Tradition. Wellness. Connection. Community.
Home Means Nevada
Tradition. Wellness. Connection. Community.
Meet the Candidates
Whether it comes from the memories I have as a child on campus to the ones I have made as an undergraduate student, the University of Nevada has always felt like home. With my time on campus, I serve as a Senator for the College of Liberal Arts and Speaker Pro Tempore of the ASUN Senate, Recruitment Director of Kappa Alpha Theta and a member of the Honors College. Outside of campus, I love hiking Northern Nevada trails, acting as an amateur coffee connoisseur and hosting little themed get togethers with friends.
Carmina Aglubat
ASUN President
Growing up in the biggest little city, I enjoy living here for many reasons. Whether it’s the four seasons or the close knit community. Since starting at UNR, my pride for the area has only grown. As a senator for the College of Engineering in ASUN’s 92nd session, I’ve focused on my work on Veterans Services and civic engagement. Outside ASUN, I’m a civil engineering student and treasurer of Alpha Tau Omega, where I manage budgets and led fundraising for the local Boys and Girls Club as the Philanthropy Chair. Off campus, I enjoy skiing, weight lifting and hiking around Lake Tahoe.
Ethan McNamara
ASUN Vice President
Why Home Means Nevada?
We are deeply fortunate to call Northern Nevada home—a place that shaped us with its beauty, vibrant traditions and enduring spirit. Raised in the heart of the golden west, we carry a cherished connection to every street corner, monument and community practice. We know where to find the best coffee spots, cozy bookstores, thrift shops and trails that lead to unforgettable sites.
As children, we stood together in Mrs. House’s music class at Sarah Winnemucca Elementary, singing Home Means Nevada with pride, the choreography ingrained into our memories. Those moments defined more than just a song—they defined a shared identity, a sense of belonging and an enduring connection to this place we call home.
This university is an extension of that feeling. It is more than an institution; it is a community. Our comfort and love for the University of Nevada comes from understanding its full depth and beauty. It is a place where anyone—whether raised in the Sierra Nevada or arriving from distant places—can find a sense of belonging.
Home here is not just about geography or background. It is found in the clubs and organizations where shared passions bring people together. It is felt in a campus culture that honors diversity, ensuring every identity is welcomed and celebrated. It is built through traditions that connect the past with the present, inviting everyone to be part of something greater than themselves.
No matter where you begin your journey or what path you choose, the University of Nevada offers a place to belong. A place to grow. A place to call home.
This is why our campaign stands on the foundation of Home Means Nevada. Because at its heart, this university is about building a home for everyone—a home defined by tradition, wellness, connection, community and the promise of shared purpose.
Our Goals
Introduction
Tradition is a cornerstone of the university experience. It fosters campus pride, loyalty and a deep sense of community. Through established festivities and cherished practices, students gain opportunities to connect, celebrate and look forward to shared experiences year after year. These moments bring people together—friends, classmates, faculty and alumni alike—building memories that last a lifetime. Tradition embodies the essence of home, creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose that ties the campus community together.
Our campaign is committed to honoring and preserving the university’s long-standing traditions while reviving those that have faded over time. Additionally, we are dedicated to creating new opportunities that reflect the diverse and evolving identity of our campus. By embracing innovation alongside tradition, we aim to cultivate a more balanced, inclusive and connected university environment—one where every student can find their place and feel truly at home.
Reviving Old Traditions
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The Homecoming Parade
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Continue working with the Athletic Department and University Administration to bring back the historic Homecoming Parade. The parade will begin from the Reno Arch and end at the UNR quad. At the quad, ASUN will host a vibrant celebration filled with performances from local bands, food from local dining services and activities such as yard games, a rock climbing wall and much more. Different participants will engage with the different aspects of the celebration; such as Athletics, the UNR marching band, the University President and Reno mayor. In addition, student clubs and organizations will get the chance to build their own float to showcase the identity and pride of their student groups. All of this will ultimately bring the Reno community closer together.
