The University of New Mexico’s Graduate and Professional Student Association will be holding elections for president, council chair and considering nine constitutional amendments. Voting will take place from 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 23, through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27. There are two candidates for GPSA president and one candidate for council chair. To view the amendments, candidates and cast your ballot, go to gpsa.unm.edu.
Marisa Page is a member of the GPSA council and on the legislative steering committee running for GPSA President (ballot #1).
“I think that we need to build community at the University, and I think that people, especially grad students, need a safe space to be heard and seen,” Page said.
Funding and protection for international students are some of the topics that she feels are most important at the University, along with transparency of fees, Page said.
“I’ve been talking with a lot of our graduate students,” Page said. “There’s a lot of fees that we pay that we don’t understand where that fee is going to or what it actually does to help us achieve our goals. And so, $50 or $100 may not mean a lot to some people, but sometimes it’s whether a family can eat in a week.”
Page said that, if elected, she would have a counselor committee to help advise her on issues and would reach out to student organizations and grad students to make sure their voices are heard.
“I think it’s important to outreach to all of the student orgs and know what their concerns are, what they want to see from the University. Community building is extremely important to me,” Page said.
Page said she will always advocate for increasing engagement in GPSA and the University community along with involvement in government.
“Yes, our population is a lot smaller than the undergrads, but we’re also mighty and passionate, we’re motivated,” Page said. “I really think that once you get involved, you see all the amazing things that people are doing.”
Page said GPSA can further support students in a professional capacity through the expansion of University job boards and encouragement of UNM Student Health and Counseling services.
“I think that what we could be doing at GPSA is providing resources for graduate students, especially as they move into that professional side of their life, if they’re not already in it,” Page said.
Page suggested the next UNM president, as President Garnett Stokes will be retiring in July, participate in University classes to better understand the culture and heritage of UNM.
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“One thing that I’m really big on is when you are representing people, your administration should also reflect those people,” Page said.
Jaden McKelvey-Francis is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on X @jadenmckelvey
