The 68th Senate of the Associated Students of New Mexico State University opened their session with the State of the Association Address on March 6. Chief Justice Danielle Duran of ASNMSU’s Judicial Branch along with the Executive Cabinet attended.
Before her address, ASNMSU President Ala Alhalholy gave a speech acknowledging the accomplishments of several members of ASNMSU’s branches within the past year, including Chief Justice Duran, Sen. Saul Hernandez, and the Comptroller Department staff. Alhalholy also mentioned a mentorship program approved by the association, meant to help newly elected senators transition into their position in public office.
In the State of the Association Address, Alhaholy said that ASNMSU’s state was “good, not great, not bad,” and that senators should inspire each other to continue being productive.
“We are moving in the right direction. But we also need to keep in mind that we need to move in that direction together and not individually. It only takes one person to cultivate a better culture in ASNMSU. Be the change you want to see here,” Alhalholy said.
Alhalholy applauded the senate for maintaining their fiscally conservative approach to spending but encouraged senators to use the remaining ASNMSU funds for their constituents’ needs.
“We are following a financial crisis that happened two years ago, but I want to urge the senate: we still have $250,000 left in the expense account,” Alhalholy said. “I urge you to reach out to your councils, reach out to your organizations, talk to your department heads. There are a lot of students on this campus who do not know about the resources we have. They do not know what ASNMSU is, and every one of them pays the ASNMSU fee. So please, make it your effort to reach out to these students. Be the person who reaches out and makes that contribution.”
The chamber resumed its argument from the previous session over Bill 256, a $20,000 initiative which surpasses the spending limit set by Bylaw 7-6-4g of $10,000. The bill seeks to fund the restoration of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences’ Memorial Windmill.
When the bill was reintroduced by Sen. Kolby Taylor, the move to suspend the bylaw was revived.
Sen. Hebah Alhalholy reiterated her stance against suspending the bylaw and questioned how warranted the project is to justify the suspension.
“I do think the bill is a good initiative, I just disagree completely with suspending the bylaw. It is not like this is an emergency expense, this is not like student reimbursement where we need to get that money out right away,” Alhalholy said.
After a discussion between senators about the bill and bylaw, Sen. Gage Anderson expressed his dissatisfaction with the senate for repeating the same debate and pressured his colleagues to move forward.
“This is ridiculous, we just had our president come in and yap at us for the better part of a half hour about how we need to be more efficient,” Anderson said. “Is this how we are representing the student body? It is disappointing and shameful.”
After Anderson’s comments, the senate held the votes to suspend the bylaw and to pass Bill 256. Both succeeded, and the initiative to rebuild the Memorial Windmill moved to the president’s office, where it will either be signed or vetoed for a second time.
