Grant Nichols, a junior at UNM, is running for Senate because he hopes to use his previous experience with ASUNM to benefit the University.
"This past year I was a senator, and I really enjoyed the experience," he said. "I felt there was a lot more I could do to serve the students. I wanted a chance to do it for another year with a little bit more experience under my belt."
Nichols, a political science major with a minor in biology, is running with the Connection slate. "I decided to run with the Connection because the president and vice-president candidates are hard workers," he said. "I admire the work ethic of the candidates."
Nichols said an ASUNM senator should have the ability to communicate with both students and administrators.
"I believe an ASUNM senator is a representative of the students and a liaison between the students and the administration," Nichols said.
Nichols said he is qualified to return to the Senate because he has experience with ASUNM - he has served as the chairperson of several Senate committees, including the finance committee.
"I've had an opportunity to work with a very diverse group of people," he said.
If elected, Nichols said he already has several goals for himself and for UNM.
"I hope to serve on the finance committee again," he said.
He said he would also like to make it easier for student groups to get funding. He said the current process needs to be improved.
"Communication needs to change with the current process," he said. "There needs to be a routine groups can follow. There isn't an established routine."
Nichols said he would also like to improve communication throughout UNM in general. He said he would like to achieve that goal by getting more groups interested in ASUNM's processes and improving the communication between student groups and student government.
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"A lot of stress has been put on Senate accountability," Nichols said, explaining some of the challenges ASUNM will face.
He also said a big challenge will be for the newly elected senators to keep the promises they have made during the recent campaign.
When asked to identify three members of the Board of Regents, the president of the University and three student groups, the candidate named Willard, Toliver and Eric Anaya as regents; Dr. William Gordon as president; NMPIRG, Green Community Project and Cultura as student groups.
by Jenna Naranjo
Daily Lobo
