Freshman Chris Ashcraft, who is running for ASUNM Senate on the Horizon slate, said his new ideas and fresh perspective would make him a valuable asset to the student government.
"I think that, right out of the box, I could really help some of the people who have been in there awhile," Ashcraft said. "Once you've been involved [in ASUNM] for three or four years, maybe you get stuck looking at things in the same old way. I think I could bring in some new ways of thinking about certain things."
A business major, Ashcraft also competes as a pole vaulter on the UNM track and field team. He said learning to manage his time has been the most significant accomplishment of his young college career.
"In high school, all you're trying to do is get by and graduate," Ashcraft said. "In college, what you put in is what you get back."
Ashcraft said he agrees with his slate's agenda that it should be a top priority for the Associated Students of UNM to light up Johnson Field.
"I live in Redondo and walking across Johnson, all of campus really, is kind of creepy at night," he said.
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UNM students represent a wide range of backgrounds, Ashcraft said, which makes nailing down students' concerns difficult.
"There is such a variety in diversity - there are a lot of different needs out there," he said. "I think the idea is to suit all of them as best you can. I want ASUNM to be the first place students go if they have a problem."
Ashcraft correctly identified Andrea Cook, James Koch and Donald Salazar, who died March 28, as regents; the Student Athletic Advisory Council, Golden Key and the UNM Rugby team as student organizations; Chris Garcia as president and Brian Foster as provost.
- Jeff Proctor
