DAILY LOBO new mexico
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April 11, 2011
monday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
NM license plate tops national list by Kallie Red-Horse kallie69@unm.edu
Courtesy of FIPSE Students from UNM and Texas Tech check out a cross atop the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in mid-March. The two universities offered students an all-expenses-paid trip in March to encourage them to participate in a scholarship program to study abroad in Brazil. The program targets science students due to Brazil’s wealth of job opportunities in the science fields, but few science majors take advantage of the opportunity.
Brazil program needs nerds Language test makes science students opt out by Kevin Forte kforte@unm.edu
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.” In past years, fewer than half of the program participants were from math and science disciplines, Cote said. UNM is teaming up with Texas Tech to offer the program, which allows students to immerse themselves in Brazil’s fast-emerging global economy and explore the job market. Students can’t get out of the Portuguese requirement, but UNM offers accelerated classes that fit two semesters into one, Cote said, and other options that help students meet the requirement.
Professor Timothy Ross, an advocate for the Brazil program, said it is crucial for Americans in the business world to forge global ties. “Engineering and technology is a global issue, and the U.S. is not a leader in this anymore,” he said. “At best, we can become a strong partner of the world community.” To get people interested in applying for the program, the Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) granted an allexpenses-paid trip in March for nine students from Texas Tech and UNM to get acquainted with Brazil’s culture.
see Brazil page 6
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. “It seems like a cop-out after the solid yellow one,” he said. “It is basically the same thing, but with different colors. How about some creativity?” The plate, designed by David Rohr, commemorates New Mexico’s 100-year statehood in 2012 and features a Zia sun symbol with yellow rays and a red center over a turquoise background. The ALPCA will host an awards ceremony later in the year, and the organization’s president will travel to New Mexico to present state officials with award plaques. New Mexico was among 12 finalists, and 3,000 ALPCA worldwide members voted for their
favorite based on the design attractiveness and its ability to serve as a tool for public safety and law enforcement. Rhode Island took second, followed by Maryland’s War of 1812 bicentennial plate and the Canadian Northwest Territories’ plate. Student Inka Markowski said the Centennial plate is better than the “balloon” plate it replaced. “I absolutely hate the balloon one — nobody can see what is going on in it,” she said. “It is just a mess of pastel colors.” Student Caroline Liu said the Centennial plate is her favorite because of the coloring and simplicity. “I’m from Illinois, so my plate is from there, but if I really wanted to change I would switch to that one,” she said. “It has my three favorite colors!” Student Daisy Santistevan said the balloon plate is more representative of New Mexican culture. “I really like the balloon plate,” she said. “I think that one should have won. Turquoise is our state stone, but it is definitely not the most prominent symbol of the state.”
Committee to weigh Arizona tuition spikes startle likely tuition hike by Amanda Lee Myers Associated Press
by Shaun Griswold shaun24@unm.edu
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. in SUB Ballroom A. The hot topic: agreeing on a tuition increase. The increase is expected to be between 5 and 8 percent. The Regents Finance and Facilities Committee will approve a budget and present it for vote by the full board during its Tuesday meeting. Andrew Cullen, vice president at UNM Planning, Budget and Analysis, will present final budget recommendations to the committee. Last month, UNM President David Schmidly presented a budget plan to the full Board of Regents that would increase tuition by 8.6 percent. The regents requested lower tuition rates. Regent Jamie Koch said the re-
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gents shouldn’t increase tuition more than 5 percent. Koch is on the Finance and Facilities Committee, along with Don Chalmers and Gene Gallegos. The committee will look to approve more than $16.6 million in capital projects, including $9.5 million to create a complex for the Center of Molecular Discovery and $4.6 million to improve the Department of Emergency Medicine.
FINANCE AND FACILITIES MEETING Today 9 a.m. SUB Ballroom A
TUCSON, Ariz. — Despite recent student protests, regents for Arizona’s public universities voted Thursday to dramatically hike tuition, but will offer rebates for some students to help ease the financial strain. The Arizona Board of Regents’ vote raised tuition and fees at the University of Arizona in Tucson by 22 percent to $10,027 for instate freshman undergraduates in the fall. Those costs will jump by 19.5 percent, to $9,716, for instate undergraduates at Arizona State University in Tempe and by 15 percent, to $8,824, at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. The increases are far larger than average tuition hikes seen last year, when public universities nationwide increased in-state tuition and fees by an average of 7.9 percent, with the average price at $7,605, according to the College Board, the nonprofit group that runs the SATs.
Homeless on Johnson
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But the regents also decided to give rebates of $350 to incoming in-state freshman undergraduates at NAU and $750 rebates to all in-state undergraduates at UA because those schools have rainy day funds to address cuts in their budget by the Arizona Legislature. Board Chair Anne Mariucci said UA had $28 million and NAU has $18 million in unused money set aside in the event of legislative cuts to their budgets. ASU has no such money. The rebates only apply for one year. “I think it’s certainly better than nothing,” Mariucci said after the vote. “Next year it’ll be a new ball game.” The board voted for the increase 7-2 after about six hours of debate, with members arguing over various alternative proposals that were mostly turned down. Students have been strongly protesting against the tuition increases and legislative cuts. Hundreds of students rallied at the three universities on March
23, carrying signs that read “Keep education alive” and “Say no to cuts.” “Are you kidding me? That’s stupid,” said Jordan King, a 20year-old UA business sophomore, after learning of the vote. Of the rebates, he said, “That’s just a slap in the face. That’s like taking $1,000 from us and giving us $10 back.” “That’s so much money. My parents are paying my tuition and they can’t afford that,” he said. “We’re all struggling,” nursing sophomore Candace Jackson, 20, who goes to Arizona State University, said before the vote. “It’s a big chunk of money.” Jackson has a $9,000 yearly scholarship for books and tuition, and said she’d probably have to get a job to cover any increases in tuition. She said that would take away some of her study time and threaten her ability to maintain a 3.5 grade-point average or higher to keep her scholarship. “Not everyone is fortunate
see Arizona page 6
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