ASUNM senatorial candidate Craig Burgess, who is running as a member of the Horizon slate, said that if elected he would want to change UNM students' perception of the dormitories and the experience of living on campus.
"UNM really goes out of its way to provide the best on-campus living conditions possible and living on campus is something that has gotten a bad reputation," Burgess said. "I think that through more education regarding the opportunities here living in the dormitories can really add to the quality of students' college experience."
Burgess, a freshman with an undecided major, said that it is also important to bridge the gap that exists between ASUNM and students living on campus because they are especially impacted by the decisions made regarding the campus.
He said that if elected he would like to implement mandatory senator attendance to all student organization meetings that receive student input regarding the future of UNM and open forums designed to help ASUNM become acclimated with the ideas and concerns of the community.
"ASUNM plays an important role at UNM and has a voice in the direction that the University is headed," Burgess said. "It is important for those speaking on behalf of the community to fully understand the opinions and perspective of those in the community to do that job."
Burgess, who describes himself as open-minded and honest, said that his time spent living on campus at UNM has given him insight into the problems that hamper the community the most, including on-campus safety.
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"Crime on campus is always a problem, but it is hard to understand the severity of it until you have actually seen the situation first-hand," Burgess said.
Burgess said that he believes the key to solving many of the problems at UNM is more education about the resources and the existing programs available in place designed to help the community and a sustained effort between all the groups on campus, including ASUNM, to make UNM the best University it can possible be.
He correctly named UNM Regs. Sandra Begay-Campbell, Andrea Cook and Jack Fortner and student organizations the Residence Hall Association and UNM's Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee Clubs. He was also able to name UNM's Provost Brian Foster and President Chris Garcia.
