Dear Editor,
In response to the article published on Monday, here are some things to know about your undergraduate student government:
We are accessible. The article correctly states that both the ASUNM president and vice president receive a tuition scholarship for their work. We believe that no financial barrier should preclude a student from seeking these two leadership positions.
The tuition scholarship allows any individual, no matter what financial background they come from, to dedicate the long (often 40+/week) hours necessary to serve and represent the 20,000 undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico.
We do all of this for $20. Each student pays a $20 ASUNM fee that funds what we do and what we can allocate to student organizations. For the price of two meals at the Frontier, we offer experiences and services to our fellow students that far exceed the value of twenty bucks.
We provide opportunities. We employ 60+ students from a variety of majors and backgrounds to support our mission of serving and representing students. Every year, we give out thousands of dollars worth of scholarships to students (who are not involved in ASUNM) to help them pursue their dreams through higher education.
Our ASUNM Senate gives out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of operating budgets and other funds to student groups. From national conferences to a Formula 1 Car, ASUNM is providing resources to student organizations to create a lasting impact at UNM.
We build relationships and create memories. Our eight student service agencies are at the core of what we do at ASUNM. If you experienced the magic of Silent Lights last month, that’s ASUNM Student Special Events. If you’ve seen one of our affordable indie flicks in the SUB theater, that’s the ASUNM Southwest Film Center. If you helped beautify campus for Fall Frenzy, that’s ASUNM Community Experience.
Our agencies are working hard every day to create experiences for our students on this campus. The funds that these agencies receive are hard at work to make this campus a better place, and we encourage all students to get involved in our agencies to make their mark with us.
We strive to get better every day. We do not take your money, your votes or your trust lightly. We are working every day to improve processes and think bigger about how to take that $20 and use it as effectively as possible to impact each student at UNM. But we need your help. We need your input and your engagement with us in order to hold us accountable and make sure your voice is heard. We welcome this dialogue and are always here to serve you. After all, we are YOUR student government.
Sincerely,
ASUNM President Kyle Biederwolf
ASUNM Vice President Cheyenne Feltz
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