DAILY LOBO new mexico
ASUNM Election Day
wednesday April 9, 2014
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
Besides choosing the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico’s president, undergraduate students will get to elect a vice president today. Voters will also be able to select 10 of 35 senatorial candidates from three different slates. The Daily Lobo spoke with vice presidential candidates of each slate as well as one independent senatorial candidate to get a brief overview of their campaigns.
Daily Lobo
How do you feel with Are you optimistic that How do you elections right around your slate will sweep the campaign on the corner? election? day?
by Ardee Napolitano and Chloe Henson @ArdeeTheJourno @ChloeHenson5
What are you expectations Why should plan to for student turnout? How vote for you? election important do you think their votes are?
students
“We have so many people from so many different backgrounds, and I think that that’s going to reflect in the amount of turnout.”
“My plan on that day is to be wherever our volunteers are going to be because… we’re going to have a lot of volunteers coming for election day.”
“ASUNM actually does quite a lot… That’s a big thing, what students needs to realize is that we determine what UNM has to say when we go up to Santa Fe, when we talk to people who make the laws of New Mexico. That’s a really big deal.”
Team You Ayham Maadi
“It’s exciting to near the culmination of all our hard work. Tomorrow is the last expression of our passion. We’ve learned a lot… I’m really nervous for tomorrow, but I’m really happy.”
“At this point, honestly, I have no clue. I can give you the short answer that, ‘Oh, we’ve already won’… but all of us are pretty qualified.”
“I plan on campaigning and doing a rotation of the polling places, just getting a feel for how it is out there. I’ve never been out 10 hours campaigning on a Wednesday.”
“Our personal goal of our team is not to win but to get as much to vote. We’re trying to break records like we did last semester with getting the voter turnout… Our efforts have been geared to at least get more people to go vote.”
“Students should vote for me and the slate that we represent because I have the experience, but at the same time, I’m new enough to not get used to any kind of systematic procedures.”
Connect ASUNM Jenna Hagengruber
“It’s almost relieving to know that all the hard work and the effort that my team has put in is finally going to hopefully pay off.”
“We just really, really want “I hope that we have the op- to be out in the public, out portunity to serve the cam- in the open. We want people pus the way that we all really to be able to see us, (and) if want to now.” they have questions, be able to come and talk to us.”
“I think it’s incredibly important for students to vote. Regardless of who they’re voting for, students are being represented by these 20 senators, by the vice president, by the president.”
“Rachel and I have been on senate for at least a year. We’ve both been involved with ASUNM for at least two years. The team has a lot of experience.”
“I’m actually really excited to be running as an independent. I feel the goals that I have for ASUNM are actually tangible and can get done.”
“I think I am (going to win), just being involved on the “Student voting is very, very, UNM campus, trying to get “Just outside of the Student very important…I think it’s my name out there. I think I Union Building. I’ll have a cool that we get to have this can really do good things for team as well.” little bit of democracy here the senate and students see at UNM.” that.”
Forward UNM Zeke Chavez
“I’m excited, I can’t wait. I’m nervous, of course, but at the same time, I’m very confident. I’m excited that I’m bringing a new campaign strategy and style.”
Independent
Brandon Aragon
“We have experience, and we have new ideas… And not only that, we are the most diverse slate I think I’ve seen in recent election history, honestly.”
“I have a tangible plan for ASUNM. I feel like I can get things done… My platform has goals that can get done now.”
ASUNM vote results announced tonight by Mychal Miltenberger news@dailylobo.com
The next leader of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico will be determined tonight as presidential hopefuls incumbent Isaac Romero, Colt Balok and Rachel Williams make one last push for their campaigns. As the current president of ASUNM, Romero said he and his running mate Zeke Chavez are running on a campaign of experience, with a focus on creating a greater sense of community and pride on campus. Romero said students should vote for him because he already has the experience as president and has already established relationships with administrators that will allow him to be one step ahead of other potential candidates. “The biggest reason students should vote for me is the experience that I have gained,” Romero said. “Having built relationships
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with the administration, student governments at other schools and just students in general is a great benefit. So come next year, if I get the opportunity, I can just continue working.” Romero said running for reelection gives him a slight advantage, but that it only goes so far. “I would say that I am a realist, and things could go any which way,” Romero said. “I am in a very good position running for re-election, and that helps with everything. But in no way, shape or form do I think that it is a guarantee.” Romero said his main focuses will be on making students feel a part of the greater Lobo community. “That starts with answering the question, ‘How do we make our students feel like they are Lobos?’” Romero said. “It is our goal to make them want to be here, and not just going through the daily routine of going to class and just going back home after.” With a year of Senate
experience under his belt, Balok said he and his running mate Sen. Ayham Maadi have focused their campaign on addressing UNM’s parking issues, Wi-Fi accessibility and increasing support for the Athletics Department and intramural sports. Balok said students should vote for him because his team is driven by doing what is right for students, regardless of popular opinion. “Above all we are a group of driven, passionate individuals, who have the courage to stand up for what is right,” Balok said. “We will not be the seat warmers who vote with the crowd.” Balok said that although he doesn’t really know what to expect on election day, his team has worked very hard, and they are ready to be the next leaders of ASUNM if elected. “I have no idea what the results will be Wednesday night,” Balok said. “What I do know is that our whole team has given this campaign our all, and we are
prepared to be great leaders if we are elected.” He said the main thing he will focus on if elected is making UNM a first-choice institution for students going to college. “Our main goal is to make UNM a destination school that should be a first choice, not a third or even second choice for students,” Balok said. “We want UNM to be on the map. We want it to be a school that people have a lot of respect for.” ASUNM President ProTempore Williams and her running mate, Sen. Jenna Hagengruber, have focused their campaign on greater transparency and unity within ASUNM. Williams said her love for UNM is the main reason students should vote for her. “I am really, really, really in love with this University. It means so much to me,” Williams said. “I am compassionate, and I really care about people here.” She said that students should cast
their vote based on getting to know the candidate, and not the agenda. “I don’t think students should vote for an agenda necessarily, I think students should vote for people more than anything,” Williams said. “Students should elect people they know are going to be hard working, people they can approach and people they can trust.” Williams said she is confident she will be the next president of ASUNM and that her confidence has been key in her campaign. “I am very optimistic. I never once like to think that I am going to lose,” Williams said. “Confidence is so important in conveying my message, and I really, truly believe that I would do a great job as ASUNM president, and our whole team would do a great job if they were elected.” ASUNM election results will be announced tonight at the Student Union Building Atrium. For live results, follow @DailyLobo on Twitter.
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