Jacque Garcia
If Jacque Garcia, a member of the Vision slate, is elected to the ASUNM senate, one of her top priorities will be bringing ideas from the UNM community back to the student government for implementation, she said.
Garcia, a freshman majoring in psychology, said getting the word out about the Associated Students of UNM is crucial to the organization’s effectiveness.
“We need to inform people about our activities and invite them to participate,” she said. “I’m not sure what the [ASUNM] policy is on meetings, but I think we need to have input from a lot of different people.”
In her short time at UNM, Garcia said she has noticed a sense of exclusiveness exists around campus.
“There is a huge amount of diversity here, but sometimes it seems like people are just doing their own thing,” she said. “We need to bring all of that diversity together.”
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Good communication skills and an optimistic attitude are among the qualities Garcia said would make her a good senator. She also said her high-energy and outspoken personality would benefit ASUNM.
“I think that, recently, political issues are on a lot of students’ minds too,” she said.
Garcia works during the week for Engaging the Latino Community for Education, also known as ENLACE, and on the weekends as a hostess at TGI Friday’s, she said.
She correctly named Andrea Cook, Maria Griego-Raby and James Koch as regents; the Aquinas Newman Community, of which she is a member, the Black Student Union and the Pre-Med Organization as student organizations; Brian Foster as provost; and Chris Garcia as president.
- Jeff Proctor
Chelsea Armstrong
ASUNM senatorial candidate Chelsea Armstrong said she thinks every student’s voice should be taken seriously at UNM.
“There just needs to be more student involvement in what the student government does,” said Armstrong, who is running as a member of the Vision slate.
Armstrong stressed the importance of overhauling the current teacher-evaluation process — the ICES forms — so students can decide for themselves which sections of a course they want to take.
“Students are concerned with getting a good education,” Armstrong said. “They don’t want to get the shaft in terms of classes…we don’t get to see those forms,” she said
Further involving the Residence Hall Association in the workings of the Associated Students of UNM, Armstrong said, will be part of her agenda if elected to the senate.
She added that advertising in various UNM colleges’ newsletters and in the Daily Lobo would help the University community to better understand student government.
“I know Anderson [Schools of Management] has a newsletter,” Armstrong said. “I’d like to be able to give them little updates about what we’re doing.”
Having an open mind, she said, and an enthusiastic attitude will make her an asset to the senate.
“If I want something done, I get it done,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong correctly identified Andrea Cook, James Koch and Maria Griego-Raby as regents; the College Democrats, AFRICA and the Ultimate Frisbee Team as student organizations; Brian Foster as provost; and Chris Garcia as president.
- Jeff Proctor
Mark Staton
Junior Mark Staton, who is running for ASUNM Senate on the Vision slate, said he wants to establish a direct link between students, student government and administrators at UNM.
“The main thing is, students need to understand that we are elected by them — that’s how the system works,” Staton said. “We are their bridge to the University’s administration and the big issues on campus.”
Staton said UNM has accomplished several goals during his time on campus but that the University’s new SUB project has not been one of them.
He added that receiving the Presidential Scholarship and maintaining a 3.0 GPA are among his most significant personal accomplishments.
“Students think a lot about safety,” he said. “Lighting up Johnson will make people feel more comfortable there, whether they’re running or just walking, especially at night.”
Tuition costs and maintaining the availability of the Lottery Scholarship for new students are among other important issues the student government should address, Staton said.
Approachability, Staton said, is the personality trait that will serve him best if elected to the senate.
“I could have a conversation with just about anybody, whether it be about sports, world events or whatever,” he said.
Staton is majoring in biology with minors in psychology and chemistry.
He is also a board member of the Future Business Executives, an organization chartered by the Anderson Schools of Management, he said.
Staton correctly named Chris Garcia as president; James Koch, Andrea Cook and John “Mel” Eaves as regents; and the Baha’i Association, Lobo Pack and AFRICA as student organizations. He could not name the University provost, Brian Foster.
- Jeff Proctor
Dustin Conrad
ASUNM senatorial candidate Dustin Conrad, who is running as a member of the Horizon slate, said if elected, he would help students who live on campus have their voices and concerns heard.
“Students who live on campus are especially impacted by the way UNM is run and I think I have a good understanding of what they want to see done through my experience as a residence adviser in the dormitories,” Conrad said. “I’ve developed a lot of friendships through the position and would act as a catalyst for seeing their visions for UNM to fruition.”
Conrad, a junior majoring in mathematics, said that he understands the importance of ASUNM on campus.
“ASUNM hasn’t had a huge influence on resident’s life in the past, which is a shame because the organization is supposed to be a voice for the students,” Conrad said. “I would like the chance to ensure that UNM is representative of all the students’ opinions.”
Conrad said that his position on campus and his many relationships will be a way to solve the problem, through word of mouth and ASUNM senate open forums to update progress on the issue.
