Editor,
Graduate and professional students face significant challenges regarding the use of our organization and its funds. This electoral season allows us an opportunity to debate issues and decide the direction in which we want to grow. I call on the candidates for Graduate and Professional Student Association president to champion the following issues:
The regents pay little more than lip service to student recommendations for allocation of student fees. They annually give millions of graduate and professional student dollars to athletics. The vast majority of graduate and professional students are not interested in athletics and do not directly benefit from the funding. It is a serious problem when more of our fees go to athletics than to academics - especially when athletics continues to break its promise to people of color in its failure to graduate its student athletes.
The next GPSA president must first engage his constituency, educating them on how the regents traditionally ignore the Student Fee Review Board's recommendations. Once people are made aware of the issue, a credible threat needs to be organized. That is, the GPSA should make it clear there will be concrete consequences for the regents' failure to use our fees for programs that directly affect graduate and professional students.
Students in past decades have mobilized to keep University administrations accountable. Demonstrations and sit-ins continue to be productive tactics on campuses in other countries. We should not take such options off the table.
The next GPSA president must have a cordial, diplomatic relationship with administrators and regents, but not too chummy as to soften resolve for any necessary confrontation.
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The next GPSA president should see to fruition the opening of a 24-hour library space on campus. The dean of libraries has been amenable to the prospect. GPSA needs to make sure an all-night study space opens next year.
The distribution of the GPSA budget should serve as seed money to employ graduate and professional students and to develop the skills of members from traditionally underprivileged groups. We should not outsource opportunities for experience that are vital to a well-rounded education.
The next GPSA president should immediately seek to build constructive alliances with graduate and professional student organizations across New Mexico. This will amplify our voice and increase the range of our constituency before the state Legislature. Only by making ourselves relevant to a broad swath of legislators will our lobbying efforts stand a chance at succeeding.
To those running for GPSA president, I wish to speak candidly. Who you know or what acronyms are on your résumé do not matter if you do not command respect and support from these parties for student issues.
Inclusion is about empowering the traditionally underprivileged. However, summarily demanding the traditionally privileged immediately recognize their privilege has the effect of erecting walls. A more nuanced approach that engages students and teaches them about their privilege in a respectful manner will yield better results in changing minds and power structures.
I urge people to contact the candidates and gauge their commitment to these issues, then make an informed vote. Hold the next president to accomplishing these objectives.
Max Fitzpatrick
UNM student
