The Senate of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) heard presentations from the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR) Department of Government and Community Engagement and the Student Health Center at their meeting on Oct. 21. The senate did not consider any legislation at this meeting.
Michael Flores, vice president of the Department of Government and Community Engagement, told senators about his department’s recent successes in lobbying the state legislature. He said UNR secured partial funding for the construction of a new life sciences building and funding for equipment in the new Nevada State Public Health lab, which is still under construction.
Flores said his department lobbies year-round for UNR’s interests by spending the most time with “money committees” in the state legislature because they decide what gets funded.
In the interest of creating a veterinary college at UNR, Flores said they would be seeking partial funding for the project from the legislature. The department is also looking to increase UNR’s role in Nevada’s lithium economy, whether that be in mining, processing or recycling.
College of Engineering Senator Henry Lawson asked how Flores’ department ensures legislators keep their word after they commit to vote a certain way on a bill. Flores said even if legislators commit to a bill, they may still change their mind later on.
Flores also shared an anecdote from the 2025 special legislative session with ASUN. He recounted that Governor Joe Lombardo asked UNR President Brian Sandoval to convince a legislator to vote in favor of the film bill being considered that session. In return, Lombardo put the University’s SB4 bill on the agenda, which provided partial funding for the life sciences building. Flores said the legislator that Sandoval tried to convince ultimately did not commit to voting for the film bill.
After Flores, Dr. Cheryl Hug-English, director of the student health center, gave a report to the senate about the services the health center provides. Hug-English said the health center had recently produced a video about GLP-1s, as they had seen an increase in students using them for weight loss instead of the medication’s intended use.
She also shared that over 5,600 students had already visited the health center this year. Last year’s total patient visits reached 21,772. Hug-English recommended that students get a free flu shot from the health center as flu season approaches.
