UNM must stop giving money to athletics when well is dry

Editor,

In the March 4 Albuquerque Journal, "UNM Saved for a Rainy Day; It Rained," President of the UNM Board of Regents Jamie Koch said that three years ago, the University's "centralized reserves had grown dangerously low" and "revenue reversions," i.e., harvesting from other parts of the University, began and have continued because of funding shortfalls: inflation in utility and insurance costs, a severe downturn in tuition revenue, the mid-year state budget rescission this year, etc.

Sounds like money has been tight at UNM for quite a while, doesn't it? But three days later, the Journal reports that five months earlier, Athletics Vice President Paul Krebs received a $91,500 raise and now makes $408,391 ($100,000 more than Provost Suzanne Ortega) plus possible bonuses of $70,000, etc. UNM President David Schmidly told the Journal he discussed the raise for Krebs with Koch and Regent Mel Eaves who "both felt that because of Paul's performance, it was important to see if we could keep him under a long-term contract."

And then the Daily Lobo reports that head coach Steve Alford gets $45,000 in bonuses this year. This takes his earnings, benefits and bonuses to well over $1,000,000. These raises and bonuses came much after the similar raise for David Harris. Why is this happening at a time of "revenue reversions" and frozen raises and belt-tightening for faculty and staff of the University?

Also, these raises include big chunks of "deferred compensation." Is this just a tax dodge? Yes, according to Schmidly's request for a policy on deferred compensation. I don't know what funds pay these raises and bonuses or pay for The Pit and University Stadium renovations. It's the appearance of there being a lot of money at a time when others working and studying in the University are counting every penny and worrying about their jobs and their futures. Athletics is supposed to be part of the University, and if it has such large sources of money, why can't more of that be harvested?

How can you tell students about the benefits of an education when they see that adjunct faculty are highly educated and talented but make less money teaching at UNM than they do at CNM? It is often the same adjuncts who teach at UNM, CNM and other institutions in a futile attempt to earn a living wage, without benefits. How can you tell students about the benefits of an education in a field they love when they see that the people who are really valued at the University are those in sports or in the expanding top administration? How can you tell students about the benefits of an education when they are facing possible increased tuition and fees at a time when job opportunities are shrinking during their college years and after graduation?

The faculty, staff and students must continue to challenge Koch, Schmidly and Harris, who make patronizing statements in person and in print, but offer nothing.

Marjorie Crow

UNM staff