plan to learn as a senator and don’t think I should be punished for that,” she said. “A lot of other students don’t know the answer to that question.”