DAILY LOBO new mexico
Q&A
Goodbye social security see Page 4
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
monday April 8, 2013
OVER THE BAR
with ASUNM vice presidential candidates by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
This week, undergraduates can vote for student government representatives from the “Unite for ASUNM,” “Believe for ASUNM” and “Shout for ASUNM” slates in the ASUNM elections. Read up on the vicepresidential candidates and their platforms today before casting your ballots Wednesday. See Friday’s edition of the Daily Lobo for a Q-and-A with the presidential candidates. Daily Lobo: If elected, on what principles would you model your vice presidency? David Saucier, “Unite for ASUNM”: The key principles that I intend to base this vice presidency are openness to our organizations, accountability for our senators and myself, and transparency in all processes of our business. Brandon Meyers, “Believe for ASUNM”: The first is hard work. I think the best Senate is one that is trying to do everything they can to not only reach out to the students but also write great legislation. The second one is accountability. There are a lot of responsibilities in the ASUNM Constitution that may seem burdensome to people, and I want to make sure senators are held accountable to those. Third and fourth are integrity and honesty in trying to hold true to your values as an individual but also representing your constituent base. Nancy Martinez, “Shout for ASUNM”: If elected, I would want to work with the senators and the presidents to bring equality, even with senators that have been elected from other slates. I would love to cooperate with them to bring more equality and diversity on campus. DL: After months of debate, the SUB Board finally decided in February to keep Chick-fil-A on campus. Would you work to support or refute this decision? DS: I recognize the controversy behind this situation, but I think that Chick-Fil-A offers jobs to students. I know the students that work at Chick-Fil-A to be kind and accepting of all people. BM: As a senator, I was in sup-
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 133
port of the ASUNM resolution. I wanted to support the minority in this scenario. My personal stance is that I love moving forward. I’ve talked with Amy Vesper of the UNM Social Justice Club, and I like the progress that she and (ASUNM) President (Caroline) Muraida have made in drafting policies that are for all vendors that come into the SUB so that we don’t get into these sticky situations again. NM: I think it’s ultimately not up to me, but to the students, so I would work with them and see what they want. Eventually, it’s everyone’s decision. My personal opinion didn’t really matter, but after all, I was against it just because of how it was directed. DL: Earlier in this semester, the University witnessed various cases of assaults on campus that prompted safety initiatives from the administration. If elected, how do you plan to make the campus safer for students? DS: One of the proposed solutions to this would be either to install more lighting around campus or even to provide an indoor running track to those of us who like to run during the night. Past that, I believe prevention is the best way to go. I think that we should form forums to help discuss some of the risks specific to certain locations and how they can be avoided. I would also ask the UNM police officers to come in and talk and give their take on things at these forums. BM: I don’t have all the answers. In this situation I would be looking to get input and opinion about how I should represent my constituents best. I was told that (UNMPD) has opened up a student position for someone to walk around campus during the night and making sure everything’s OK. A lot of what UNMPD does is in their cars patrolling the streets. But often it happens right here where there’s no streets. That makes sense, and it would be cool if we had students as neighborhood watch. NM: I would definitely bring up more lighting and increase security, because those issues should never even be tolerated. Being a girl, I think I’m afraid of walking around campus. And I would increase the lighting
Juan Labreche/ @LabrecheMode / Daily Lobo Senior Amber Menke releases a pole after a vault on Saturday. The Lobos went on to garner several top-10 finishes. See Back Page for story.
Martinez approves 1% pay raise Governor signs bill raising salaries of all state employees
by John Tyczkowski news@dailylobo.com
Gov. Susana Martinez on Friday signed a bill that allows for a 1 percent pay increase for UNM faculty and staff. The governor had until noon on Friday to sign, veto or do nothing with bills passed through the Legislature this session. Martinez signed the $5.9 billion state budget proposal Friday, which included several line-item vetoes. However, the 1-percent pay increase for state employees, including UNM faculty and staff, remained, as did the 3.5 percent increase in funding for UNM. It has been four years since the last faculty and staff pay raise at UNM.
Martinez also signed into law the bill that proposed diverting $10 million from the tobacco settlement permanent fund into the Lottery Scholarship to prevent cuts to student tuition assistance. This will cover current scholarship recipients and the projected number to receive the scholarship for the 2013-14 school year. Martinez said in a statement that she signed the bill as a shortterm measure while the search for a permanent solution to Lottery Scholarship solvency continues. “So, although I am signing this bill, I encourage lawmakers to work together to restructure the lottery program so we can maintain solvency and so the program is sustainable without a continued infusion of other state funds,” Martinez said.
A capital outlay bill saw $4.4 million in projects spending vetoed before the governor signed it into law. The vetoes included $125,000 in projects spending out of a total of $10.1 million in projects spending for UNM. Martinez also signed a tax package that included the so-called “Breaking Bad bill,” which was vetoed last month then integrated into this tax package. The “Breaking Bad bill” provision expands tax incentives for television crews filming long-running television shows in New Mexico. According to the bill, tax refunds for television crews are increased from 25 percent to 30 percent of a producer’s total qualified spending amount. The overall tax package focuses
see Martinez PAGE 2
Gov. Susana Martinez holds a press conference at her office to address the end of the 2013 Legislative Session on March 16. Martinez had until noon on Friday to approve, veto, or doing nothing with bills that passed the Legislature this session. Luis Sanchez Saturno The Santa Fe New Mexican AP photo
see ASUNM PAGE 3
Not to be repeated
Making a splash
see Page 8
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TODAY
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