ASUNM passed a resolution March 30 that proposed eliminating one graduate student position and adding three undergraduate student positions to the Student Fee Review Board. The resolution backs a Student Fee Review Task Force recommendation that contends changing the ratio of the SFRB would make it proportional to the student population.
The UNM Board of Regents decided not to increase student fees and approved a 5.5 percent tuition-and-fee increase that will raise costs to students roughly $305 next year. Tuition alone will increase 7 percent next year.
ASUNM plans to include two questions on its annual election ballot to determine if students are willing to pay for a recreational facility.
The UNM Japanese Language Club tried to withdraw funds it raised from its ASUNM account to give to the Japan relief effort, but discovered doing so would violate of the New Mexico State Constitution. The Anti-Donation Clause, article IX, section 14 of the New Mexico Constitution states that, “Neither the state nor any county, school district or municipality shall directly or indirectly lend or pledge its credit or make any donation to or in aid of any person, association or public or private corporation.” Because of the law, University policy prohibits organizations from donating funds in ASUNM accounts to any charitable or political organizations. George Gorospe, president of the UNM Japanese Language Club, said the club wanted to donate to Japan with money from fundraisers the club sponsored to support itself.
A former UNM Hospital surgeon filed a lawsuit against the University for an alleged breach of contract and violation of the NM Whistleblower Act.
For the second year in a row, ballot software problems complicated GPSA elections. Seventy-six of 1,235 student votes were deemed ineligible and were discarded, because the link on the GPSA website allowed anyone with a NetID to participate in this year’s election, including faculty, staff and undergraduates.
The Regents Finance and Facilities Committee voted Monday to raise student fees by $40 and increase tuition 6.3 percent.
UNM offers scholarships to students eager to explore Brazil’s booming job market, but few are taking advantage of the opportunity. Robyn Cote, the Latin American and Iberian Institute’s program director, said the program targets science students, but many aren’t willing to study Portuguese for four semesters, a program requirement. “Language was the major hindrance to engineers,” she said. “Unless they had a real interest in Portuguese, it would’ve been hard for them to add that to their coursework.”
Of all the license plates in the United States and Canada, why New Mexico? The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association awarded New Mexico first place for its turquoise plates, but some New Mexicans are still bummed about the bumper decorations. Student Adam Rottler said the plate is unworthy of a national award.
UNM’s Board of Regents will take its first step to determine tuition increases and approve an operating budget for 2012. The meeting starts today at 9 a.m.
Chris Quintana, the Daily Lobo’s culture editor, will be the newspaper’s next editor-in-chief. The UNM Student Publications Board appointed Quintana Friday, and he will take over May 1. “I feel like I’ve been handed a big responsibility.
Just like the real thing, synthetic marijuana is now illegal. Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill at a news conference inside a Farmington Boys and Girls Club banning the possession and sale of synthetic marijuana.
The Student Fee Review Board spent six hours this semester trying to find a way to reduce student fees, and it did, by 31 cents. But Regent Jack Fortner said at the March 28 budget summit that the board might jack up student fees by about $30 in order to give more funding to Athletics, IT Services and UNM Libraries. He said University parties don’t want Instruction and General funds to go to Athletics, even if it’s for utility costs. “I know some people have heartburn about that, but I don’t,” he said. Fortner said the board is looking to offset a proposed $380,000 cut to Athletics by possibly raising student fees. The Finance and Facilities Committee will meet Monday to discuss the fee increase. Regents will make a decision Tuesday. SFRB chair and ASUNM President Laz Cardenas said students should expect an increase in student fees. “My reaction to it was that I wasn’t surprised, and at the same time, I was a little disappointed,” he said.
Katie Richardson will be the next GPSA president. Richardson received a little more than 50 percent of the votes.
At least 17,000 New Mexicans are homeless, and for one night UNM students can experience what that might be like. Six graduating communication and journalism students, The Happy Campers, organized the event as part of a service-learning assignment, student Bryan Wilcox said. “We hope people leave with a better personal understanding of what is like to be homeless,” he said.
Most of UNM’s peer institutions don’t consider the University their equal, and soon UNM might give in to peer pressure. UNM’s peer institutions haven’t changed since at least the 1990s, and of UNM’s 16 peer institutions, only two schools, University of Utah and University of Washington, count UNM among their peer institutions. The University of Washington had UNM on only one of three lists it uses for self-evaluation, according the University of Washington website. In 2008, Mark Chisholm, director of UNM’s Office of Institutional Research, said then-provost Viola Florez asked UNM to re-evaluate its peers. Chisholm said he compared student body characteristics, such as ethnic profile and number of commuter students, but the project lost steam when Florez left the University, and it’s been on the backburner since. “I don’t know whether or not we’re going to go through the energy of going to the state and requesting a whole bunch of new peers right now,” Chisholm said. “You really need someone at a high-executive level that thinks it’s really important.” Chisholm said it’s hard for UNM to find comparable institutions that are similar across the board.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed an expansion of Katie’s Law into legislation Wednesday at a Rotary Club meeting in Carlsbad.
New regent Bradley Hosmer said UNM can lead the country in changing the education system. Hosmer was the superintendent of the Air Force Academy and the president of the National Defense University before retiring in 1994.
Tim Mousseau, Junior, New Day slate Editor’s Note: Tim Mousseau is the new presidential candidate for the New Day slate after Michael Thorning dropped out of the race Monday. Daily Lobo: Tell me about your slate and some of the platforms you guys are promoting. Tim Mousseau: When we selected senators, we chose individuals for their passion for students and the platforms we’re running on.
Albuquerque is taking steps to make the city more bike-friendly. Construction workers broke ground Monday on a four-week project to widen El Pueblo Road between Second Street and Edith Boulevard, near the Los Ranchos/Journal Center Rail Runner station.
Solutions by The State News
