Contrary to Aragon's letter, qualified candidates exist

Editor,

I am writing in response to Ruth Aragon's April 5 letter to the editor. Aragon stated that several candidates are apathetic and unqualified. I, however, disagree with her.

For the past two years I have served numerous students and student organizations as an ASUNM senator. After sitting on the Presidential Appointments committee, the Finance committee and serving as President Pro-Tempore, I have come to understand what students are looking for: information about UNM, communication from ASUNM, equal representation, 100 percent funding for the Lottery Scholarship and safety and accountability from their student representatives.

Contrary to Aragon's opinion, I want to give back to the students and work on the issues that the student body feels are important. I think that I am exceptionally qualified and my track record proves that.

Secondly, I think that safety is an extremely important issue on our campus. As UNM's enrollment rates grow and the campus changes with the times, we will continue to face the problem of safety. But what can we do to help prevent acts of violence such as rape?

I do want to get large maps on campus that tell where blue phones are located and designate safe paths where UNM police and student patrol are patrolling. But this isn't the only thing that will help safety.

I want to mandate an eight-week education course for freshman and transfer students concerning date and acquaintance rape as well as substance abuse and its effects on rape and sexual harrassment. This class also could be used as a forum for student groups to reach students and for centers such as CAPS to talk about the services available on campus.

Sure, UNM has Lobo Orientation, but can two days of compacted information get the point across to students? We need to educate our campus about safety to help make UNM a safer environment for students, faculty and staff.

Lastly, there are more than 250 student organizations on campus and I cannot say I have been to all of them, but I don't believe there is any student who has. Although I do have friends that are African-American, I never claimed to understand the issues they face. Racism is a problem everywhere, just as racism can be taught, we (the UNM community as a whole) need to unteach it and see past divisions based on the color of our skin. I fully support all organizations on this campus and recognize their importance and impact on the UNM community.

Many of the candidates are qualified and ready to serve the students. I recommend that students get out on April 11 to find out about the candidates running and I think you will find that Ruth Aragon is wrong.

Andrea L. Cook

ASUNM senator and

presidential candidate