On Wednesday, Feb. 4, students and staff from the University of New Mexico will participate in “UNM Day,” an annual event at the state legislature meant to increase the University’s lobbying presence at the capitol.
This year, the legislative priorities of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico are the “Basic Needs Fund,” an upcoming bill meant to address non-academic barriers to education access, and a Capital Outlay request to improve parking security for T-Lot and P-Lot.
Basic Needs Fund - $1.4 Million
The bulk of the bill, $1 million, would go to placing menstrual products in women’s and gender neutral bathrooms for higher education institutions statewide. $300,000 will go to UNM in proportion to the size of its student body.
“We did studies with UNM staff to examine high traffic bathrooms and accurately capture demand for menstrual products,” ASUNM Executive Director of Governmental Affairs Alana Baca said.
$50,000 is intended to expand the stock at the Lobo Food Pantry and add more locations across campus, ASUNM President Andrew Norton said. In 2023, 58% of UNM students reported experiencing food insecurity, according to the UNM Division of Prevention and Population Sciences.
Another $100,000 would fund need-based scholarships students could apply for to cover housing and related costs, Norton said.
“Our goal is to keep costs neutral, inflation has surged, housing support would allow students to remain on campus and would improve retention, ability to focus on school and get involved on campus,” Norton said.
Nearly $190,000 would be committed to hiring in-house counsel to assist students with minor charges like automobile accidents, tenant disputes or criminal misdemeanors. This service is available at other higher education institutions like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and, if implemented at UNM, would become the first of its kind in the Southwest, Norton said.
$10,000 would help establish a designated place for delivery app drivers to drop off food and groceries on campus, Norton said. A station will be placed near the dorms and potentially near Hodgin Hall, with the goal of even coverage throughout campus. The designative drop off location is intended to reduce confusion and the risk of students picking food up in poorly-lit or unsafe areas, Baca said.
Lastly, $50,000 would logistically supplement the Lobo Lift initiative, which launched on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The fund would cover the purchase of one golf cart and the maintenance of three golf carts, Norton said. Lobo Lift is a campus safety initiative that allows students to request rides around the main campus after dark, according to PATS.
Capital Outlay - $400,000
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The parking lot near Greek Row was removed due to concerns around “creating barriers for emergency vehicles and delaying response times during emergencies,” according to UNMPD. In light of this, many students residing in Greek life houses currently park at T-Lot and P-Lot, which Norton said presents security concerns. Expected improvements from the capital outlay request are improved lighting, fencing and safety upgrades to the area.
“With the current fencing, it is very easy for someone to slide through it and break into a car. That has happened to me,” Norton said. “We want to ensure that it doesn’t look like we’re trying to hide from the public, we are protecting the assets that are inside the fence, as well as making sure students can feel confident about where they park, and how much they paid for their parking passes.”
An important aspect of UNM Day is “getting students accustomed to going up and advocating for UNM, especially regarding issues related to education access,” Baca said. This year’s legislative session focuses heavily on safety and security, which Baca said aligns with the “current asks” from students.
Any member of the student body can sign up to go to UNM Day, through links available on the
Governmental Affairs Instagram page and website.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
