NM Daily Lobo 112311

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DAILY LOBO new mexico

Happy Thanksgiving!

wednesday

November 23, 2011

The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895

ASUNM rep. talks election turnout, scandal by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu

Isabel Hees / Daily Lobo Claire Mize

Following the ASUNM Fall Elections on Nov. 16, the 10 candidates who ran on the Make Your Mark slate were fined, and two from the slate were also disbarred from office following findings of financi al misconduct. ASUNM also recorded the highest voter turnout in ASUNM history, and both slates ran with 10 candidates, an unusual occurrence in the lesscontested fall elections. In an interview with the Daily Lobo, Claire Mize, the ASUNM Elections Commission director, analyzed the election results and said she predicts another recordbreaking turnout for the spring 2012 elections, but said she hopes

the next election won’t involve any misconduct. Daily Lobo: Why did we see candidates in this election misreport their campaign spending? Do you think there is a temptation to cheat the system to get ahead in a competitive election? Claire Mize: I think that people are definitely starting to get more serious. I hope that this is a one-time thing and that people are not dishonest, because that is a reflection of our student body and we don’t want leaders like that. DL: Will we see this again in future elections? CM: I don’t think so. The reason we are being so strict is to show people that they can’t get away with it. We will catch it, and so it’s not worth it. People have overspent in the past,

and if you are honest about it, you just pay the fine, usually $5-10. I think people need to realize that there is more behind this than I can say in an interview, and if you want to know more you can see why they are … getting these repercussions. I believe the (measures taken to reprimand candidates) are reasonable and they are based on the election code … These are all public documents. Anyone who wants to know more can come to the ASUNM office. DL: The issue is still up for appeal, and the Make Your Mark Candidates who were fined and cited said they plan on appealing. What can you tell us about that process? CM: They are dealing directly with Student Court. … The (five) justices on the Student Court will

see Elections PAGE 3

ASUNM Fall Election Voter Turnout

Year

721

‘06

ASUNM Elections Commission Director Claire Mize predicts more than 1800 students will vote in the spring 2012 elections.

572

‘07

981

‘08

1270

‘09

1351

‘10 ‘11

1433

ERB proposes min. retirement age by Charlie Shipley

charlieshipley84@gmail.com

A surprise proposal voted on at Monday’s Education Retirement Board meeting would establish the minimum retirement age at 55 for faculty and staff. UNM faculty said during a Faculty Senate meeting Tuesday the proposal was not one of six original proposals reviewed by the Faculty and Staff Benefits committee. The proposal, which decreases a retiree’s cost of living allowance (COLA) and establishes the minimum retirement age at 55, is news to them Currently, the ERB doesn’t specify a retirement age but says educators can retire with full benefits after working for 30 years. Faculty Senate President Timothy Ross said the proposal “fell out of the sky.” “It was not one of the six that they asked all of the employees to consider and then vote on,” he said. “I’m thinking that what happened is they looked at the statistics of the

Inside the

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make that decision. DL: 1,433 students voted in the recent election, more than ever before, and the turnout has been increasing for several years. Why do you think that is? CM: It’s a lot of campaigning. Campaigning has gotten absolutely crazy … with chalking and fliers. Candidates are putting in more time. They were ready more than a month before the election, they are … organizing earlier. I think people are realizing that ASUNM is important and that they want the right people in those spots. Ten candidates ran on each slate, and it’s unusual for a fall election, it’s hard for them to get two full slates together … except in spring elections.

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votes on those six, and maybe saw something close to a uniform distribution, which essentially means that there was no overwhelming favorite and decided to pick something else.” Mary Lou Cameron, the ERB chairwoman, said in a statement that the changes are being made to ensure the retirement plan’s longterm sustainability. The proposal will be presented to the New Mexico Legislature’s Investment and Pension Oversight Committee on Dec. 2. Ross said the proposed retirement age of 55 would not have a significant effect on faculty because college professors generally come to campus later in life, and by the time they serve for 30 years, they are usually 55 or older. Ross said the reduction in the COLA is of greater concern to the faculty. The new proposal gives current and future retirees just 87.5 percent of the COLA that current

see Senate PAGE 3

REREVOLUTION

AP Photo Protesters in Cairo, Egypt keep a pathway clear to move injured people during nearby clashes with riot police in Tahrir Square on Tuesday. Egypt’s ruling military moved up the date for transferring power to a civilian government to July of next year and consulted Tuesday with political parties on forming a new Cabinet, but the major concessions were immediately rejected by tens of thousands of protesters threatening a “second revolution.” See Page 5 for more.

Flying off the tracks

Fashion Q&A

See Page 6

See Page 7

TODAY

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