David Steele is coming through in a pinch for ASUNM.
Former Sen. Natalie Montgomery resigned and Vice President Amanda Sims had to fill the position within two weeks. The Senate unanimously approved Steele, an electrical engineering major, Wednesday, exactly two weeks after Montgomery left.
"Amanda Sims just called me and asked if I was interested," he said. "We knew each other, but it's not something we had talked about. I had mentioned that I was interested in running in this next election to some people, but I'm not really sure how it came to pass."
As Sims' appointee, Steele will have only until the end of the semester, two meetings, to accomplish his goals.
"I don't have tons of time to do anything," he said. "I want to keep things going out to my student groups. I want to get as many people as I can involved in Spring Storm, even if that means going to every single student groups' meeting."
Sims said she chose Steele because he has experience with parliamentary procedure as the internal vice president of the Interfraternity Council, and she needed someone who she didn't have to explain the basics to.
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Sims declined to comment on why Montgomery resigned. Montgomery couldn't be reached for comment.
Steele will be a member of the new Outreach and Appointments committee, a position Sims said is perfect for him.
"They're in the rebuilding stages and I feel like he's creative enough to get things done, and he's quick to catch onto things," she said.
Steele said he plans to run for the fall Senate in April's elections and his long-term goal is to provide students with a voice.
"I want to get involved and have a direct impact on students and how the University is run," he said. "Students have a say in the University, but more often than not, they feel disconnected from it. If they have an involved leader, one they can talk to, they have some kind of impact. I'd like to be that person."
