An otherwise uneventful full senate meeting of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico was punctuated by an impassioned appeal from Sens. Jayce McCloud and Hope Montoya on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The pair appealed for senators to involve themselves in the ASUNM budget process, as the time for full senate discussion of the upcoming budget is all-but-confirmed for the next meeting.
A suspension of the standing rule that time-limits senators’ opening remarks motioned by Finance Chair Montoya allowed McCloud 15 minutes — instead of the usual five — to deliver his call to action.
In his remarks, McCloud highlighted what he said were sections of the ASUNM Lawbook and Constitution that gave the Finance Committee significant authority over ASUNM employee salaries. A packet given to senators and executive staff outlined a disparity in the percentage of available funds granted in last spring’s budget to ASUNM-adjacent organizations compared to those unaffiliated with the student government – 89.4% and 10.6%, respectively.
“It’s just not right,” McCloud said of the difference in distribution.
The bulk of the packet consisted of statements from 15 student organization leaders on how increased funding would benefit their members and the UNM community.
“Full funding would allow us to keep creating a safe community space for Queer and trans Lobos as we navigate the challenges that we currently face,” reads a statement from Juniper Reimagined.
Another statement from Tivon Oston, president of the World Affairs Delegation, highlighted how ASUNM funding serves members of student organizations, dozens of New Mexico secondary schools and UNM itself.
“Without ASUNM expanding funding for chartered student organizations in the face of inflation and rising cost, student organizations like ours will cease to exist,” the statement from Oston reads.
Nine organizations had appropriations on the agenda: the Pre-Dental Society, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, American Indian Business Association, Health Professions Symposium, UNM Pre-Medical Society, Nepali Students Association, Society of Women Engineers, Juniper Reimagined and Automotive and Motorsport Club. All requests were passed by a vote of 14-0-0-5.
Five bills were up during Wednesday’s meeting, including three related to a new position in the ASUNM Judiciary — a student advocate role. The bill creating a student advocate role passed at last fall’s final full senate meeting but was redefined in Bill 6S as the student attorney, who is responsible for representing students who are defendants in cases brought against them by ASUNM or who bring a complaint against the organization. Bill 3S outlined the duties of the position, and Bill 4S added its definition to the Definitions Code of the ASUNM Lawbook.
Bill 5S redefined the wording for the definition of the Community Experience Agency, completing half the mission of a similar bill from the last full senate meeting. Bill 7S failed to pass after concerns among senators over the “vague” nature of its language regarding what constitutes coercion of a voter in student elections. All other bills passed by full count minus absences.
ASUNM’s next full senate meeting is March 12.
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Elliott Wood is a beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. They can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
