Editor,
The Student Fee Review Board is the most important body a student has the privilege to participate in. Ashley Fate and Louis Jeantete are both presidential candidates looking to lead the students at UNM, but do leaders abandon their responsibility when pressure presents itself?
When the board finished the departmental hearings, deliberations were scheduled by all members, and the schedule of each member was needed before the date could be chosen. If Jeantete had a conference scheduled two months prior, it is highly unlikely he forgot the date he was to depart. I asked members of the board if they would have changed the date of deliberations if he had forgotten a prior engagement, and I was assured change was possible. Jeantete was either unorganized and too scared to admit his shortcomings, or he could not handle the pressure and chose to resign. This is not the action of a self-proclaimed leader who believes he has the capacity to be ASUNM president.
There is one other member of the board that abandoned her responsibility and believes she can lead UNM students. After the initial deliberations, the SFRB had to schedule a final deliberation to discuss the written recommendations. Fate and the other members of the board were sent an e-mail requesting schedules to determine once again when all board members could meet. A date and time was found that could accommodate all members. In today's presidential debate, she was asked why she did not show up, and her answer was, "I had a class." If she had a class, why did she not notify the members before the scheduled vote? Fate did not take her responsibility seriously and chose not to attend the meeting and vote. I must ask, will scheduling conflicts interfere with her presidency?
There is some concern that Jeantete was asked to vote in Fate's place to address diversity issues raised by some students when questions were asked about the SFRB. Diversity is more than a four-syllable word; it is a state of mind. Both candidates correctly state that diversity encompasses more than ethnicity, but ethnicity is vital when addressing this issue.
Diversity is needed not so people of color can be on a board, but to bring different ideas. There is cultural diversity, gender diversity, age diversity, income diversity and many other examples, but each group brings different ideas and experiences to the decision process. Four ASUNM members cannot understand the needs of disabled students. Three marketing members cannot fully understand the needs of theater and dance students. Two Alpha Chi sorority members cannot fully understand the needs of nontraditional students.
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To talk about diversity is nothing. Actions represent a person's commitment to this essential state of mind. I will not abandon my priorities if I am elected, and my actions will demonstrate my commitment, not my words. I ask for your vote because change is inevitable if I am your next president. I will raise the stature of ASUNM, because my focus will be issues students want addressed, and evidence of this is obvious because candy is not the center of my campaign.
Katryn E. Fraher
PAC presidential candidate
