April 8, 2010
By Kara Dana – Student Assistant
Years ago if you had asked Terence Brown what he wanted to do when he grew up he would have told you he was going to be a doctor, or maybe President. Today he is your normal college athlete. His time is filled with football practice, training table, classes and study hall. During any down time he may have, Brown enjoys sitting at home, hanging out with friends and playing video games.
However, even with a busy schedule, Brown has found a way to excel as a leader within athletics as well as the UNM community. Leadership has come naturally to Brown since childhood and his involvement in student government began as early as elementary school. He claims being a leader has been instilled into him throughout his life.
“I have found inspiration in leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X,” Brown explained. “I read a book about Martin Luther King, Jr. when I was younger and it kind of pushed me forward. I want to be a role model and to be that high figure in my family and try and do positive things. It’s always been about just trying to do more, and be the best that I can be.”
Brown is currently a candidate for an ASUNM Student Government senatorial position, running on the WolfPack slate. Some of the main goals of the campaign include protecting free student tickets to athletic events, improving residence halls and building a dynamic community between students, ASUNM, GPSA and the Administration of UNM.
Head coach Mike Locksley explained the benefit of having football players involved as leaders beyond the field. “It’s definitely great to see. Terence represents what you want to see out of your team. He is a guy that is really taking advantage of his college career.”
Locksley went on to say, “I think the big thing with his teammates is that he is bringing awareness. As I’ve talked about, this is more than just about football. There is an election coming up next week and he is one of those guys that is reminding his team to go utilize their power by voting.”
If elected as an ASUNM senator Brown would have an influence on topics such as changes to student fees and sustainability, as well as the opportunity to serve on student agencies such as Student Special Events, Community Experience, Lobo Spirit, Southwest Film Center, Crafts Studio, Elections Commissions or the Lobby Committee.
The importance of having student-athletes, such as Brown and fellow slate candidate, Kelly Williamson, a Lobo volleyball student-athlete, was stressed by Zoe Riebli, the WolfPack Vice-Presidential candidate.
“It is important that student-athletes have a voice at UNM,” she said. “Terence has amazed me in his ability to excel on the field, in the classroom, and on campus as a student leader. He effectively represents all student-athletes through his involvement in ASUNM and SAAC. It is his outgoing personality and strong sense of responsibility are qualities that are highly valued in student leaders. Student-athletes, and UNM student as a whole, are very lucky to have Terence serving as a student leader at this university.”
The candidates on the Wolfpack slate are David Conway, Riebli, Brown, Alonzo Castillo, Adria Cordova, Greg Golden, Jorge Jimenez, Jaimee Perea, Adam Ornelas, Heidi Overton, Rosa Rosas and Williamson.
As for being President, it may be just a small step toward a childhood dream, but Brown was recently elected as the Student-Athlete Advisory Comittee (SAAC) president for the 2010-11 school year. This committee serves as the student-athlete leadership group at UNM and directs its energy in addressing areas such as academics, student-athlete welfare, community service, university relations and career development.
Brown’s involvement at New Mexico does not end there, during his time at New Mexico he has been a member of the indoor track and field team, the Black Student Union, Black Men in Motion, an ASUNM Senator, a two-year SAAC representative, the Mountain West Conference SAAC representative for UNM and was recently nominated and selected to attend the NCAA Career in Sports forum in May.
Being a doctor may no longer be a dream of Brown’s, but as a business finance major, owing a hospital is not out of the question. “I wouldn’t mind the business aspect of it, maybe own a hospital. I believe money can help make a lot of things better. My goal is to try and distribute that wealth within my community to help everyone else out who helped me get here.”
ASUNM Election Information
Wednesday, April 14
Polls are open to all current UNM students