The ballots are counted, the votes are in, and the University of New Mexico’s newest undergraduate student leaders have been chosen. Andrew Norton and Hope Montoya are hitting the ground running on their term as president and vice president of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM).
Norton began meeting with student organizations and community leaders before he was even elected. “When I was talking to people, it wasn't the political empty promise spiel that is always given,” Norton said.
He wanted to prove the foundation had already been laid, that he had already put the work in. “I was talking about initiatives that are attainable," Norton said. “Even if they're not possible, there's a form of it that is possible at the end of the day.”
Norton even went as far as meeting with legislators to begin finding ways to collaborate. “I want next year to be the busiest year because that means in turn success. When we're busy, we're working, we're collaborating, we're doing everything we need to,” Norton said.
As for Vice President Hope Montoya, this is her fourth election after running and serving in the senate for nearly three years. Though she ran unopposed, she chose to use her campaign as an opportunity to learn from student governments in neighboring colleges.
Montoya has her eye on creating legislation that is applied on a state-wide level. “I feel like our student senate and our state government can start building those relationships to have a greater effect on the UNM student body as a whole, and not just solely our government,” Montoya said.
Montoya knows it will be a year-long endeavor but hopes to have something ready by the next legislative session. “I think getting our senators more involved in what is truly affecting the campus and showing that we are doing more than just focusing on ASUNM. We are actively trying to tackle these student body issues,” Montoya said.
The newly elected team has already met with the mayor’s office about creating incentives for students who live off campus. “Establishing programs and working with them to expose those programs to the student body so they have the ability to get housing if they can't afford it on campus," Norton said.
Norton and Montoya are thinking about their time in office but also plan to set up ASUNM for success for years to come. “I think having those relationships where we are able to have those conversations with city and state leaders and start developing that so then the next administration has those connections," Norton said. “That's how we can make ASUNM stronger and be better for the student body.”
Something else they think gave them an edge in the election? Their age. Both students were elected as sophomores, something that hasn’t happened in recent ASUNM history.
“We've been doing this for a while, but we're not at the point where this is our final hurrah and then we're gone. We still have to live here with whatever action we take,” Norton said. “I’ve noticed it changes how people talk to us. We hope to create a less intimidating atmosphere where any member of the student body can come to us.”
