The Daily Lobo asked GPSA President Katie Richardson for comment on the goals ASUNM President Jaymie Roybal said she would like to accomplish while she is in charge.
1. Bike Share
The proposed program would allow students to rent bicycles from electronic pay kiosks on campus. The plan is currently in its fundraising stage, with a goal of raising $250,000, which Roybal said would pay for seven kiosks, each with 10 bikes.
“I am excited about campus initiatives for sustainability. I’m concerned with whether students want to pay fees to provide for the bike share program, but I applaud ASUNM for searching for private funding. I think that shows responsibility.”
2. Improved lighting on campus
Roybal said ASUNM plans to improve on-campus lighting as part of a safety initiative, and will be seeking funding from the State to accomplish this goal.
“I’m concerned about how we might pay for that lighting, and whether it’s the most pressing need for students. I haven’t seen a study showing that our safety is severely in danger, or that lighting will solve a demonstrated need.”
3. Keeping tuition low
“We are both working to keep tuition low for students.”
4. ASUNM website
ASUNM signed a contract with University Web Communication Services for 67 hours of work on the site, estimated to cost $3,350. The site still isn’t up, but GPSA’s site is. GPSA’s website features names and contact information for each GPSA member, updated documents and agendas and current news and events.
“GPSA has hired a graduate student to do our website … We paid $2,000 to construct our website. As we speak, people can go and update it. He conducted a training for six or seven in the office … $2,000 is less than ($3,350 ) and its going directly to a student.”
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5. Student participation naming new residence halls
ASUNM passed a resolution requesting that UNM administration allow students to take part in naming new residence halls, after the Casas Del Rio project was named without consulting students.
“Issues of funding (are more) important. If undergraduates want their voices to be heard on issues besides the naming of buildings … I hope that they will begin engaging their student government and showing up to public meetings where they can speak about issues that are critical to students.”
6. UNM Day at the Legislature and tuition credit
On Jan. 30 students present proposals and requests before the State Legislature during the Legislature’s annual UNM Day in Santa Fe. Roybal said ASUNM’s focus for this year is to persuade legislators to remove UNM’s tuition credit, which taxes student tuition to fund other state initiatives.
“I’m very excited about the possibility of removing the tuition credit, and ASUNM and GPSA are going to partner on UNM Day this year toward that end. There is a separate effort by GPSA to create a tax break for students who graduate from UNM and decide to stay in the State of New Mexico.”
The Lobo gave Roybal multiple opportunities to comment on Richardson’s goals for GPSA, but she declined.
“All I will say is that ASUNM and GPSA are very different organizations, but in the end they are both there to serve students.”
