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Governor signs bill requiring training for university regents

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 21

On April 8, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 19 into law, requiring all members of university boards of regents to undergo 10 hours of training. The training, required for regents at all universities and public post-secondary educational institutions, will cover topics such as state law, financial and fiduciary responsibilities, student success, available state and nongovernmental resources and ethics and accountability, according to the now-law. “I've always felt like we should be looking for regents who have a lot of experience and passion in higher education, and I feel like that's not always the case in the people that get selected,” Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces), who sponsored the bill during the legislative session, said.

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Immigration officials terminate some UNM international student records

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | April 15

The federal government terminated the records of several University of New Mexico international students amid reports of the revocation of hundreds of student visas across the country. The Student & Exchange Visitor Information System is a federal tracking system for nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in the United States, according to the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration. A “handful” of UNM students had their SEVIS records terminated recently, according to UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair. The termination of a SEVIS record does not necessarily mean a student’s visa was revoked, but there is often overlap between the two actions.

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Norton wins ASUNM presidential race, six new senators elected

Elliott Wood | April 15

On Friday, April 4, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Elections Commission named Andrew Norton the winner of the ASUNM presidential race over current Vice President Mutazz Jaber, certifying the results of March’s election.

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Governor authorizes deployment of National Guard to assist APD on Central Avenue

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 14

On April 7, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque due to a "significant increase” in crime, authorizing emergency funds for the New Mexico National Guard to assist the Albuquerque Police Department, according to her executive order. Beginning in mid-May, 60-70 National Guard members will be deployed to Albuquerque, according to a press release from the governor's office. They will focus particularly on Central Avenue, which encapsulates the southern boundary of the University of New Mexico’s main campus. Lujan Grisham signed the order after APD Chief Harold Medina sent her a memorandum requesting assistance due to the “fentanyl epidemic coupled with an increase in violent juvenile crime.” In the memorandum, Medina wrote that the problem “can only be resolved with consistent and visible presence of APD officers to Albuquerque’s citizens.”

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Construction on new UNMPD headquarters set to begin this month

Maria Fernandez | April 14

Construction on the new headquarters for the University of New Mexico Police Department is set to begin this month in the former Greek Lot. The new UNMPD headquarters, on the southeast corner of University Boulevard and Mesa Vista Road, will replace the current headquarters located in Hokona Hall and include an updated dispatch center, dedicated training areas and a public meeting room, according to Lt. Tim Delgado. The project will address the growing need for a facility dedicated to supporting effective operations, ensuring safety and enhancing community engagement on campus, Delgado wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo.

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UNM retracts some draft affirmative action policy changes after criticism

Lily Alexander | April 14

After receiving hundreds of public comments largely criticizing the University of New Mexico’s prospective affirmative action policy changes, the school released two new draft policies Thursday, April 10. The new draft policies keep in more references to affirmative action — or sometimes replace it with “inclusive excellence” — but still remove requirements for UNM to have an affirmative action plan and gather and report affirmative action data. The new policies also still remove the ability for a hiring official, in certain circumstances, to fill a position with a member of a historically underrepresented group if another more qualified member of a protected group is unlikely to apply. The previous draft policies — released March 28 — removed nearly all references to affirmative action.

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Thousands gather at Civic Plaza for nationwide ‘Hands Off!’ protest against Trump administration

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 7

On Saturday, April 5, Albuquerque joined cities across the country in a “Hands Off!” protest, during which thousands rallied at Civic Plaza to protest against the Trump’s administration’s actions. Speakers addressed local and national issues including immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, climate justice, Medicaid, Palestinian rights, the right to free speech, public education and the University of New Mexico’s policies. Speakers at the rally included labor activist Dolores Huerta, former Secretary of the Interior and current gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, New Mexico Women’s March Chair Samia Assed, UNM law professor Ernesto Longa, among others.

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ASUNM VP impeachment attempt fails in full senate meeting

Elliott Wood | April 7

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico senate voted Wednesday, April 2, not to open a resolution containing articles of impeachment filed against Vice President Mutazz Jaber for failure to fill two “critical” vacant senate seats in a timely manner, according to Resolution 1S. If there are vacancies in the senate, the vice president is responsible for contacting and appointing the official candidates who received the next-highest number of votes during the most recent general election who could fill those vacancies, according to the ASUNM Constitution. If the candidates appointed refuse the position, the vice president is obligated to accept applications for the vacant seats and appoint replacements, with approval from two-thirds of the senate, within 10 days, according to the constitution.

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UNMPD begins using bodycams

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | April 7

In March, the University of New Mexico Police Department began using body cameras. This comes over a year after the Daily Lobo reported that UNMPD did not use body cameras because of a loophole in a state statute. A bill during this year’s legislative session aimed to close that loophole, but it did not make it past the Senate. UNM announced that the police department would obtain the cameras in August 2024. So far, the cameras have worked well, according to Lt. Tim Delgado, who is in charge of UNMPD’s body camera program.

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UNM to begin demolition of Motel 6 following acquisition

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | April 7

The Motel 6 that the University of New Mexico acquired in February is expected to be demolished within the next two weeks. The University purchased the property for $5 million, according to a memo from Thomas Neale, the UNM director of real estate. The motel sits on an approximately 1.57-acre plot of land just west of Lobo Village. The UNM Board of Regents also approved an offer for the 1-acre plot of land next to the motel priced at $1.25 million, according to a statement to the Daily Lobo by UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair.

