by Anna Hampton
Daily Lobo
Students who didn't vote in Tuesday's general elections will get another chance to vote next week.
But this time, it's for student government.
Fourteen candidates for the ASUNM Senate spoke to students Wednesday in the SUB at the Candidate Endorsement Forum, explaining why people should vote for them.
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Candidates talked about their goals for the upcoming term, and chartered student organizations had an opportunity to question each candidate.
Matt Beck, a member of the slate, Joining Individuals Varied Expectations, or JIVE, said he wants to continue representing UNM students.
"Our first main goal is to come out with a student-friendly newsletter that will be available from ASUNM," he said.
Ten senators can be selected out of the 15 candidates that are running for the fall term.
There are two slates and one independent candidate in this semester's elections. A slate is a group of students who campaign together and share the same goals.
Beck said the newsletter would help student organizations communicate with other students, and it would inform people on campus of upcoming events.
Wellsley Loyd, a member of JIVE, said the newsletter would be produced by students and would promote a greater sense of community for commuter students and students who live on campus.
Ten of ASUNM's 20 senators are elected every fall. The president, vice president and remaining 10 senators are elected in the spring.
Senators serve in one of three committees - finance, outreach, and steering and rules.
ASUNM represents undergraduate students at the University. Undergraduate students pay $20 per semester to ASUNM, most of which goes to student groups.
Senators are required to do four hours a week of community
service.
Five of JIVE's six members are incumbents.
JIVE's other goals include increasing security presence on
campus by lobbying for more lights and creating more awareness of student recreation services.
"We want to make sure they (student recreation services) have adequate advertising," Loyd said.
Eight of the 15 candidates are running with the Progressive Action Coalition, or PAC, slate.
Angel Padilla is the only independent candidate.
PAC will focus its efforts on stabilizing tuition costs, increasing funding for student organizations and reaching out to communities across the state to provide internships for UNM students.
Sebastian Pais Iriart, a member of PAC, said the state should give more funding for higher education.
"The Legislature has some extra money, and we want to demand that money to come here," he said.
Chris Knight, another member of PAC, said he would try to pass a bill to halt tuition
increases.
Iriart said he wants ASUNM to have more of a presence on campus so students will get more involved with it.
He said information about ASUNM isn't accessible enough for students.
"I had to research what it is about," he said.
