by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
GPSA held a forum for its upcoming elections Thursday in the SUB, and Joseph Garcia, president of the organization, said it has been a successful year.
Garcia talked about the association's accomplishments under his leadership and how GPSA can be improved.
Garcia, who is running unopposed for president, said the head of the association needs to bring students together for the common good.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"Over the last year, I've learned it's much more than the tangible," he said. "It's more about leadership."
The elections for GPSA will be held on the Internet from April 9 to 12.
The candidates for GPSA Council chair spoke at the forum about what they will do if chosen for the position.
Only council members, who are representatives of graduate students from UNM
departments, can vote for the council chair - a system similar to British Parliament's procedures.
Council Chairwoman Melanie Armstrong, who is running for re-election, said she has been asked for the last couple weeks why she would want the
position again.
Council chair is a difficult position, but it is rewarding,
she said.
"Working with GPSA has been a privilege, and privilege does not always come easy," she said.
Armstrong said increasing participation in GPSA is critical for the association to make a difference at the University.
"You will have a chance to build the University you want," she said. "There are so many ways to be involved in GPSA."
Collaboration isn't easy, but being in GPSA helped Armstrong learn to collaborate better,
she said.
"Most importantly, I've learned to work with people who don't see the world the way I do," she said. "I won't promise big changes, because, realistically, I know change comes slowly in this organization."
Armstrong said she was swamped with academic responsibilities last semester, but she will dedicate more time to GPSA this year if elected.
Armstrong will have regular office hours next semester and be accessible to graduate students because she will have more time, she said.
Max Fitzpatrick, who is running against Armstrong, said he would be more diplomatic when approaching the University's administration.
"The interaction with administration and lobbying efforts is confrontational," he said.
Fitzpatrick said that although he gets along well with Garcia, they do not always see eye to eye.
"I think that's good to have some balance," he said.
Fitzpatrick said he will be mostly done with his master's by the fall and will be available more than Armstrong has been.
"I plan to spend about four days a week in the office,"
he said.
Fitzpatrick said he would like to start a blog for graduate
students to present their work and get feedback.
"That way, we could year-round be sharing our work," he said. "It's what we spend the most time on but gets the least attention."
Armstrong gave a presentation of proposed constitutional amendments at the forum.
The only amendment that has been approved by the council to be on the ballot is one that guarantees a tuition waiver for the GPSA president.
Last year, the GPSA judiciary branch ruled that there were no provisions in the constitution for the president to receive the waiver.
Amendments for notice of meetings, committee chair stipends, the GPSA budget and the programs committee will be discussed and voted on at the council meeting on April 9.
Garcia said the organization created a presence on campus and in the state that hasn't been felt before.
"We are a strong professional voice," he said. "We bring a lot to the table, and I think that's being realized."
