by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Every semester, ASUNM candidates outline their goals for the student government.
They write letters to the Daily Lobo, set up tables outside the SUB and talk about their goals at public forums.
The PAC slate's goals are to stabilize tuition costs, increase funding for student organizations and get more internships for students.
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The JIVE slate wants to create a student newsletter, get more lights on campus and create more publicity for campus events.
Matt Gallegos, an ASUNM senator, said candidates sometimes get carried away with their promises.
"Every slate should try to set goals that are attainable," he said. "I don't think a slate should ever make a promise that it's unlikely they'll be able to keep."
Candidates' goals change after they get elected, said Brittany Jaeger, president of ASUNM.
"You have these goals when you get into office, but then new issues and all this other work comes up," she said. "Goals change."
That's a good thing, she said.
"If everyone just sat back and did what they wanted to do before getting into office, they would really be neglecting to do their jobs right," she said.
It's unfair to expect goals to be accomplished quickly, Jaeger said.
"I don't think they're hollow promises," she said. "People are looking for fast action, and they want this stuff to get done tomorrow, but that's really not feasible a lot of the time."
Gallegos said slates should not stop setting goals.
"They need to have goals, and it's good that they're high goals," he said. "We should all want to see change on campus, but we need to make sure it's something that's realistic."
Here's a look at candidates' goals from past elections and the progress ASUNM has made:
More fair trade on campus: Jaeger said ASUNM has made progress on this goal.
"It's been a long-time discussion with the SUB and other places on campus," she said. "It's increased in large amounts." All of the coffee and tea at Higher Grounds and one flavor of coffee at Mercado are fair trade certified.
Install campuswide wireless Internet access: This has turned into a goal for the University, not just the student government. ASUNM will lobby the Legislature for money for the installation during its next session, Jaeger said.
"I've spoken to various administrators and a lot of legislators who think it's something that's necessary for the campus to have," she said. "I think it will be successful, but we won't know the outcome until after the legislative session."
Install lights on Johnson Field: ASUNM formed a committee to accomplish this goal. Instead of just lights, the committee wants to repair the field and improve its irrigation at the same time, Jaeger said.
The goal is to have the lights installed in February, but because ASUNM doesn't want to use student fees or tuition to pay for them, it might take longer, she said.
Students are going to ask the Legislature for money for the improvements.
"A lot of times, projects get done not to the full extent that they should have been," she said. "We're hoping that this project can get done all the way the first time, but that will make it take a little longer."
Centralized storage for bikes on campus to decrease theft: This goal has gone by the wayside, but ASUNM is still working to make bikes more secure, Jaeger said.
"We've talked to campus police about moving the bike racks into more secure locations, and we really try to educate students about how to keep their bikes from getting stolen," she said. "It's a goal that you would think could happen overnight, but it takes time."
Improve traffic flow at South Lot: "That's a pretty large goal to have," Jaeger said.
It's not realistic for a student government to be able to fix something the University has a hard time dealing with, she said.
Student section at The Pit: ASUNM got the section last year. It wasn't used much, but it's becoming more popular, Jaeger said.
"The goal was accomplished last year, but it's a goal in the works," she said. "I think students are really starting to feel welcome at The Pit."
No new material or tests the week before finals: The Board of Regents approved this policy last semester to go into effect this semester.
"All the faculty and staff should have been informed of it," Jaeger said. "Now, we'll just have to see how many people follow it. We won't know until after the end of the semester."
