Q&A: Students ask legislature to keep ENMU in mind

STAFF WRITER

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In Santa Fe, Eastern New Mexico University students informed state legislators of the most pressing issues facing the school at the beginning of the 2016 state legislative session.

The students, who were members of the Associated Students of Eastern New Mexico University, spoke to the legislators about topics including state appropriations and lottery solvency, stressing that the legislative session keep ENMU in mind.

In a statement from State Representative Randal S. Crowder, he said, “I very much enjoyed meeting with the young and energetic students from ENMU. They represented the university quite well.”

Two students present at the session were ASENMU Director of Publications Tim Harris and ASENMU President Halle Pittman, who each expressed their own thoughts about their experiences in Santa Fe.

Was there any one concern that took precedence when you proposed the issues to the legislature?

Tim Harris

Tim Harris: “With any state institution, there will be appropriations. We were trying to make sure there were no cuts to ENMU in state appropriations. We also discussed lottery solvency. A few years back, we started to not have enough funds to pay for the lottery scholarship paying 100 percent for students. We feel that Eastern is a university that deserves it. 40 percent of our students are Pell Grant eligible. We would like to pay our students as much as we can. Those were the two primary points that were discussed with every legislator that we were able to speak to.”

Was the legislature receptive of your concerns?

TH: “Absolutely. We split into three different groups and got to visit with different legislators. Out of the 10 that my group of three aimed to contact, we were able to contact nine. All of those nine were very receptive to our efforts.”

What were you initially hoping to learn when you got to the legislative session? Did you learn anything that you did not expect to learn?

Halle Pittman

Halle Pittman: “I had never been on the lobbying trip before with ASENMU, so being able to go was really exciting. We took a great team of student senators with us and really branched out and talked to the New Mexico legislatures. I learned a lot going into it like what to expect and whom to talk to and what we were pushing for university wise. I also got to see where they reside when they go to Santa Fe for the legislative session in the Capitol Roundhouse which I thought was pretty cool. The building is shaped like a Zia symbol.”

Of the issues that ENMU brought up at the session, what topic was most important to you and why?

HP: “I would have to say the lottery scholarship. I am not from New Mexico, so I am not awarded it, but I do see how many of our students are positively impacted by it so it was a constant reminder to all of the representatives and senators to continue to fight for it, but that’s not to say that they aren’t already.”

Anything else you would like to add?

HP: “The opportunity to go and represent ENMU was such a privilege and I am truly thankful for the opportunity. You learn a lot, hear a lot and see a lot and it is really warming to know that there are people out there that care about you, your education and your university.”