Temperatures may have been low early Monday morning, but spirits were sky high for students hoping to make a difference in Santa Fe.
The trip north, sponsored by ASUNM and GPSA, began at 7 a.m.
Once there, students made their way to the Roundhouse at a quick pace, eager to voice their concerns about legislative priorities affecting UNM and the campus community.
Their concerns included lobbying against a tuition increase, the proposed nixing of the free bus pass program and possible budget cuts for ethnic organizations and "special projects." They also lobbied for improvement in advisement at UNM and doubling student work-study funds.
Christopher Ramirez, GPSA president, said he had to go to Santa Fe to bring attention to these pressing matters.
"It's really important that students are able to share their stories and experiences here, because without them, there are people that will make decisions about our lives without knowing what our specific needs are or how we feel about certain services," he said.
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Ramirez said student input might impress legislators more than data and reports from lobbyists.
"I believe our work here is more important than paid lobbyists with their fancy dinners or their airplane trips to Cancun, Mexico, and things like that, because we come and share our personal stories, and that's what will make them remember us," he said.
ASUNM Sen. David Conway said going to the Legislature might also help students get more money for projects.
"We want to make sure that the legislators and state representatives see us here at Lobo Day and can make sure that we're out here so that they can put a face to what they're doing," he said. "If they cut something for us or if they give us some money for a program, we want them to know the people involved with it so they can put a face to a name and they're not just seeing the University of New Mexico, but they can actually see the students that go there and that are working hard and doing really good work."
Upon arrival, the large group of students split up into smaller groups to talk to everyone who would listen about the issues to which they hoped to draw attention. Groups of four to eight students stuck together and began visiting every floor, every senator's office, even talking to secretaries if the senators weren't available.
Students passed out Lobo-shaped stress balls, chocolates and cherry-and-silver beaded necklaces to anyone who would listen.
Among the students was UNM junior and art history major Sarah Shadid, who said she felt her presence and voice at the capitol was appreciated.
"I spoke with Sen. (David) Ulibarri, who was extremely accommodating, and he told me that education would be the last thing to be cut and he was on board with us," Shadid said. "His two kids are UNM graduates and he was so supportive, overwhelmingly. By far, he was the most supportive person I talked to."
After the door-to-door lobbying, students finished up their time in Santa Fe by meeting on the first floor of the Roundhouse for the student/Legislature reception where students had a chance to mix and mingle with state legislators over lunch.
