SANTA FE -- UNM student representatives, armed with ramen, burritos and sponge stress relievers, converged at the Capitol Monday to lobby state legislators about a variety of issues, including tuition credits and funding.
Members of ASUNM and GPSA and numerous departments and programs were in Santa Fe for "UNM Day at the State Legislature" to showcase the University to state lawmakers, as well as to lobby key officials on year-round tax-free textbooks, tuition credits and full-formula funding.
UNM President Chris Garcia said it was a great opportunity for the University to show those around the state the success of UNM's various programs.
"We have a great story to tell," Garcia said. "We're pleased to have the opportunity to come up here for the first time and actually demonstrate and show our legislators and the public what we have to offer."
The day opened with House Speaker Ben Lujan proclaiming the day "UNM Day" and introducing Associated Students of UNM President Jennifer Onuska, Graduate and Professional Student Association President Lorena Olmos on the House floor.
Student representatives presented members of the House and Senate with gift baskets and delivered burritos with fliers outlining UNM's legislative priorities, along with messages thanking them for the creation of the Lottery Scholarship.
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"For GPSA it's very important for legislators to see the projects we're working on and how we are spending their money," Olmos said.
She added that GPSA's primary lobbying issue is the renewal of a childcare subsidy and that her organization would also be thanking the legislators for providing $100,000 annually for graduate research.
"Unfortunately, some of the state organizations here recognize graduate school as a luxury, not a necessity, so we don't get subsidy for childcare from many state agencies. Only the legislature was gracious enough to give us $25,000 last year," Olmos said.
Onuska said that the coordinated effort by the two student governments and the departments had a positive effect on the way legislators look at UNM and that the students' presence at the Capitol helped reinforce the students' needs.
"When they actually see the students' faces, it really drives home the fact that the money for our education is coming out of our pockets," Onuska said.
ASUNM members delivered packages of Ramen with the slogan "Do you want to eat this for dinner every night? Neither do we, so vote for full-formula funding with no tuition credit." They also handed out sponge light bulb-shaped stress relievers with "Tax-free textbooks. What a great idea," printed on them.
Rep. Ed Sandoval, a member of the taxation and revenue committee, which any textbook legislation would come from, said the committee will meet with the Taxation Department to try avoiding putting the issue into a bill.
"The feeling is that it would be really simple to do," Sandoval said. "What we're trying to do is where UNM can simply program into the cash register, if it's bought by a student with a UNM identification, then they would be exempt from paying tax no matter when they bought it. If we can't get it done by regulation with agreement from the Tax Department, then we'll have to ask them what we have to do in the bill to get it done."
Ed Mazel, the ASUNM assistant lobbying director, said he thought the day's efforts went extremely well.
"The legislators seemed real open to what we had to say about full formula funding and textbooks," Mazel said. "A lot of the legislators were real surprised that we didn't already have year-round tax-free textbooks."
A special presentation was also given at noon in the rotunda of the Round House, with President Garcia giving a brief speech and UNM's Flamenco Alma and Lobo Mariachi performing. Gov. Bill Richardson was expected to speak but was unable to, due to scheduling conflicts. Richardson did take time to address issues he believes are key to the University.
"I want to be somebody who has a policy from K-16, not just K-12," Richardson said. "I'm looking for the University of New Mexico to play a key role in the economic development of the state, specifically health sciences.'
He said appointing the new regents will aid him to make higher education a focal point of his administration. He also stressed faculty salaries and compensation.
"I want to elevate faculty salaries this session," Richardson said. "I want a Commission on Higher Education with more cooperative attitudes toward UNM. And I want to help the Lobos. I am supportive of expansion of University Stadium."
