About 20 students marched to Scholes Hall chanting "No tuition increases" after an election rally sponsored by M.E.Ch.A in Smith Plaza Monday.
Their voices echoed through the administrative hallways as they knocked on and tried to open doors that said, "Please Come In," but were locked.
The students, which included presidential candidate and ASUNM Sen. Tim Serna, Sen. Javier Martinez and Senate candidate Celestina Torres, were protesting the Board of Regent's consideration of a tuition increase that will be decided today at 1 p.m. in the Roberts Room, room 230, of Scholes Hall. The group carried a flier that listed concerns to givep to the Board of Regents, stating that it wants a fair process to inform students about the tuition increase, student input involved with the decision and a published breakdown of where last year's 15 percent increase went.
When Bill Gordon arrived to his office, he stood in the doorway in front of the group listening to comments and explaining that the University has to raise tuition at least 3 percent to give faculty and staff fair pay, and that the Legislature is expecting an additional 5 percent increase.
"Next time, all you need to do is make an appointment," he said, commenting on their march through Scholes Hall.
Avelina Martinez, a co-chair of M.E.Ch.A., invited all people and candidates to speak at the rally about the tuition increase and ASUNM election issues. Candidates and students encouraged voting and shared their platforms over SUB construction noise at a podium in front of about 40 people outside of Zimmerman Library.
Ben Tucker, a Progressive Student Alliance member, encouraged students to attend Monday's Finance and Facilities meeting in Scholes Hall and today's regents meeting because the administration is not educating students about its budget.
"We need a small revolution here to make sure our tuition doesn't go up," Tucker said.
He said the Board of Regents is making UNM "a Harvard on the Rio Grande" because it is raising tuition to a level that is too high for people to afford - especially poor students.
Tucker tried to get the crowd to chant, "Acknowledge me or go to hell - another student to rebel," but few responded.
Senate President Pro-Tem Andrea Cook said the rally was a great opportunity to let students know about the regents meeting. Cook, who is running for ASUNM president, and vice-presidential running mate, Sen. Steve Aguilar, encouraged the crowd to speak with them about their platforms.
Sen. Grant Nichols, running for re-election on The Connection slate, encouraged students to find out who the candidates are and to vote on Wednesday. He said students should vote for Amendment 1, which eliminates the use of student fees to fund the Daily Lobo, because the money is unused by the newspaper and could be better spent on student organizations.
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Celestina Torres, running for Senate on The People slate, said many ASUNM candidates from past elections spoke only about their platforms without addressing other student issues. She said she wants to hear student's thoughts about funding and amendments prior to Senate meetings if she is elected.
"My issues are your issues," she said to the crowd. "And that's why I'm running."
Serna, presidential candidate on the People slate, emphasized to the crowd that the Board of Regents and president would not exist without students, and that he would do his best to represent concerns to the administration.
"It's about time that someone has the ganas to do something for the students," he said.
