Monday, Oct. 29 is the deadline to submit applications to run for Senate of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico.
Undergraduate students who want to fill one of the 10 available seats must be enrolled in at least six credit hours, not be under any kind of University probation and have at least a 2.5 GPA.
“This is a big election for Senate, ASUNM and UNM as a whole,” said ASUNM Vice President Emily Wilks. “There are so many diverse challenges facing our community right now.”
Application packets can be obtained online at the UNM ASUNM election website. Packets must be submitted by 5 p.m., Oct. 29 in Student Union Building room 1016.
This year, polling will open online Nov. 12 and in person at the SUB Nov. 13. Polling closes Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.
The elected offices of ASUNM have two essential functions: representing the student body to the President of the University and UNM’s Board of Regents and allocating a portion of student fees to chartered student organizations.
The Senate, which consists of 21 members including the vice president, who runs in a separate election, and President Pro Tempore handles much of the second responsibility of allocating a portion of student fees.
Like state and national government in the United States, the ASUNM Senate is divided into committees.
The Finance Committee hears matters of money such as budgets and appropriation requests.
The Steering & Rules Committee handles resolutions, which are non-binding documents that express the Senate's views on various issues around campus and the world. Changes to ASUNM’s constitution and lawbook must also start in the Steering & Rules Committee.
The Outreach & Appointments Committee’s chief responsibility is to interview and recommend appointments to the president of ASUNM’s cabinet and some positions in the eight student service agencies.
Once a piece of legislation, such as an appropriation, a resolution, a bill or an appointment, makes it through committee, the Full Senate hears discussion on the matter before voting on them.
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Justin Garcia is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted by email at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Just516garc.