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The Artemisia
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It is important for students and alumni to have documentation of the collective experience they had with their time at University. Therefore, we will bring back the historic UNR yearbook in a sustainable and affordable format by creating a digital copy. This yearbook will provide access to memories, quotes and pictures to reflect on in future years to come. Everyone will have the chance to have their memories reflected in the Artemisia as the publication will be open to student submissions.
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Strengthening Current Traditions
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Welcome Week Festivities
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Welcome Week already boasts several successful and engaging events such as Paint the N and Wolf it Down. These events find success because they are rooted in tradition- bringing students shared, lasting and exciting memories. We plan to continue to apply this same root of tradition to more ASUN events to continue cultivating collective and exciting experience. In addition, we will strategically and intentionally use student feedback to improve events and work on creating new ones that cater to the evolving wants of the student body.
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The Welcome Week Concert
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The significance of the Welcome Week Concert to the student body is recognized. Therefore, we will be dedicated to planning a highly anticipated and exhilarating concert that stays in touch with the preferences of the student body. Through the planning process, transparent and active information will be provided to the student body to guarantee they can keep the process accountable.
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Supporting Multicultural Celebrations
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Continue ASUN support in planning multicultural events- understanding their importance in providing rich perspectives and experience that connect the university community. We will continue financial and collaborative support through an increased budget to the Department of IDEA and attention from all ASUN leadership. At the same time, being sure to allow external organizations maintain creative liberty and vision for their respective events.
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Enhancing Greek Life
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Work with organizations to create a more fun, safe and expanding greek community-whether these greek organizations are social, multicultural, academic or community service based. We will facilitate productive conversations between greek organizations and other university entities such as ASUN, FSL, athletics and administration. We will also put an emphasis on assisting with philanthropic endeavors by developing access to funding allocated to community service programs.
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Creating New Shared Experiences
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Collaborative Experiences
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It is essential for ASUN to look beyond our four walls and look to collaborate with other local entities to expand ideas, pursuits and events. ASUN will be dedicated to collaborating with partners of different groups to plan different kinds of functions. These events will work with groups to showcase and integrate their passions, skills, specialities and identities to the wider campus. Events such as concerts at the quad by local groups like the Holland Project, art showcases with Artown and an athlete meet and greet accompanied by a BBQ. There are infinite possibilities for events that can be cost effective and helpful in bringing the community closer together.
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Working with Athletics
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We deeply understand the importance athletics has in cultivating pack pride and tradition. Community comes from greetings that begin with “did you watch the game last night”, spending Saturday Evenings with your peers cheering from the same stands and getting decked out in silver and blue with your roomates before heading out for a game. That is why we will work with the Athletics Department and Wolves Den on creating engaging opportunities such as enthusiasm for game days, enhancing tailgating experiences in collaboration with Fraternal Councils, athlete meet and greets, themed games and fun halftime activities.
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Accessible Networking
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Continue to work with the Career Studio to create casual mixers between students and alumni. These relaxed settings provide an opportunity for students to engage in an accessible and less daunting networking experience.
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Tradition
Wellness
Introduction
To truly feel at home, it is essential to experience a sense of well-being—whether it’s a personal or environmental feeling of safety, comfort or stability. This aspect of our platform is dedicated to addressing the diverse dimensions of wellness, understanding that the challenges students face today demand thoughtful and multifaceted solutions.
As students navigate rising costs, increasingly demanding academic schedules and divided time commitments, we remain committed to prioritizing the wellness of the student body. Our approach is straightforward: the well-being of students will guide our policy decisions, events and ongoing conversations with university administration. Student leadership must remain strategic, responsive, empathetic and thoughtful to the evolving needs of our community.
Financial
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Tackling Housing Costs
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With the Department of Government Affairs, we will lead lobbying efforts to work with local governments in addressing rising housing costs. We will focus conversations on developing policies such as the city entering contracts to build more affordable (non-luxury) housing, potential rent caps and commitments to increasing apartment inspections to guarantee they are up to code in terms of health and safety.