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What is the difference between antisemitism and anti-Zionism?

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | April 2

Last month, University of New Mexico Honors College Interim Dean Leslie Donovan sent an email to all Honors College members reporting that antisemitic messages were found written on a whiteboard in the Honors College building. According to Donovan’s email, the messages on the whiteboard said that “folks with Zionist perspectives are not welcome here.” Donovan asked recipients of the email to "immediately report information if they know who was responsible for writing the messages.” UNM anthropology professor Les Field told the Daily Lobo that antisemitism and anti-Zionism are completely different — and outlined the distinctions between the two.

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UNM releases draft changes to affirmative action policies

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | April 2

The University of New Mexico released prospective changes to its affirmative action policies on Friday, March 28. The draft policies — which largely remove references to affirmative action — are available on the UNM Policy Office website for the campus community’s review and commentary through Friday, April 4. Affirmative action at UNM seeks to promote race and gender diversity in employment by recruiting qualified women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans, according to UNM Compliance, Ethics, & Equal Opportunity.

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ASUNM Senate passes spring budget with changes to executive pay, legislative stipend

Elliott Wood | March 24

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Senate passed the spring 2025 budget bill on March 12 during a full senate meeting that ran late into the night, after much of the allotted time was used for debate over discrepancies in pay raises for ASUNM executive staff and senators. By the end of the meeting, student service agency employees and other hourly paid executive staff were awarded an extra 60 cents per hour on top of their $12 per hour — a number that has remained since New Mexico’s last change to the state minimum wage — and senators an additional $150 to their stipend. The stipend is paid on a per-semester basis, meaning that each senator will now be paid $650 total for the one-year term they are elected for.

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UNM students, faculty protest following Palestinian student activist’s arrest at Columbia University

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | March 24

On March 10, the U.S. Education Department announced that sixty universities are under investigation for allegations related to antisemitic discrimination. The University of New Mexico is not on the list. Two days earlier, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Columbia University alum and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was involved in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator. Khalil is a legal United States resident with no criminal record, according to The Associated Press.

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ASUNM presidential candidates debate campus issues

Elliott Wood and Nate Bernard | March 24

On March 11, Associated Students at the University of New Mexico presidential candidates Andrew Norton and Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber participated in a debate hosted by the UNM College Democrats. Vice presidential candidate and Finance Chair Hope Montoya, who is running unopposed, gave a speech supporting Norton’s vision for ASUNM. The candidates discussed food, housing, safety and the role of athletics on campus.

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ASUNM presidential candidate: Tazz Jaber

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | March 24

Elections for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico begin 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 and close 5 p.m. Thursday, March 27. Undergraduate main campus students can cast their ballots at vote.unm.edu. Beyond the candidates listed here, Finance Chair Hope Montoya is running unopposed for vice president, and 16 candidates are vying for 10 senate seats. Information about them can be found at election.unm.edu/candidates. Mutazz (Tazz) Jaber (ballot #1) is running for president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. Jaber is the current ASUNM vice president. His campaign focuses on issues such as parking, digital IDs, student housing, safety and the completion of projects that began during his time as vice president.

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ASUNM presidential candidate: Andrew Norton

Izabella Kubiak-Reseigh | March 24

Elections for the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico begin 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 and close 5 p.m. Thursday, March 27. Undergraduate main campus students can cast their ballots at vote.unm.edu. Beyond the candidates listed here, Finance Chair Hope Montoya is running unopposed for vice president, and 16 candidates are vying for 10 senate seats. Information about them can be found at election.unm.edu/candidates. Andrew Norton (ballot #2) is running for president of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico. Currently serving as the executive director of Student Special Events, Norton’s platform focuses on strategic decision-making, student services and amplifying student voices, he said.

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Travis Broadhurst elected president of GPSA

Maria Fernandez | March 24

The University of New Mexico Graduate and Professional Student Association election results are in: Civil engineering doctoral candidate Travis Broadhurst will serve as its next president. Broadhurst has been active in GPSA for the past three years, serving as the director of Boards, Committees and Elections and as the sustainability director. He has also been a civil engineering department representative to the GPSA council for the past two years.

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UNM to change gender, race and ethnicity-based employment policies after federal actions

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | March 24

The University of New Mexico reviewed and will revise its policies related to preferential hiring, promotion or compensation decisions based on gender, race or ethnicity following recent U.S. Department of Education guidelines and President Donald Trump’s executive orders. On March 6, UNM updated its website for guidance on federal executive actions to announce the policy review and upcoming revisions. UNM has submitted draft revisions to the Policy Office for review and expects approval and implementation over the next several weeks, according to UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair.

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Education Department launches investigation into UNM for ‘race-exclusionary practices’

Lily Alexander and Nate Bernard | March 24

On March 14, the U.S. Education Department Office for Civil Rights announced investigations into 45 universities across the country, including the University of New Mexico, for allegedly engaging in “race-exclusionary practices” in their graduate programs. In its announcement, the department alleged that the universities violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by partnering with a nonprofit that supports historically underrepresented candidates in obtaining Ph.D.s. Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal funding. The Education Department also initiated investigations into six universities for allegedly awarding race-based scholarships, and one university for allegedly having a program that “segregates students on the basis of race.”