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Monday, Februar y 19, 2018 | Vo l u m e 1 2 2 | I s s u e 4 5
Legislative session talks guns, Lottery scholarship By Madison Spratto @Madi_Spratto SANTA FE, N.M. — The latest state legislative session wrapped up Thursday as representatives and senators worked until the last second to get as many bills, memorials and resolutions passed before the noon deadline. Below is a look at how three pieces of legislation — two of which directly affect the University of New Mexico — fared in the State Legislature. House Bill 147 A bill proposing that the Lottery Foundation provide a $40 million flat rate annual allocation to the Lottery Scholarship was tabled in the Senate Finance Committee today. Noah Michelsohn, director of communications for the Associated Students of UNM, said even though the bill died in the SFC, it showed progress and set a solid foundation for the next session. “It’s disappointing it didn’t pass through the Senate,” he said. “Obviously we were hoping that it would.” Rep. James E. Smith, a Republican representing Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, sponsored the bill and said he was
dissatisfied over the results. When asked if he would try to push a similar bill next session, he said he is planning on retiring and “golfing and riding my motorcycle.” Michelsohn said they can “get this through” next year, knowing that the bill received bipartisan support and that hopefully the next ASUNM team will pick up where they left off. Senate Bill 140 The Lottery Scholarship did see some changes, however. SB 140 was passed unanimously through the House of Representatives Thursday morning. The bill distributes lottery money based on the “projected (enrollments)” and the type of institute a student attends. For students at four-year universities, their scholarship allotment will be based on the first to seventh program semesters, for transfer students it will consider the fourth to seventh semesters and is based off of the first and third semesters for community college students. The different types of higher education institutions are split between research institutes, such as NM Institute of Mining and Technology, UNM and NM State University, comprehensive institutes, such as Eastern NM, Western NM and Northern NM — the two-year colleges include branch campuses and community colleges.
Madison Spratto / Daily Lobo / @Madi_Spratto
Rep. James E. Smith, a Republican representing Bernalillo, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, sponsored House Bill 147, on Feb. 16, 2018.
Sen. William P. Soules, a Democrat representing Doña Ana County who sponsored the bill, said this will alleviate the stress students and parents have when trying to figure how much money they will receive.
Students at research institutes will be awarded a base of $1,500, comprehensive students will receive $1,020 and students at two-year institutes will get $380. “I just think it’s good for the universities and the students,” Soules
said. “It makes it a lot easier and clearer what their amounts will be and allows them to plan.” Michelsohn said ASUNM’s position has been “pretty neutral” toward
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Gun-wielding Davie’s suspension stands suspect arrested By Robert Maler @Robert_Maler
By Kyle Land @kyleoftheland Editor’s Note: For details on the path of incidents reported, take a look at the interactive map by Madison Spratto on our website. University of New Mexico students, staff and faculty received an alarming alert Thursday morning about a man on campus who pulled a gun on several people. According to the LoboAlert — sent out at 10:38 a.m. — a darkskinned male wearing a green pancho started heading south towards Central Avenue after brandishing a gun in front of multiple people at the Duck Pond. Lt. Trace Peck, of the UNM Police Department, said that the first incident took place at the Golden Pride restaurant on Lomas Boulevard. This was followed by a second report from two joggers who saw the man holding a gun on the same street — Peck said he did not know whether or not they were under a direct threat from the suspect. The third incident occurred at the Duck Pond, where the suspect
Colton Newman / Daily Lobo / @cnewman101
Screenshot of LoboAlert regarding the recent incident at the UNM Duck Pond
pulled his gun out and pointed it at a girl who was walking by. No shots were fired, and the man proceeded to run south of campus, according to Peck.
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The University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted against hearing head football coach Bob Davie’s appeal — and it was announced Thursday that his suspension would soon begin. Interim President Chaouki Abdallah announced that Davie’s suspension would officially start Feb. 17 and continue through March 18, without pay. News of the suspension might have been a surprise to some — perhaps even Davie. The head coach seemed to think his suspension would not interfere with spring practice, which began last Friday. Following one of last week’s football practices, Davie said he had not been given any additional details following the decision by the Board of Regents not to hear his appeal. It seemed unclear at the time whether Davie had other avenues to combat the decision, but he was focusing his energy on coaching the team. Davie also said he “absolutely” expected to be the head coach at UNM when the team begins its
File Photo / Daily Lobo
UNM head football coach Bob Davie speaks to the media during a press conference.
season later in the fall. The University’s Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez indicated that was the plan moving forward as well. Though Nuñez did say he spoke with the head coach and players about the concerns surrounding the football team and what his expectations are for the program. “I told coach Davie and Lobo players that I have no way of knowing what happened in the past,” Nuñez said in a statement. “I cannot address what anyone said or did, other than what I read in the reports and what I have heard from coach Davie. I told them it
is now undeniable that there currently exists a public perception that our football program needs to be honestly evaluated. Attitudes or a culture that permits racial, gender, religious or any other form of discrimination, harassment or bullying, will not be acceptable in this department, period.” Findings from three different investigations were not able to definitively confirm some alarming allegations, but there was enough information to suggest a culture problem and the need to improve
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Davie page 2
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