Sept. 17
Turan O'Henry Johnson, a 34-year-old transient from Chicago, is charged with battery and held without bond in a mental health unit at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. Johnson was charged in the case of attacks on more than 20 male Indian students on and around campus. Johnson would approach the men in broad daylight, kick them to the ground, say "Namaste" and flee the scene, according to police.
Oct. 19
The University considers a campus-wide smoking ban. The Board of Regents favored the ban but asked for more input from students before issuing the mandate. An ASUNM poll found 363 undergraduate students in favor of the ban, 300 opposed, and 52 abstained from voting. The Health Sciences Center went tobacco-free in June 2007.
Nov. 19
Voters approved expansion of CNM's taxing district in Rio Rancho, allowing the community college to build a $20 million facility near the city's downtown. This will allow students to begin a bachelor's degree at CNM and finish at UNM Rio Rancho, which means students will be able to get a four-year degree in Rio Rancho for the first time in the city's history.
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Nov. 26
The charter for UNM's chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity is revoked until 2009. The University planned to suspend the fraternity after a fight broke out at the fraternity's house Aug. 21 and it was discovered underage girls were given alcohol at the house. Kappa Sigma's national headquarters revoked the chapter's charter for two years.
Jan. 1
The Frontier Restaurant changes its hours, closing from 1 to 5 a.m. every day. The Frontier had been open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, since 1991. Restaurant management said they made the change because insuring a 24-hour business is expensive.
Jan. 28
GPSA votes not to hold a recall election for its president, Joseph Garcia. Some members of the organization claimed that this violated GPSA's constitution. More than 130 graduate students signed a petition started in November to recall Garcia for mishandling finances. GPSA's council chairwoman resigned at the meeting, stating that the organization had been "distilled into a flat and often hurtful environment."
March 13
The Board of Regents unanimously votes to give the University's food-service contract to Chartwells when Aramark's contract expired in April. The decision follows protests and appeals by students, saying Aramark didn't support local growers.
April 3
Student Peter Lynch is found guilty of criminal damage to property. In September, Lynch removed a Mexican flag from a pole outside Scholes Hall and tore it. Lynch said he tore the flag because it violated flag protocol and was flying on Constitution Day. Lynch was ordered to replace the flag, serve 48 hours of community service and attend anger management classes.
April 4
The Board of Regents approved a 5.75 percent increase in tuition and fees for the 2008-09 school year. President David Schmidly said this increase would allow UNM to offer more scholarships, improve faculty retention and extend library hours.
May 7
Student Kevin Boyar was arrested on charges of unlawfully carrying a gun onto a University establishment. Police said four guns were recovered from Boyar's parents' house, and there was evidence he brought the weapons to his room in the Student Resident Center.
