Jena Marquez

Jena M†rquez says she has a lot to offer to the student body if elected senator.

M†rquez, a sophomore political science major, said she feels she would represent student organizations very well.

"I'm a hard worker and very dedicated," she said. "I know what goes into being a senator and I always give more than 100 percent."

M†rquez said she also has people skills and interned with the Democratic Party during the 2000 presidential election, working on the Gore/Lieberman campaign in New Mexico.

She said the ASUNM Senate serves as a liaison between senators and the student groups they represent. She added that senators represent student groups and refer them to the finance committee if they need money.

M†rquez said she wants to see more communication with senators and the student body, especially involving using new media technology, such as online surveys and voting.

"I feel a lot of students don't have time to vote and they should be able to go online and vote," she said. "It will open communication with senators and see them more as just 20 senators."

M†rquez said she also wants to pass a bill that requires senators to meet with their executive agency chairperson three times per semester to improve the communication between senators and student groups.

She said the communication factor is one of the biggest challenges facing ASUNM in the next year. She said she also wants the Senate to actually get out and meet with student groups to help represent them.

When asked to name the UNM president, three members of the Board of Regents and three student groups, M†rquez identified Dr. Bill Gordon as president; Fortner and Begay-Campbell as regents; and M.E.Ch.A, the Black Student Union and the Omega Delpha Pi fraternity as student groups.