Parking is another major concern on campus and he said that it is an issue that students shouldn’t have to worry about in their pursuit of an education.
“Being elected would be a tremendous honor and I will do everything in my power to make sure that students can focus on obtaining their degrees and not have to worry about the issues that have plagued UNM for years,” Conrad said.
Conrad correctly named UNM Regents Andrea Cook, James Koch and Larry Willard, and student organizations HESO, SEPAS and the UNM Rugby Club. He also correctly named UNM President Chris Garcia. He was not able to identify UNM Provost Brian Foster.
- Ryan Floersheim
Tripper Sanchez
Tripper Sanchez, an ASUNM senate candidate running under the Vision slate, said that improving the lighting on Johnson Field and improving the student seating section at The Pit are two problems he will address if elected.
“Through research I’ve seen that attendance was better in past years to UNM events by students,” Sanchez said. “I believe the dilapidated student section is a contributing factor to this problem and personally I feel that improving the seating section will boost school spirit and a sense of community at UNM.”
Sanchez, a junior majoring in finance, said that he doesn’t believe that he stands out from the UNM student body, but that he is part of the crowd.
“I’m just going to college like everyone else,” Sanchez said. “I’m not any more unique than anyone else, so I can relate to all the students on this campus as I share many of their same issues and concerns regarding the direction that UNM is headed.”
Sanchez said that he believes personal finance is one of UNM students’ biggest concerns, and although he doesn’t believe that ASUNM has the power to change the regent’s minds regarding tuition, he will make it one of the foremost issues that he addresses if elected.
“Money is tight for all college students, the issue of continually rising tuition costs is a growing problem that needs to be faced head-on,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez, who works at UNM’s School of Law, said that he understands the pressure felt by all college students who try to juggle a job and school and that if elected, he would make ASUNM the organization that students can turn toward to help alleviate problems they are having.
He correctly named the student organizations Phi Alpha Delta, Pi Kappa Alpha and Christian Fellowship. He was unable to name three UNM Regents, the provost or UNM’s president.
- Ryan Floersheim
Jonathan Allamani
Sophomore Jonathan Allamani said he is running for ASUNM senate because he believes UNM has the possibility of becoming more student-friendly.
“Every student on this campus has concerns that, if addressed, would make their experience more pleasant,” Allamani said. “Unfortunately, many of them don’t know how to go about having those concerns heard. I would like the opportunity to change that.”
Allamani, a pre-med major at UNM, said that he has several ideas for remedying the lack of communication between ASUNM and the students, including open forums, an e-mail address reserved for students to voice their concerns and more informational articles about ASUNM events in the Daily Lobo.
If elected to the Senate, Allamani said he will lead by example and make himself available to the community as often as possible.
“Instead of soliciting my candidacy with chalkings and banners on campus, I want to get among the people to make some actual, meaningful changes at UNM,” Allamani said. “I want the chance to earn the students’ respect by doing things properly with their best interests in mind.”
Allamani, a medic in the Air Force National Guard who works at UNM Hospital, spent two years in high school participating in a mock U.S. Senate.
“ASUNM should not be a popularity issue,” Allamani said. “The UNM student body needs to get some students who understand what changes need to be made into the position to make those changes.”
Allamani correctly named UNM Regents Andrea Cook and James Koch as well as fromer Reg. Donald Salazar who died March 28. He also correctly named student groups the Residence Hall Association and UNM’s Republicans and Democrats, as well as UNM Provost Brian Foster and President Chris Garcia.
- Ryan Floersheim
Jared Thompson
Jared Thompson, an ASUNM senate candidate running with the Vision slate, said that improved student involvement with ASUNM’s decision-making process is a necessary ingredient in creating a successful, prosperous campus.
“Having a broader range of students expressing their opinions will improve the overall college experience at UNM,” Thompson said. “Not nearly enough students take advantage of all that this campus has to offer. Classes are just a part of the education needed to be successful in life.”
Thompson, a junior theatre major, said that he is an outgoing, normal student who can relate to the problems that most college students have.
“I’m just a regular student that is just as poor and frustrated as every other student,” Thompson said. “I think this is a good thing, as I have many of the same concerns as students on this campus and will strive to solve these problems.”
Thompson also said that his lack of experience in student government will be beneficial, as he would go into office without any preconceived visions for UNM and will be open to any and all ideas proposed by the community.
He said that he would like to help students through mass e-mails and open, informational forums sponsored by ASUNM that are designed to help students with the daunting task of planning their futures.
“We are all in this together, and ASUNM is there to serve the student body,” Thompson said.
Thompson correctly named Andrea Cook, James Koch and John “Mel” Eaves as UNM regents and student organizations NMPIRG, UNM’s Residence Hall Association and the Black Student Union. He also correctly named Provost Brian Foster and UNM President Chris Garcia.
- Ryan Floersheim
