Editor,
Since this is my first year at UNM, I did not know a lot about ASUNM. Last semester, I didn’t really pay attention to the election, but this time it was impossible to ignore. Everywhere I went I was assaulted by chalked up sidewalks proclaiming The People or The Connection slates. On Election Day, we were all bombarded by handouts telling us who to vote for or were bribed with candy handouts. I was so annoyed that I decided to look into these two slates. What I found was disturbing.
The People might was well stop hiding who they really are and face up to their true colors. They claim to stand for diversity, but as far as I could tell they are all Hispanic. In fact, as far I can tell, they are all members of M.E.Ch.A., El Centro de La Raza or Lamda Theta Phi. I will let you make your own connections.
In my hasty investigation, I also concluded that The Connection was a loose conglomerate of fraternity and sorority members. This slate consisted solely of the Greek community.
After making these discoveries, I decided I would definitely vote, so off to the voting booth I went with a list of The People in one hand and a list of “The Connection” in the other. I was determined to vote for whoever was not on either of those lists, but wait … no one was.
Are the Hispanics and Greeks the only ones interested in student government? Do these two groups represent the whole of UNM? Does anyone even care besides them?
Many students seem to believe that the student government does not involve or affect them. Those on the The People and The Connection slates know differently.
It’s time the rest of us wake up and get involved in the decisions involving this campus and the activities and the funds associated with it. Let’s open our eyes and see the dangers of allowing either one of these two organizations to continue to have a stranglehold over our campus.
Neither of these groups represents the true diversity of our campus. It is too late for the spring election, but let’s not let it happen again in the fall.
Stop the apathy — get involved.
- Matthew Thompson
UNM freshman
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