DAILY LOBO new mexico
Gary at the gates
monday
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October 18, 2010
Forum a success despite absences
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
PASSION OF THE PIT
by Sofia Sanchez sanchez@unm.edu
Nearly 100 UNM faculty, students and parent association members discussed with democratic state legislators what can be done to get UNM back on track in light of budget cuts at Wednesday’s on-campus Forum on Higher Education. Candidates answered questions about funding, tuition and the regent selection process. The questions were collected in an online survey. Neither gubernatorial candidates were present at Wednesday’s forum, but Lt. Gov. candidate Brian Colón showed up in Diane Denish’s place. Rep. Jerry Ortiz y Pino said he wants the regent selection process to be less political. “I would like to take the process of regent selection out of the hands of the governor,” he said. “There should be one board of regents for the whole state.” Rep. Gail Chasey said candidates have to remember UNM is a
Robert Maes / Daily Lobo Construction workers finish up final touches on The Pit. The renovated arena has 75, 000 square feet of new space with two new video boards on the north and south ends of the court. See story page 11.
see Forum page 5
College Dems: Don’t procrastinate at polls A voter ponders her picks at an early voting site in the SUB on Saturday. The site is one of 16 early voting locations in Bernalillo County open until Oct. 30th. Robert Maes/ Daily Lobo
by Barron Jones
bjones36@unm.edu Gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish and Congressman Martin Heinrich will speak at today’s Early Vote Rally. Hosted by College Democrats, the rally takes place at noon outside the SUB and will stress the importance of early voting, College Democrats member Alex Bazan said.
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 115
issue 39
“The election is going to be a nailbiter to the end. I think that students could play a big role like they did in the ’08 election,” she said. “If they get out and vote, it could really change how this race ends.” Chris Cervini, Denish’s deputy campaign manager, said Denish is
working to show how important college voters are to her. He said Denish wants to help New Mexicans get affordable education by cutting the number of UNM vice presidents. “She is really going to be pushing a strong get-out-to-vote message because, frankly, it’s important for college students — taking that money, that administrative bloat, and putting it directly back into the classrooms,” Cervini said. “She is a supporter of the
A goodbye gift
Out of the mine, into poverty
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University’s academic mission.” Donald Gluck, president of UNM Conservative Republicans, said Republicans believe in individual achievement and excellence in education. “Republicans will do more with less. We welcome the opportunity to prove this,” he said. College Democrats President Ray Suelzer said the Nov. 2 election is important for many reasons. The next
governor, he said, will set education policy, and a Democrat-controlled Congress will set the tone for policy for the next two years. “When students vote, it means they are more likely to be listened to when policy is made,” Ray Suelzer said. “The Democratic Congress has done more for our generation than any Congress in recent history.” Gluck said Democrats have controlled the state’s legislature for nearly 70 years, except two short intermissions. He said under continued Democratic leadership, New Mexico would continue to be a poor state. “New Mexico has a large budget deficit, is rife with public corruption, has high unemployment and reduced drilling for oil and gas,” Gluck said. “Monopoly control has led to corruption and incompetence.” Suelzer said he hopes Democrats continue to control Congress because they can accomplish more during President Obama’s term. He said if Denish is elected governor, she will consider the college students’ concerns during the policy-making process. “I think that a Republican Congress will block any progress to move this country forward,” he said.
Early vote rally: Today Outside the SUB Noon
TODAY
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