Editor,
We wish to respond to the irrational claims made by Iliana Lim¢n, the editor of the Daily Lobo, in Tuesday's edition.
As members of the ASUNM Finance Committee, we are faced with funding problems that are the direct result of an outdated ASUNM fee system, which was last altered in 1977. A six-dollar increase in student fees would provide an additional $200,000, all of which would be distributed to student organizations that will positively affect you, the UNM student.
ASUNM was only able to fund 42 percent of the total amount of money requested by 190 student organizations over the past year. This was based on our annual budget of $378,000. Imagine the extent of the growth, prosperity, and influence that student organizations could have on the UNM community by receiving more than $576,000 dollars with this increase. The benefits to the student body as a whole are significantly greater than the Daily Lobo putting their unused $12,000 of student fee money into their enormous $380,000 surplus year after year.
Regarding the percentage decrease to the Student Publications Board, we would like to address the following issues.
First, simple calculations demonstrate why a percentage decrease from 12 to 6 percent is a rational deduction. As mentioned above, last year the student publications rolled over $12,000 into their surplus account. The decrease presented in the amendment will allow the Daily Lobo to continue to operate at their current budget with no impact on the quality of the paper or on their surplus account.
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The Daily Lobo, which claims to want to help students from every corner of the campus, is simply being selfish in wishing to continue to receive large amounts of unrestricted student fees that they don't need, while the more than 300 student groups continue to struggle to survive. Consider the ivory tower that the Daily Lobo lives in while student organizations fight daily for pennies.
For years, they have accumulated over a quarter of a million dollars (an amount that is greater than ASUNM's entire annual operating budget) to be used for a "rainy day." Quite simply, this is a luxury that absolutely no department, organization or group on the UNM campus, including ASUNM itself, can enjoy.
Despite the Daily Lobo's attempts to distort and misinterpret the facts and the impact of this bill, Amendment Four will only help a broader range of students at UNM.
We, as members of the ASUNM Finance Committee, strongly feel that we have made this decision in the best interests of the student body and we are willing to clarify any vague or unclear points regarding this amendment.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at 277-5528 or stop by and see us in Room 262 of the Student Services Building.
Sens. Jason Shaffer,
Grant Nichols and Evan Kist
Members of the ASUNM Finance Committee
Editor's Note: The Daily Lobo did not conclude the last fiscal year with a $12,000 surplus, as reflected in May financial reports. Current newspaper records state that the Daily Lobo actually finished with a deficit of more than $4,000.
