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April 4, 2014
ASUNM divestment sparks student body debate
Transparency resolution fails to pass senate body by Mychal Miltenberger news@dailylobo.com
The issue of divestment dominated Wednesday night’s Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Senate meeting as Resolution 10S failed to pass the body despite amendments. Advocates on both sides of the issue showed up in full force at the Student Union Building to voice their opinion on the resolution, resulting in what Vice President Brandon Meyers said was the largest turnout at a senate meeting he has witnessed during his vice presidency. Resolution 10S calls for public transparency of all UNM investments and the formation of a student committee that would provide representation behind the
investments. It also calls for UNM to stop investments in companies involved in human rights violations. Despite several amendments, including the removal of any mention of Israel, specific multinational corporations and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, as well as a call for a further resolution of the issue between Students for Justice in Palestine and Lobos for Israel, Resolution 10S failed to pass by a vote of 12-7 with one abstention. ASUNM Sen. Jenna Hagengruber said the decision was an emotional one and that she just did not feel comfortable passing the resolution with such a division among students. “We really appreciate everyone coming out tonight because honestly, this decision was really hard, and I kind of want to cry right now because I know a lot of people are unhappy,” Hagengruber said. “But I did not feel comfortable passing something that not everyone was happy with.”
Eight others universities in the United States have passed similar divestment resolutions. Groups in favor of the Resolution said they are following the footsteps of past advocates of similar resolutions, who called for international divestment from Polaroid after the company’s role in the Apartheid system of South Africa had been uncovered. Groups in opposition said the resolution was biased in that it singled out the state of Israel, and that it falls in line with the greater BDS movement against Israeli Apartheid. Lobos for Israel President Sarah Abonyi said her faith in ASUNM was re-established by the senate’s decision. “I am relieved, and my faith in ASUNM has been re-affirmed,” Abonyi said. “They made an incredibly hard and wise decision. They were able to see past the shroud over the resolution and see that it was part of a larger movement. They encouraged dialogue
that has been needed for so long.” On the other hand, Danya Mustafa, co-chairman of the Students for Justice in Palestine, said that although her organization is disappointed in the resolution failing to pass, she said she believes this is just the start of students coming together and holding the University accountable. But both sides agreed that human rights violations are a serious issue and that UNM should avoid investing in organizations known to have involvements in human rights violations. Mustafa said she remains confident that a divestment resolution will pass the senate in the future because of a growing number of students who are aware of human rights issues in the country and around the world. “Ultimately, I am very optimistic it will pass,” Mustafa said. “We have a growing number of students who care not only about what is happening globally, but also here
at home, and these corporations are directly responsible for human rights violations across the globe. We have to take that stand as students and say we don’t want this happening at our university.” Mustafa said she looks forward to working with Lobos for Israel and ASUNM in order to draft a joint resolution to solve the issue of divestment at UNM. “I actually have Sarah Abonyi’s phone number, so I am definitely going to give her a call and say, ‘Listen, let’s meet and make this resolution a joint resolution.’” she said. “And I am excited to make that happen.” Abonyi said she believes the two sides can move forward and work together to pass a resolution. “It is ground-breaking stuff that doesn’t usually happen on campus,’” Abonyi said. “I am proud to be a part of a campus that can foster such cooperative, diverse dialogue, and I think we will move forward together to draft a comprehensive resolution.”
Student organization promotes Islam weeklong by Zachary Pavlik
news@dailylobo.com @zachpavlik A UNM student organization this week held an event to raise awareness about Islam. Today marks the end of the Muslim Student Associations Islamic Awareness Week. Various events in celebration of the week began Monday. Ruquaya Quraishi, president of the Muslim Student Association, said the week aimed to spread awareness of the Islamic faith and to educate individuals on what the religion teaches. She said her organization answered questions in order to clear any misconceptions that might exist regarding Islam. “We set up a tent, we hand out educational materials, we have lecture events about women or about hot topics that people want to know about,” Quraishi said. “It’s to clear the misconceptions and let people know what Islam really is.” Quraishi said two of the biggest misconceptions about her religion are that women are oppressed and that they are forced to wear the head scarf. She said neither of these is true. “In my case, I’m the president of the Muslim Student Association, and in no way am I oppressed,” she said. “Also, that women are forced to wear the head scarf, and that’s not true at all. In our religion, we believe that if you are forced, you are wearing it for the wrong reasons, and you shouldn’t be wearing it at all. You should be wearing it because you want to and because God told us to.” Masood Mirza, the event coordinator of the Muslim Student Association, said many of his friends have the wrong idea of what Islam is. He said members of his faith don’t speak out, and that one of the purposes of the week is to combat such ignorance. “A lot of my Western friends — American friends — say that Muslims don’t speak out against what’s happening, so Islamic Awareness Week is our way of speaking out,” Mirza said.“We want people to learn what Islam really is. It is a message of peace and love.” Mirza said many wrongfully believe that all Muslims hate the United States. He said this idea is incorrect and that he holds strong
Inside the
William Aranda / Daily Lobo UNM students Muhajir Romero, left, and Mac Morin discuss similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam outside the Student Union Building on Thursday afternoon. Today is the last day of the UNM Muslim Student Association’s Islamic Awareness Week, which aims to clarify popular ideas about the religion. This year’s Islamic Awareness Week kicked off Monday. ties with both the nation, the state of New Mexico and the city of Albuquerque. “I think the biggest misconception is that every Muslim wants to hate America,” Mirza said. “I find that to be the weirdest thing ever. I was born in America. I was born and raised in Albuquerque. I love my state. I love my country. I love everything we stand for. I am willing to die for this country even.” Mirza said the faith is based on community and positive relationships with other people everyon encounters. “Islam is love, Islam is brotherhood,” Mirza said. “It is all about unity. That’s what
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the religion teaches. Islam is brotherhood, sisterhood… unity.” Aaron Gardner, an ethnology student at UNM, said he believes that having an event such as the Islamic Awareness Week is very important to educate the University community. “I think there are a lot of misconceptions,” Gardner said. “I don’t think people know a lot about the religion, and they see extremist things on television. I think Islamic Awareness Week is important because it gives people a chance to learn about Islamic culture and explore different beliefs and ideas.”
To end this year’s Islamic Awareness Week, the Muslim Student Association will be hosting a trip to the Islamic Center of New Mexico today. The organization will also be present at the UNM International Festival on April 17.
Trip to Islamic Center of New Mexico 1100 Yale Blvd SE 1 p.m.
TODAY
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