Editor,
My decision to run for Graduate and Professional Student Association president is a personal investment not only in myself but also other students, the University and New Mexico, as I believe in the power of "us" to come together and work for change.
This includes ensuring that the voices of students and the community are heard by the University administration. However, we need to do this together and have as many of us as possible at the table.
As a sixth-grader in 1984, I helped lobby my class to vote for Jesse Jackson in the Weekly Reader Presidential Poll. It marks an important moment in my career as an organizer and, looking back, it also launched my commitment to critical thinking and progressive issues and politics. Since then, I have been blessed to learn from and contribute to many communities, issues and people.
I want to be your next GPSA president because I can make a difference by working alongside others. I learned from Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers that we can accomplish great things; "si se puede."
I want to share my skills and experiences and learn from others. Some of these experiences have included being a GPSA representative and serving as GPSA Council chairman. I am also proud to be part of the Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color, Raza Graduate Student Association and many other student and community organizations.
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I am calling on graduate and professional students from across campus to be part of our success by participating in the elections. I want to let you know that I am committed to the following:
Bringing graduate and professional students from different backgrounds, ideologies and programs together and collaborating and working with other UNM constituencies, including the undergraduate student government, Staff Council and Faculty Senate.
Listening and sharing the voices of graduate and professional students with the UNM administration and faculty, which includes students speaking for themselves and not always through my representation.
Supporting more opportunities for graduate and professional students to be funded and work on campus as well as have more support.
Working for a more equitable and inclusive campus and New Mexico, which includes increased benefits for teaching, graduate research and project assistants; more sustainable practices on campus and in the community; better recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students of color; in addition to making UNM more family friendly.
And finally, always maintaining an accountable, democratic and transparent student government that works to represent all graduate and professional students while at the same time undoing institutionalized forms of oppression that have historically affected people.
I am campaigning alongside Lissa Knudsen, who is running for GPSA Council chairwoman. GPSA is better with increased participation, that it is critical to represent the needs of graduate and professional students, and a progressive agenda of equity and inclusion can significantly improve the lives of all students and others on campus.
Please join me and Knudsen. Vote for me for GPSA president and encourage your GPSA Council representative to vote for Knudsen at the next GPSA Council meeting Saturday.
Christopher Ramirez
UNM student
