“Love is Universal,” Except for Palestine: ASUNM Divestment Resolution Voted Down

Commentary By NICK ESTES

In a standing room only, record-setting gathering of over 150 people at six p.m. on Wednesday night, April 2, 2013, the undergraduate student council Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) voted against adopting a divestment resolution targeting UNM investments in Israeli corporations. Student Senator Ayham Maadi sponsored the resolution, which was drafted and supported by eight student organizations—Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Students Organizing Actions for Peace, Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán, UNM Dreamers in Action (MEChA), Men of Color Alliance, Men of Color Initiative, Fair Trade Initiative, and UNM Arabic Club.

More than 150 people packed into ASUNM meeting in the Lobo A & B room at the UNM Student Union Building. The meeting began at 6 p.m. and ended shortly before 10 p.m. More than three hours were spent discussing the divestment resolution.

Before the floor opened for debate, UNM…