James Cajete

Senate candidate James Cajete, a senior majoring in computer engineering, said the biggest problem facing ASUNM next year basically is student apathy.

“A lot of the funding questions allocations and safety issues, but student involvement it the biggest problem right now,” he said. “Look at Senate meetings that have only four or five students there. We need to get students involved, which is a big part of why I am running.”

Cajete said that as an engineering student and president of a student organization, he understands the problems with ASUNM.

“I think it’s just time to get real student opinions voiced,” he said. “I know how ASUNM conducts itself and that the flow of information is not really there, so I think the students need someone who will listen to them.”

He described the role of an ASUNM senator as a person who listens to everyone.

“They are supposed to listen to everyone who elects them and their sole purpose is to relay the voice of student body to the Senate. Basically, they’re like a medium. They’re our voice.”

Cajete said any student on campus is qualified to serve as a senator as long as they are willing to work hard.

“I think I qualify because I have the will power to communicate with people, and I want people to be heard,” he said. “I really am tired of the common student not being heard.”

He said his top priority as a senator would be to get the students’ message across and make sure other senators are listening to their concerns.

When asked to name three members of the Board of Regents, the president of the University and three student groups, Cajete named Larry Willard, Sandra Begay-Campbell and Eric Anaya as regents; William Gordon as president; and American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Society of Women Engineers and C.I.R.C.L.E. as student groups.