DAILY LOBO new mexico
It’s just too expensive
tuesday
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
President-Elect talks diversity, advisement, tuition by Avicra Luckey aluckey@unm.edu
During Monday’s forum in the SUB, students looked to hold President-Elect Robert Frank to his promises to promote diversity at UNM, fix the ailing advisement system and keep tuition low. Frank said he had more to learn about UNM before making any firm decisions.
Ethnic Studies and Faculty Diversity President of the Kiva Club and Native American Studies major Makhpiya Black Elk called on the president to protect ethnic studies programs. Black Elk spoke about Arizona law HB 228, which effectively shut down ethnic studies programs at K-12 schools across the Arizona in 2010. Frank said because of budget cuts during the last three years, he can’t promise the programs will always flourish, but he said ethnic diversity is integral to the success of the University. Frank said that when more money becomes available he hopes to increase funding to ethnic centers. “I can guarantee you that I see these types of programs as a strength of the University and something that distinguishes the University of New Mexico from the rest of the universities in the country,” he said. “We should hold them up as a point of excellence.” Christopher Ramirez is the co-chair of La Raza Graduate Student Association, an organization that supports Latino/a graduate students. Ramirez said although the University prides itself on diversity, its staff is not as diverse as its student body. He pointed to recent allegations of a hostile environment on campus by African Americans and a title VI civil rights complaint filed in November. The University is still investigating the allegations.
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Jessikha Williams / Daily Lobo GPSA Student Support & Advocacy Committee Chair elisa pintor, addresses UNM President-Elect Dr. Robert Frank at a forum intended to voice the concerns of students in the SUB Atrium on Monday afternoon. Frank spoke with students about fixing the University’s advisement process, protecting and promoting on-campus diversity and keeping tuition low.
ASUNM bill would raise undergrad fees
ACID ACCIDENT
by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu
Dylan Smith / Daily Lobo Safety and Risk Services personnel suited up in hazmat gear to clean a hydrochloric acid spill in the parking lot east of Clark Hall and Centennial Library Monday, according to Industrial Hygiene Specialist Terese Anderson. Workers washed off the area, spread a base powder over the acid and roped off the area, closing down two disabled parking spaces in the process. Anderson was supervising the cleanup, but declined to comment further. Program Specialist for Parking and Transportation Services Danielle Gilliam said PATS will relocate the two Americans with Disabilities Act parking places affected by the spill. Gilliam said the origin of the spill is unknown
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 116
issue 114
but the area is no longer hazardous, although students should avoid walking on the area for a few days. UNM student Jose Gechem’s car tires were soaked in the acid spill. “I parked here around ten, because my brother had a handicapped permit and it looks like somebody dropped some acid and they didn’t tell our staff people and it looks like my tire is damaged from the acid.” Gechem said he planned to get the tires examined by a professional technician and bill UNM if there is any damage. “I will have to call somebody from the University and from insurance and find out if they are going to pay for my tire.” ~Luke Holmen
‘Blue Flower’
Don’t look back
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ASUNM senators are considering a bill that would raise undergraduate fees by more than 30 percent. Senate Bill 6, a constitutional amendment proposed by senators Brandyn Jordan, Tyler Crawley, and Anthony Santistevan, would raise ASUNM student fees from $20 to $27 per student next year. If the bill is passed by the full Senate, it will go to undergraduates for a vote in the elections. A simple majority would be required to pass the bill. The fee increase would be the first since fees were raised from $14 to $20 in 2002. Sen. Crawley said the bill would raise the amount of money available to allocate to student groups in the ASUNM budget process. “We want to be able to have funding for appropriations as well as have room to grow, room for these student organizations to expand.” The number of requesting student organizations has been on the rise in recent years. This year 147 student groups are requesting $745,711 in funding. Last year, organizations only requested $719,798. ASUNM only has $583,050 to allocate, leaving a $162,661 shortfall.
Crawley said the fee increase would fully fund all requests. “With that the best educated guess I can give you of what the fund will increase by is probably anywhere from $160,000 to $180,000.” New dorm construction and renovation on campus will bring about 11,000 students to campus next year, all of whom need to be served Crawley said. “We want to be able to provide a high level of on-campus living to the 11,000 students that are coming on campus next year and help them get involved.” Additionally, the bill would reduce the percentage of funding allocated to Student Publications, which provides funding for the Daily Lobo, Best Student Essays, and Conceptions Southwest. The bill cuts the percentage received by Student Publications from 8.5 percent to 6.4 percent. Crawley said the dollar amount of funding to Student Publications would remain the same next year. “It doesn’t give them any more or any less money, it maintains it right around $50,000,” he said. The bill is up for debate in front of the full Senate on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in rooms Lobo A and B on the third floor of the SUB. If the bill passes, it will require approval from the Board of Regents.
TODAY
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