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ASUNM has allocated 60 percent of budget in three meetings
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Thursday, Februar y 21, 2019 | Vo l u m e 1 2 3 | I s s u e 4 6
Bill would require UNM to reinstate cut sports
By Justin Garcia @Just516garc
Another hefty round of requests was approved on Wednesday night. Three student groups received a combined total of $22,736 in appropriations. Two of them were club sports. The appropriations come as the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico's remaining budget for the spring semester falls to $40,935. Senators have appropriated $61,807 so far this semester. In fall 2018, ASUNM appropriated $68,743 in total. “I think that it's really important to consider that we have had most of the major groups come through,” Finance Chair Holly Gallegos said. She added, however, that she was worried senators were relying too much on that narrative. “I have faith in everybody that we’ll end up working it out,” she said. Typically, ASUNM receives more appropriation requests at the beginning of a semester compared
By Justin Garcia/ @Just516garc/ Daily Lobo
UNM President Garnett Stokes answers ASUNM Senator’s questions during a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019.
to the end. The largest appropriation went to Women’s Rugby who received $15,286. The majority of the request
was earmarked for costs associated with travel and tournament fees away from UNM. The request
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ASUNM page 6
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lobos win with strong second half
By Danielle Prokop/ @ProkopDani/ Daily Lobo
Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith after a meeting on Feb. 20, 2019.
By Kyle Land @kyleoftheland
By Benjamin C. Yazza/ @benjamincyazza/ Daily Lobo
Aisia Robertson signals a play to her team against Utah State at Dreamstyle Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019.
By Matthew Narvaiz @matt_narvaiz The New Mexico women’s basketball team defeated Utah State 74-56 on Wednesday, thanks to
scoring from the bench and a resurgent second half in which the Lobos dominated the Aggies in terms of rebounds. Both Jaedyn De La Cerda and Antonia Anderson contributed 14 and 13 points each off the bench, as
UNM outscored the Aggies 36-22 in the second half. “The last 13 minutes we really played,” UNM head coach Mike Bradbury said. “Our response was
see
WBB page 5
State legislators have made reinstating the four sports cut by the University of New Mexico a mandatory condition in order for the UNM Athletics Departments to receive any state funding this legislative session. House Bill 2, the general appropriations bill for the legislative session, includes a clause stating that the $4.6 million to be appropriated to the UNM Athletics Department “is contingent on the reinstatement” of men’s soccer, men’s skiing, women’s skiing and beach volleyball — all of which were cut by the Board of Regents last August. The clause also states the Higher Education Department would have to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration and the Legislative Finance Committee that the sports have been reinstated for Fiscal Year 2020. The bill was passed in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on Monday, and is currently waiting to be voted on the House floor. If it passes, it will move on to the Senate. Sen. John Arthur Smith (DDeming) is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee and oversees all appropriations that go through the Senate floor. Smith said the language of the bill micromanages UNM, something senators in his caucus oppose. “I have a clear message from my caucus and also from the minority
caucus… that the New Mexico State Senate will not be subscribing to micromanaging the University of New Mexico,” Smith said in an interview with the Daily Lobo. This statement puts the future of the contingency to bring the four sports back in doubt. Many University administrators have pointed out what they see as the adverse effects of bringing the sports back. Athletics Director Eddie Nuñez said having to bring back the cut sports would make it difficult for the department to pay back their accumulated deficit. “While it has been an incredibly difficult and painful process to eliminate the four sport offerings, we have determined that this direction is the only one to ensure fiscal responsibility and Title IX compliance for both the short and long-term future of Lobo Athletics,” Nuñez said. President Garnett Stokes echoed those sentiments, telling the Daily Lobo about the financial implications that reinstating the sports would bring. “I think we’ve put the facts out there about what it is we actually need to be able to restore the sports,” Stokes said. “Obviously, this really creates some serious financial jeopardy for us.” The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the body in charge of accrediting the University, will be performing a site visit on March 4. One of its requirements for accreditation is for
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HB2 page 5
On the Daily Lobo website Maler: Men’s Basketball — Lobos routed by Utah St.
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