The Cities for Peace resolution, designed to ultimately change the United States' foreign policies regarding armed conflict, that came to the ASUNM Steering and Rules committee failed to pass on April 30.
The resolution was put together by a group of five UNM students including senior theatre arts major Matthew Lerma, and was introduced by ASUNM Sen. Michelle Heidbrink.
The resolution stated that "The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico strongly urge the United States Congress to reconsider the effects pre-emptive war on foreign governments will have on our homeland domestic programs, the compromise on our national security, the casualties of U.S. soldiers and innocent civilians overseas, and the huge cost of war that sacrifices our domestic programs for corporate war profits."
It also urged President George Bush to "pursue and support a peaceful and diplomatic resolution built upon international law and international support."
The failed resolution is part of the Cities for Peace international movement.
According to the Cities for Peace Web site, it is "a national coalition of local officials and concerned citizens working to express the will of their communities through civic resolutions regarding the proposed war in Iraq."
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Lerma said he got involved in the movement because he felt that something needed to be done and this campaign was the way to achieve Peace.
"It focuses on local leaders," Lerma said. "It is the only concrete movement that has shown amazing results."
According to the Cities for Peace Web site, 164 U.S. cities and counties have passed the resolution opposing war, including the city of Santa Fe. There are also numerous universities that have passed similar resolutions.
The UNM resolution didn't pass for two reasons, Lerma said.
"We didn't create enough awareness to get the attention of the ASUNM senate," Lerma said.
He also felt that ASUNM didn't help make the resolution an issue.
"They are supposed to make these kinds of issues available to the student body," Lerma said. "It's not their place to decide, that's for the student body to decide."
Lerma feels this is an issue that is ever relevant to college students because the cost of war affects student tuition as well as city and state budgets.
Even though the resolution failed at UNM, Lerma and other students plan to take it before the Albuquerque City Council.
"All this work and focus is for us to help people all over the world," Lerma said.
