DAILY LOBO new mexico
Q & A with the Interim Provost see page 2
May 31-June 5, 2011
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Traffic concerns nix recycling plant by Kevin Forte kforte@unm.edu
The Bernalillo County Commission denied an appeal on May 24 for a waste and recycling plant near UNM’s golf course. UNM’s Real Estate office is opposed to the recycling plant because it could have a negative effect on the groundwater near the golf course, Real Estate consultant Amy Coburn said. She said the proposed recycling plant would affect traffic in the area. “The frequency of the vehicles and the traffic loading on that road could negatively impact UNM’s ability to develop that site for the larger community,” she said. Traffic was the main concern for some council members, including Wayne Johnson. Johnson said he was concerned there weren’t enough long-term projections for traffic in the area. “They didn’t prove the traf-
fic issues and under this system, the burden of proof is upon them,” he said. “That’s really what it boils down to.” The County Planning Commission recommended the plant be approved in November 2010 and again last April, but both requests were denied. Concerned community members spoke at the hearings, according to meeting transcripts. “Impact on the community is a part of the equation for granting (this),” Johnson said. The plant would also affect the U.S. Food Services facilities near UNM south campus. U.S. Food Services’ Division President John Szurek said he was pleased that the appeal was denied because its construction could affect his facilities’ cleanliness. “It’s a contradiction to what we do in a clean business environment — handling perishable food and food products,” he said. “So we’re very pleased with the outcome.”
summer
BEGINNING BALLERINAS
Zach Gould / Daily Lobo Dancers 5 to 11-years-old with Fishback dance studio sit backstage at Popejoy while waiting to perform as part of their annual recital, “the big show.” They performed last Friday.
New construction banned by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu
State university presidents agreed to enact a two-year moratorium on new construction by New Mexico universities, Governor Susana Martinez announced May 12. Martinez said in a statement the decision will benefit taxpayers. “This moratorium will help us to strike the right balance between providing accessibility to higher education programs and ensuring that taxpayers are not on the hook for unnecessary expansion,” she said. UNM Planning Officer Mary Kenney said in a May 13 Albuquerque Journal article that it is unclear how the ban will affect the University. “There are some pretty critical needs we have here, what we’re going to be doing is looking at (the ban), taking a look at where our
needs are, and figuring out what the impact would be, if there is any,” she said. Martinez said the current system rewards universities for building facilities, regardless if schools show increased student performance.
“ Taxpayers are not on the hook for unnecessary expansion,” ~Susanna Martinez, Governor New Mexico taxpayers collectively spend about $52,000 for each college graduate and $6 per square foot of academic space, according to the Department of Higher Education. Nearly 14 percent of state expen-
ditures go toward supporting higher education. The moratorium could save taxpayers roughly $4 million each year, according to a news release from the governor’s office. The ban prohibits new building projects but allows projects that secured funding before January 1 to continue. Non-state funded construction will also be allowed to continue. Martinez said that the moratorium will offset wasting money on building facilities that house redundant programs. “A school that was initially established to provide specialized training in a certain area of expertise wanders outside this expertise and begins offering duplicate programs and degrees already offered by other institutions, relying on the state and potential students to fund these new offerings,” she said.
Gas prices bode ill for all by Charlie Shipley pshipley@unm.edu
Dylan Smith / Daily Lobo Demolition of Santa Ana dorm began this week to make way for new dormitories built by American Campus Communities. Because ACC is a private company, construction on new housing will not be affected by the 2-year construction moratorium declared May 12.
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 115
issue 154
Rising gas prices not only put a strain on students’ wallets, but also affect UNM’s operation. Gary Smith, an associate director of UNM’s Physical Plant Department, said the rising cost of petroleum-based products and services like transportation, plastic trash can liners and fertilizers has tightened the budget. He said PPD uses 207 alternative fuel vehicles, and UNM’s reduced its unleaded gas usage by more than 15 percent since 2006. “We have to take the increase in fuel prices, which the PPD is heavily dependent on, out of our
Baseball NCAA bound
The art of worship
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operating budget,” he said. Student Steve Yoos said he also feels the strain of high gas prices and the need for fuel efficiency. He said he spends $60 a week on gas. “It takes about $30 to fill my gas tank, and I have to fill it about twice a week,” he said. “Living in the heights, I spend close to an hour a day just driving to and from school.” ABQ Ride spokesman Rick de Reyes said more than 99,000 UNM bus boardings were recorded in April, an increase of more than 12,000 from April 2010. “When gas prices go up, so does ridership,” he said. “Riders save money in very profound ways.”
Robert Maes / Daily Lobo Adam Saavedra fills up his Nissan Altima at the Valero gas station across from UNM at the corner of Columbia Dr. and Central Ave.
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