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Tackling Financial Insecurity
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With the Department of Government Affairs, we will work with external government entities to address concerns and find potential solutions that are tailored to university students. In addition, in collaboration with the University President’s Office, a student task force will be built. This alliance will work on developing internal (ASUN) and external (government level) policy solutions to explore topics such as emergency funds, tuition support programs, student fee increases and additional support services that are creative and expansive.
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Supporting Pack Provisions
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Continue expanding the impact and scope of Pack Provisions- a free pantry that provides food and other essential items to university students. We plan to expand this resource by exploring ways to keep the service open on weekends, broadening community donors/ partnerships, writing additional grants and diversifying provision items to more hygiene products, scantrons and appliances.
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Continuing ASUN Support-Services
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Bring increased awareness to free programs such as Legal Services and Pack Rides. Many people recognize the name, but we will engage in a promotion campaign that effectively informs students on how to utilize and access these free services to their full extent.
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Mental/ Physical
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Making a Safer Space
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To feel at home means to feel safe. We want to make sure each student feels safe on campus through enhancing student support services, creating safeguards to provide protection and taking preventative steps through education campaigns. In the early fall we plan to host “Safety Week”, a campaign aimed at bringing awareness to subjects such as SA, domestic violence, safe drinking, self defense, identifying signs of emotional distress and much more. Collaborators of this week will be NevadaCARES, police services, the Center for Civil Rights and Equal Access, the Love and Mine Foundation, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Counseling Services, the Department of Wellness and other organizations interested in supporting students. Through this week, workshops and events will be hosted to focus on educating on these subjects.
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Personal Care Events
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Continue the annual Wellness Week, a week that emphasizes promoting students’ personal health in all aspects- mental, physical and beyond. Past this week, we plan to integrate wellness into more ASUN events by implementing therapeutic and calm experiences in the planning process.
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Promoting and Supporting Services
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Continue promotion and collaboration with relief and support programs such as NevadaCARES, Counseling Services, Love and Mine Foundation, the Student Health Center, and the Fitness Center. Through ASUN’s existing relationships with these entities, we plan to represent and advocate for student interests in regards to the use and development of these programs.
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Academic/ Professional
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Enhancing Academic and Professional Opportunities
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ASUN funds several application based programs which enhance academic and professional exposure. We plan to increase promotion, funding and application to these services. We will continue support for the Pack Internship Grant Program in collaboration with the Career Studio. We will continue to work with them to sustain the summer month funding and continue to collaborate to have diverse arrays of internships for different majors, specialties and fields of interest. In addition, we will continue to support other programs such as the Emergency Tuition Program and Undergraduate Research and Summer Grants.
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Varied Networking Opportunities
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In collaboration with the Career Studio, we will create diverse networking events for alumni and students to interact. The events can vary from casual settings, panels or formal mixers. The objective of different settings is to increase accessibility and accommodate the comfort levels of both alumni and students. Pack Connect also provides an opportunity for networking through a digital means, and we plan to increase engagement with this format from both the alumni and student side.
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Environmental
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Engaging with Lake Tahoe
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Developing a partnership with the UNR Lake Tahoe campus to provide students with opportunities to interact with the lake and participate in various outdoor activities. This partnership can provide affordable weekend trips; expanding the ability to book dorms and classrooms for club purposes; and increasing representation for Lake Tahoe students and application to the program.
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Sustainable Living
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Create partnerships with Residential life and student apartments to encourage and educate on sustainable practices such as composting, limiting food waste, education on energy conservation, water conservation and repurposing items. Other ways of expanding sustainability are hosting frequent campus farmers markets that provide affordable and fresh produce and artisan goods; and partnering with local shops to provide students with alternate forms of transportation at a discount- such as bike shops, skate stores and more.
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Keeping our Community Clean
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Hosting constant community cleans ups at different times, locations and partners to fulfill our community duty to serve as stewards of Northern Nevada. Partnerships such as Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Panhellenic, Alpha Phi Omega and much more.
