Money - everybody needs it but so few in New Mexico actually have it. Such is the case when it comes to dividing the miniscule pieces of pie that make up UNM's budget. With so little at stake, some faculty, staff and students don't even bother coming to the table anymore because they know it's just a tease.
The Associated Students of UNM, the undergraduate student government, is trying to fix that by raising student fees from $14 to $20. The fees have not been adjusted since the 1970s, and the change would increase the student government budget to $554,144. The funding would be distributed through the same funding process that involves more than 100 groups.
It all sounds good, and the newspaper would love to support the issue now that its funding is no longer caught in the crossfire. But ASUNM has overlooked key points that were at the heart of the Lobo's dissent the first few times this issue was raised and subsequently failed when put to a student vote.
ASUNM still fails to represent the majority of students. Yes, apathy is a problem across the board on this campus, but if you are seeking to raise fees, you need to appeal to more than just 10 percent of the student body.
It is disturbing that so few people feel welcome on this campus and do not participate in student activities. Money certainly could help fix this problem, but ASUNM has not proven to be one of the more fiscally responsible entities on campus, generally spending more than half of its funding to maintain student government.
The Senate relishes the opportunity to make student organizations more accountable and forces them to bend over backward to prove they are worthy of student fees. Such defense of student interests is admirable, but it is not practiced equally.
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The Daily Lobo must demand that the student government turn the spotlight on itself and dig deeper into its own pockets before frisking students.
Iliana Lim¢n
Editor in chief
