DAILY LOBO new mexico
October 20, 2010
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DANCERS ON THE MOVE
NMSU seconds regent reform by Chelsea Erven cerven@unm.edu
Junfu Han / Daily Lobo Dara Minkin, middle, and Dalila Baied, left, Kaitlin Innis perform their choreographed dance, “(H)ombre.” The dance, part of Still/Moving, explores the dynamics of time and is further developed through movement.
UNMPD escort services scaled back DE
S P E R ATE
ti m e s by Sean P. Wynne seanpw@unm.edu
UNMPD will begin restricting its public services starting Nov. 1. The escort service will only be offered during the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 a.m., and will only provide escorts to locations on main campus. In the past, UNMPD offered escorts for people to locations
close to the campus area. Police Chief Kathy Guimond said most people call for an escort during the evening. She said that police will no longer be dispatched to property crimes that are not in progress, and victims of property crime are instead required to submit reports at the station. “In these difficult economic times, we are reallocating our resources in order to fulfill our core mission,” she said. Student Jessica Kruichak said she usually feels safe on campus, but would consider using the escort service. “I think it’s a good thing. I
BODY WORK
would utilize it if I had later classes, especially,” she said. “I can walk from class to class. It’s just other places I would be worried about.” Mathias Sagartz, a Residence Life security guard, said guards also respond to escort calls, but the number of guards who can escort students is limited. “It really does vary. For the most part, people call UNMPD,” he said. “It’s very rare for people to ask for dorm-to-dorm escorts, but it does happen. I think the most I’ve gotten in a night is two or three.” Student Janelle Gomez said she is disappointed that UNMPD
will restrict its services. “I would definitely oppose to that being restricted,” she said. “There’s a lot of students that go here who live in this area,” she said. “I’m not one of them, but I used to be, so I could definitely relate to those who would feel very unsafe, especially because there’s a lot of criminal action that goes on in this area.” If you know of a creative or costeffective measure in your department or elsewhere, please send an e-mail to News@DailyLobo.com to be featured in our “Desperate Times” series.
This human body cross-section is a part of the “Bodies” exhibit at the Albuquerque Convention Center. “Bodies” gives an up-close look at all body systems, including skeletal, muscular and nervous systems. Dylan Smith / Daily Lobo
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NMSU’s Faculty Senate approved a proposed regent selection process Oct. 7, bringing on board another one of the state’s research universities in an attempt to dramatically reform the state’s Boards of Regents. The process would apply to regent selection at UNM, NMSU and New Mexico Tech, the state’s three research universities, and is supported by state senators Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Tim Keller. Keller said the selection process should be taken out of the governor’s hands. “I’m a big supporter of the process, and I think it’s a great way for our state to move forward when it comes to higher education,” he said. The UNM Faculty Senate Task Force proposed tailoring the current selection process, and UNM Faculty Senate unanimously endorsed it Aug. 24. That day, Faculty Senate President Richard Wood said all three state universities must approve the selection process before it’s presented to the state legislature for approval. Under the proposal, faculty and community members would form a Committee on Regent Appointments (CRA) whenever there is a Board of Regents vacancy or when one is anticipated. The CRA would then identify three recommended nominees per vacancy and provide input to the governor on the candidates. During his September report, Wood presented the proposal to the Board of Regents. Among Wood’s supporters, NMSU Faculty Senate Vice-Chair Stuart Munson-McGee said altering the current process is necessary. Keller said the proposed regent model is similar to the judge selection process. “I like that it balances the executive authority of the governor with the expertise of the University faculty,” he said. Ortiz y Pino said getting a constitutional amendment to reflect the process change is risky, but that route likely won’t be taken in getting it passed. He said the vetting process could be added by tweaking the Senate Rules Committee procedures. “Getting voter approval for any constitutional amendments is always a crap-shoot and may not be necessary,” he said. “It could require that there be a separate public hearing prior to confirmation (of regents) and that the public be given an opportunity to question confirmees to get a better feel for their background and values.”
TODAY
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