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Connection
Introduction
To feel at home is to feel deeply connected with those around you. It’s about more than just physical space; it’s about creating meaningful relationships, shared experiences and a sense of community. That connection is what binds students to each other, to their campus and to the place they call home. In college, these connections often form through involvement in clubs and organizations—spaces where students can find like-minded individuals, explore their passions and build a network of support.
As part of our campaign, we are committed to making these connections more accessible, diverse and lasting. We understand that feeling connected to the university community is essential for both personal growth and academic success, and we will ensure that every student has the opportunity to build lasting bonds that make them feel truly at home at the University of Nevada.
Clubs and Organizations
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Growing Financial Support
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PRIORITIZE funding for clubs and organizations as we have a deep and passionate appreciation for the community built within student groups. Although the ASUN budget is pulled in many different directions, providing financial resources to student groups is a principal focus. In addition, continue the funding, promotion and scope of Empower Nevada’s Passion Fund- a fund students can apply to that can cover club fees on a semester basis.
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Aiding Operations
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Provide support to new clubs and organizations by offering a comprehensive “starter kit” that provides a centralized area to access essential information and resources to ensure a smooth a successful start. Information such as a layout of times to submit forms and documents, guidelines on booking venues, rules regarding funding, tips on operations and contacts to local businesses to work with. An updated kit will also be given to current clubs and organizations to keep them informed and engaged. Part of aiding operations are the Club Commissioners, who will be available and equipped to serve as a source of assistance and support as students groups navigate the process.
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Advocating to Administration
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Although there are things external to ASUN’s range, we will utilize relationships with administration to advocate on behalf of students to change barriers that can stunt club/ organization operations. We plan to advocate to improve topics such as allowing for digital modes of fundraising and streamlining the venue booking process. Our conversations will continue to be guided by the evolving concerns, needs and information provided to us by clubs and organizations as the year progresses.
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Expanding Resources
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Expand resources financially and materially through several means. One of which will be through the Pack Friendly Business Program, where partners will offer special discounts to clubs and organizations seeking to purchase items for fundraisers and group activities. Another strategy is to expand materials and access to ASUN’s resource cabinet that has things such as tables, tents, popcorn machines, cotton candy makers, appliances, games and many other items that can be useful in hosting and fundraising.
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Finding a Home
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Create a system to help students find a home among the hundreds of clubs/ organizations on campus. This system will consist of a digital questionnaire connected to a database that will match a student to a club/ organization that matches their interests and passions. This connects a student to a new group, but it will also provide clubs/ organizations increased exposure to a new array of students.
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The Importance of Greek Life
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We will stay committed to the growth of Greek Life- understanding their importance in providing spirit, events, tradition and excitement on campus. We plan to uplift their philanthropic endeavors by connecting organizations to funding for community service projets and expanding their advertising to the wider campus community. Enhancing Greek Week is another way to increase engagement with the greek community and expand fundraising opportunities for beloved philanthropies.
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Increased Visibility and Collaboration
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Clubs and organizations are essential to the campus community, showcasing diverse interests and specialized fields. We will be committed to integrating these groups into the events ASUN organizes throughout the year, fostering collaboration and promoting their visibility. ASUN will actively invite and involve campus organizations to ensure their unique talents and voices are celebrated in campus-wide events.
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Local Community Partnerships
Build up the Pack Friendly Business Program by continuing to extend partnerships with local businesses to provide diverse and exciting discounts to university students. This will entail diversifying food options and expanding to services such as bike shops, music stores, hair salons, nail salons, book stores and more.
Community
Introduction
To feel at home is to feel truly comfortable and accepted—it's about finding a space where you can be yourself without hesitation or fear of judgment. Home is more than just a place; it’s about connection, belonging and support with the community.
We are committed to building a community that is inclusive, welcoming and supportive—one where every student feels empowered to thrive and contribute to the broader campus life. Community is not defined by a single identity, but by a shared experience that honors the richness of different backgrounds, perspectives and identities. As we work toward reform, we are dedicated to creating an environment where diversity, equity and accessibility are prioritized in every aspect of university life. Together, we can build a campus where everyone feels at home. Our vision for the student government is to make it closer to the community, ensuring it reflects the needs, voices and interests of the entire student body. We will develop a government that is transparent, accessible and genuinely engaged with the diverse experiences of those it serves.
