GPSA wants to change UNM's hostile environment

Editor,

GPSA will make some very important decisions this Saturday as a response to the recent events inspired by racial and ethnic hatred. Three separate resolutions - FR07-008: Anti-Discrimination and Hate Crimes, FR07-007: Diversity and Equity, and FR07-006: International Student Rights - will be introduced and discussed among the council representatives. It is imperative that all of these resolutions be voted on Saturday if these types of events are to be prevented in future.

President David Schmidly has also approached GPSA and asked for its input on the revision to the University hate crimes policy. Graduate students must not pass up this opportunity to take an active part in the re-designing of University policies and practices. In order to make sure these resolutions are effective, it is crucial that GPSA votes on them Saturday. These resolutions are new, and some council members will be arguing that the vote on them be postponed until November. Many of us strongly believe that the urgency of these issues in being addressed, and the timeliness of recent events do not require such a lengthy discussion period.

If any change is to be made with regard to the hostile environment at UNM, if the victims are to receive justice, and if we are to stop further events of this kind, we must act now. GPSA must do something, and one way to do so is to pass resolutions that require direct, swift and fair judgment on these types of incidents.

We encourage all graduate and professional students to contact their department GPSA representative, ask to review the resolutions and voice your concerns as to how you would like them to vote.

Your voice is important, and it is vital your GPSA representative knows your feelings about this matter. Additionally, we encourage all of you to attend the GPSA meeting Saturday and speak on behalf of these resolutions and the hate crimes policy revision during the media and gallery portion of the meeting. The meeting will be held at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Emira Ibrahimpasic and

Lissa Knudsen

UNM students