by Bryan Gibel
Daily Lobo
ASUNM voted in favor of a bill Wednesday aimed at increasing voter turnout for its elections, but it didn't pass because four senators weren't at the meeting.
The bill proposed to open a polling center in a hallway of Mesa Vista Hall near the ethnic student centers.
Nine senators voted in favor of the bill, six senators opposed it and one
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abstained.
The polling location bill did not go through because any bill requires a majority vote of the 20 members of the Senate.
Sen. Jimmylee Gutierrez, who proposed the bill, said ASUNM should find ways to reach more students.
"The best democracies are the ones that are engaged in participation," he said at the meeting. "Tonight, we have a chance to really engage the student body. Let's do the right thing and put a polling place in Mesa Vista."
Sen. Ashley Fate said the bill was aimed at UNM's minority student
population but did not address the rest of the student body.
"There is a certain bias for the ethnic centers," she said at the meeting. "It just doesn't look legitimate. I see favoritism since there aren't new centers proposed in other locations, as well."
Sen. Matt Beck said another polling location shouldn't be so close to the SUB, where the main polling location is set up. There are other parts of campus in greater need of a place to vote, he said.
"There should be a polling place on Sigma Chi Road instead of in Mesa Vista," he said at the meeting. "That road is on the north side of campus and farther away."
Gutierrez said at least 1,000 people pass through Mesa Vista Hall each day.
The polling center would be in the path of students from different majors and ethnic backgrounds, he said.
Michelle Touson, president of Black GPSA, said she was frustrated by the
senators' neglect of minority students
and their concerns.
"Why should we have to roll out the red carpet and say, 'Please, white people, come and speak with us people of color'?" she said at the meeting. "Shame on you for not coming to the ethnic centers to get those students' perspectives. Students don't know who they're voting for and what they're voting for. I want that to change."
Beck said he was offended by Touson's comments.
"I personally feel attacked by the way you came in here and addressed us with your tone and the way you raised your voice," he said at the meeting.
Debbie Morris, ASUNM's adviser, said it would cost about $72 to add a polling location in Mesa Vista Hall.
Sen. Brian Moore said he was concerned the polling location wouldn't be an efficient use of ASUNM funding.
"Setting up a new polling place costs us money that could go to other locations," he said.
Gutierrez said money should not be an issue. The student vote is more important than the cost, he said.
"If money is an issue, go ahead and take the cost from my salary," he said at the meeting. "I will personally cover the cost of the polling location."
ASUNM voting results for bill to have a polling
location in Mesa Vista Hall:
In favor:
Antoinette Murphy
Jimmylee Gutierrez
Evan Harris
Laura Hernandez
Chris Knight
Angel Padilla
Sebastian Pa°s
Elizabeth Silva
Chewy White
Against:
Matt Barnes
Matt Beck
Molly Cassidy
Ashley Fate
Louis Jeantete
Wellsley Loyd
Abstained:
Brian Moore
Not present:
Alicia Castro
Hallee Kells
Lesley Pompa
John Weaver