Cultivating Inclusivity
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Commitment to IDEA
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Assemble a cabinet that is diverse in terms of lived experiences, backgrounds, skill sets, perspectives and ideas. It will be a priority to have a passionate cabinet that is determined to create initiatives that are integrating and progressing diversity, equity and accessibility.
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Student Advisory Board
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Establish a student advisory board that is composed of non-ASUN members to bring diverse perspectives to ASUN Officers- recognizing the value of opinions from outside the association in order to broaden viewpoints to better serve the student body. Board members will have regular meetings with the President and her cabinet, providing them the opportunity to give perspectives on a host of subjects and work with ASUN members to develop creative initiatives and policy. Members will include underrepresented members of the campus community, students with specialized knowledge or unique perspectives on key topics and representatives from different campus organizations.
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The IDEA Grant
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Encourage students from all across campus to seek out measures and explore strategies to address the promotion and development of diversity, equity and accessibility. The creation and execution of these concepts will be encouraged through the development of the IDEA Grant. This grant will offer funding to individuals/ groups that formulate creative ideas to build bridges in the community.
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Collaboration with Campus Entities
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Collaborate with different campus entities to promote and uplift their programs. Entities such as the Multicultural Center, Multicultural Greek Council, First Generation Center, Disability Resource Center and much more. This will entail events such as bringing back campus safety walks, continuing alumni mixers exclusively focused on providing opportunities to first generation students and eliminating stigmas surrounding the usage of certain services.
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Championing Diversity and Inclusion
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Continue collaborative event planning that focuses on cultural promotion and visibility, as well as ensuring that ASUN events incorporate different cultures and promote the visibility of underrepresented groups. In addition, further develop more opportunities to uplift inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility through task forces and IDEA focused programming.
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Bridging the ASUN Gap
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Senate Reform
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Work with the Speaker of the Senate to implement measures that foster a productive and engaged legislative branch to guarantee that students receive quality representation and advocacy. Part of this is to have Senate Committees create goals independently and in collaboration with Executive Departments- making sure progress is continuous and plans to tackle expansive issues are laid out.
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Taking Transparency Seriously
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Have ASUN provide updates not just on major events, but also on new initiatives, legislation, policy work with external governments and opportunities for community collaboration. This is to make sure that students have knowledge on extensive subjects which provide them the chance to engage in ASUN’s operations. These updates will be provided through ASUN’s Department of Campus and Public Relations and work with student media to produce unbiased reports on ASUN operations. Another aspect is to open the Executive Branch through intentional outreach and pursuing collaborations with campus groups to seek new policy, events and initiatives.
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Structured Budget
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Produce a well structured budget that is reflective of student needs and interests. The budget will put a particular interest in clubs and organizations, events rooted in creating community, ASUN support services and initiatives seeking to uplift the many different dimensions of wellness- such as financial, mental and academic wellness. We also understand the limitations to ASUN’s budget, therefore, we plan to expand our resources by strategically creating community partnerships. Partnerships such as working with Pack Friendly Businesses to provide discounts to ASUN hosted events, collaborating with entities with already existing resources needed for activities and exploring inexpensive and creative ways to bring students together- such as art showcases and movies at the quad.
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Strengthening the ASUN Internship Program
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Expand the ASUN Internship Program by furthering recruitment efforts and having independent programs set up established curriculums. Putting importance on the internship is essential as it trains cohorts of future officers and softens the learning curve. This minimizes the transition period, guaranteeing that students are always being adequately served at all times of the session. At the same time, expanding ASUN opportunities to those who were not previously ASUN interns or have connections with current officers- effectively breaking down barriers to seek office through election or application. This will be done through events such as Elect All the People and setting up courses to soften potential learning curves.
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