Transparency, better representation and budget cuts were just a few of the topics discussed at the GPSA presidential candidate forum on Thursday.
Lissa Knudsen, GPSA president, is running for re-election against graduate student Martin Gutierrez.
“We’ve kept this campaign positive,” Gutierrez said. “The tone that has been brought to this election has been elevated from past elections.”
GPSA Council Chair Danny Hernandez, who is also running for re-election, and graduate student Megan McRobert, his opponent, attended the forum to answer student questions.
Knudsen said students would benefit from increased funding in academic-related areas, including scholarships and research.
“If we invest in academics and research, that will expand the University,” she said. “Entertainment loses money. I think we need to make good fiscal decisions.”
Gutierrez said he wants to improve relations between GPSA and the administration.
“(The administration) needs to know who I am,” he said. “But, you have to show respect. Some people may perceive that as being a kiss-butt. I think it’s respect to your elders.”
Gutierrez said it’s vital to get involved with graduate students by setting up meetings with groups on campus and reaching out to ASUNM. He said he has scheduled a meeting with ASUNM president-elect, Lazaro “Laz” Cardenas, and will continue to meet with him every month.
Knudsen said raising tuition is preferable to raising student fees.
“Tuition is a complex issue,” she said. “Student fees isn’t covered by the Lottery (Scholarship). I’d rather it be tuition as opposed to fees so the Lottery covers it.”
Both undergraduate and graduate students attended the forum to hear the candidates’ platforms and ask questions.
Graduate student Sonja Robinson said she went to the forum because it’s the first time she was asked to attend a GPSA event.
“I’m concerned because this is the first time I’ve heard from them,” she said. “I hope it’s not just election fodder.”
Robinson said that forums are helpful because they create an opportunity for both candidates to find different ways to better represent students.
“Good ideas come out during these forums,” she said. “They can take what their opponents say and put that into place.”
Hernandez said he will continue making efforts to increase the number of representatives that attend GPSA meetings.
“The first thing I did last year was that I called every graduate student association,” he said. “That’s why for the past year we’ve had about 20 representatives showing up.”
He also said he wants to completely revamp the GPSA Web site to make it more accessible for students.
McRobert said she has only been a UNM student for one year but thinks her fresh perspective would be beneficial to GPSA.
“My newness has helped me throughout the University,” she said. “We’re constantly shifting as a student body. Everyone should be as informed as possible.”
Jessica Martinez, president of the UNM chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said she went to the debate to ask why $8,000 was cut from El Centro de la Raza’s budget by the Student Fee Review Board, which Knudsen chaired.
“You see budgets getting cuts left and right,” Martinez said. “We felt very discouraged and that’s why we organized. We want to get involved. This is our home away from home. That’s why I came to ask that specific question.”
*Graduate students can vote for GPSA president April 19 through 22 by e-mail. Council chair will be elected by GPSA Council representatives Saturday. *
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