by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
One student interested in being UNM's student regent listened to a talk by Rosalyn Nguyen on Tuesday.
Nguyen, the student regent, said she was not surprised by the small turnout.
"I would have liked to see more students in physical attendance," she said. "But I have been getting a lot of interest from people who e-mail me or meet with me individually."
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Nguyen said 15 to 20 people have expressed interest in the position she has held for two years.
Gov. Bill Richardson will appoint a student regent by January.
Jessica Conklin, the student who attended the event, said more people should have come.
"It would have given me a chance to scope out the competition," she said.
Conklin, a transfer student from NMSU, said she is interested in getting involved at UNM.
"It feel likes it's a stepping stone in helping students and giving them a voice," she said.
ASUNM and GPSA will recommend candidates to David Harris, UNM's acting president. Harris will pass his recommendations to Richardson.
The student regent is one of seven people on the Board of Regents, the governing body of UNM.
The student regent serves for two years.
Nguyen said she is happy with the number of people interested in the position.
"It might seem low for a huge campus like this," she said. "It might seem like we should have 500 people applying. But as long as there's somebody in the end who's qualified and passionate about it, I don't think it matters how many people apply."
Ellen Wenzel, special assistant to the regents, said being a student regent is a good opportunity for aspiring politicians.
"It's a great jumping stone, because your visibility is huge," she said. "You meet and speak with a huge number of people."
However, anyone can do a good job, Nguyen said.
"I think any skill set is appropriate," she said. "Any different major that anyone has can be very useful."
Nguyen spends 20 to 30 hours a week working for the regents.
"You really have to be able to manage your time," she said. "But, that's a skill that everyone has to learn at some point. I think this position is very doable for anyone who's willing to put their heart into it."
There are perks to being a regent, she said. Nguyen gets free parking anywhere on campus and free access to all sporting events.
Nguyen said the other regents do not treat her differently because she is a student.
However, faculty and staff sometimes don't respect her as much as the other regents, she said.
"There have been times when I have been treated as the student," she said. "It can be frustrating, but it's something you just have to be mature enough to deal with."
Wenzel said the student regent is an important position.
"Being a student is a strength," she said. "I've never seen it treated as a detriment. You're a student and a regent, which is a very potent combination."
The student regent position was created in 1994 after UNM students lobbied the New Mexico Legislature. The position is part of the New Mexico Constitution.
