<i>Lobo</i> couldn’t have won without students

Thank you.

That is what I have to say to the 765 students who voted against Amendment One that was on Wednesday’s undergraduate student government ballot. While it would have been nice to win the popular vote — students voted for the amendment by a 31-vote margin — it was a clear signal that students at UNM still support their newspaper and freedom of the press. I wholeheartedly thank all of you for your support.

I would like to extend my gratitude to outgoing senator Josh Ewing — the bill’s lone dissenter when ASUNM voted to pass it — for his unwavering support of the Daily Lobo through this ordeal and to Andrea Gunderson and David Padilla, who abstained from the vote and reserved judgment until they heard both sides of the story.

I also would like to thank Amanda Zubiate and the Pre-Law Association for the opportunity to speak about the issue at its election debate. It was one of the few chances the Daily Lobo had to give its arguments against the bill.

I also would like to thank the Daily Lobo staff for its hard work and effort during this trying time. It would have been easy for the staff to lose focus of its jobs and let the amendment affect how it covered the campus, but it passed this test with flying colors.

Now it’s time to move away from election politics and focus on the issues that affect students and this campus. Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting showed that students are angry about the direction their University is going in. Campus safety is an issue that gets a lot of attention, and diversity has become a topic that students will have to address.

The Daily Lobo will continue to provide coverage on these and other issues that affect students and inform them on what they want and need to know. Students, faculty and staff still have an avenue to express their views in the Opinion section, and I hope they continue to use this forum. Without it, many students would lose touch with this University and the opportunities that are here for them.

This is, and always will be, your newspaper.

James Barron

Editor in chief