Rep. Tom Udall said he is making a strong push to connect with the students of UNM and address the needs of the average student as he campaigns for the Senate.
"I absolutely loved my time here at UNM, and I especially love being able to work with the students as I campaign," Udall said.
Udall, a 1977 graduate of UNM's School of Law, said one of his chief concerns is rising tuition costs for attending the University.
"The numbers that have to do with tuitions are dramatic," he said. "The growth of the average tuition is around 12 percent, and that really hurts students who are looking for consistency in what they are paying."
Udall said a 10 percent increase in student loans in the past year shows that UNM students are victims of the suffering U.S. economy.
He said he plans to ease students' financial burdens by working to increase the value of the dollar, rather than increase the amount of money available to help students meet rising costs.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"With more money available to students through loans or scholarships, the value of the dollar would increase to meet the needs of students and their tuition prices," Udall said.
In order to help students pay for college, Udall said he wants the United States to offer a package that works through agencies of public service, such as AmeriCorps. Udall hopes to increase the funding for those groups so that they can help students pay off loans and debt.
Udall is campaigning against Rep. Steve Pearce for a spot in the Senate, and the race has heated up around campus.
Eric McInteer, a junior at UNM, said he opposes Udall because Udall stands for some things that are intolerable, such as higher taxes and larger government influence.
"Making a larger federal budget that can control the individual and following that with loose laws about eminent domain, which allows the government to take privately owned land for their pet projects, are two things that I cannot vote for," McInteer said.
Brad Opatz, a junior at UNM, said electing Udall would be good for the state and the country.
"I believe that Udall is the right choice for New Mexico, as he has a lot of beliefs that will protect New Mexico's interests," Opatz said. "I really like that the Defenders of Wildlife endorse him; I think it speaks highly of his policies and ability to do what is right for everyone."
Udall said he aims to help the economy by working with the government to create a strong infrastructure.
"Finding the issues that should have been taken care of a long time ago - everything from the roads to the water supply - and taking the initiative to make the jobs that will get the work done is how we are going to increase the productivity of America," Udall said. "We need to start doing that work now."
Udall is proposing a multifaceted policy to solve the energy crisis, lower gas prices and stop global warming.
"Having a balance between drilling off-shore, using some of the oil that we have available to us now, getting the money to support an expansion on green energy and nuclear power is going to be what helps America out of the energy crises," Udall said.
Udall said he recognizes concerns that New Mexicans have about nuclear energy and waste. He said New Mexico should invest in green energy instead.
"New Mexico should be the Saudi Arabia of solar and wind energy," Udall said.
