Daily Lobo new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
Krebs Indicated By Justin Garcia Andrew Gunn @Just516garc @ agunnwrites Former University of New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs was indicted on seven felony counts on Wednesday after he allegedly used University funds to finance a golf trip to Scotland. The two new charges are an embezzlement count for using $24,500 of University money to fund the Scotland jaunt and a lesser embezzlement charge to pay for his personal expenses to take the trip. The initial five complaints, leveled against Krebs this past February, include money laundering; tampering with evidence and fraud amounting to a total of $20,000; criminal solicitation and making or permitting a false public voucher. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of violation of ethical principles of public service. The Scotland trip took place in June 2015, which subsequently prompted scrutiny from multiple media outlets and state offices. These were included in a Sept. 2018 Attorney General report that focused on a lack of transparency in several UNM organizations, including the Athletics Department. The trip cost a total of $64,000. According to the September report, after the Scotland trip Krebs
reportedly paid the UNM Foundation $25,000. The payment was made with his credit card and made out to UNM Athletics. He then emailed his wife Marjori Krebs — an associate professor in education at the University. Krebs instructed his wife to deliver a letter to the Vice President of University Development for the UNM Foundation, Larry Ryan. This letter was to be from an anonymous donor, and was said to read: “Larry, I am writing to document the purpose of my $25,000 donation to the UNM Foundation. The money was given to support the stewardship and development efforts associated with the Athletics Department 2015 trip to Scotland. Please notify me if you need further explanation or information. Thank you, The Donor.” Prior to her delivering this letter, Krebs wrote an email to his wife stating: “Larry expecting. Delete everything I sent when done so nothing discoverable in IPRA request,” Paul wrote in the email. “Including from your delete file.” In the official criminal complaint, Ryan said he knew the donation was “to support the financial losses from the Scotland trip.” It also said that Ryan told investigators that all of his contact with the donor, whose identity he did not reveal, was done so entirely over telephone calls. The complaint then states that the UNM Foundation General Counsel, Pat Allen, contradicted Ryan’s statement by providing a
Convocation welcomes new students to campus By Amanda Britt @AmandaBritt__ The 24th annual University of New Mexico Freshman Family Day welcomed incoming students to the University and gave them the chance to relax and have fun while getting to know more about UNM, Sunday afternoon. Multiple groups including the College Enrichment and Outreach Program, the Student Activities Center, the Dean of Students and New Student Orientation helped to put together multiple events for the day. The director for the College Enrichment Program Andrew Gonzales said the event was for the University to welcome new students and let them know about the resources and people
at UNM and the support they offer in their transition to college life. A formal convocation in Popejoy Hall started the events that afternoon. The convocation featured a welcome from Dr. James Paul Holloway, the University’s provost, along with performances and videos that gave students a look at what life is like at UNM. Following Freshman Convocation, students and their families were invited to the Student Union Building and Cornell Mall area for nachos, popcorn, sundaes and snacks. They also had the opportunity to connect with other students new to the school. A class crawl, or studentvolunteer lead tour around campus, also took place during the reception. Volunteers from Greek Life, Residence Life and Student Housing, Ameri-
dailylobo.com
Thursday, August 22, 2019 | Vo l u m e 1 2 4 | I s s u e 3
Former UNM Athletics Director Paul Krebs before he was indicated on seven felony counts.
copy of the donor’s letter. Krebs’ email to his wife also seems to contradict Ryan’s statement, as the report points out. What happens next for Krebs was not immediately clear, and a trial date has not yet been set in 2nd District Judicial Court in Albuquerque. He has the opportunity to enter a plea bargain with prosecutors up to and including a guilty verdict at trial, but
his attorney Paul Kennedy has confidence that his client will be exonerated if the criminal proceedings move forward. “I have every confidence that Paul will be vindicated by a jury of his peers, and we look forward to our day in court,” Kennedy told the Albuquerque Journal.
can Campus Communities, and other groups on campus showed groups of four to five students and their families key spots on campus, as well as where their classes would be for the semester. Greg Golden, the Assistant Dean of Students, said the crawl allows students to start off on the right foot at UNM. “The objective is that the students will feel at home right off the bat and will be able to make their four years here more wonderful,” he said. The day ended with a showing of the 2019 live-action version of Aladdin at Johnson field at 8 p.m.
ASUNM
Amanda Britt is the Photo Editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at photoeditor@dailylobo. com or at @AmandaBritt__ (Below) A student volunteer leads a group of freshmen students and their families on a tour of campus, starting outside of Cornell Mall on August 18 during Freshman Family Day.
Amanda Britt / @AmandaBritt__ /
Danielle Prokop, Cameron Goeldner and Kyle Land
File Photo
contributed reporting to this article. Andrew Gunn is a senior reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo. com or on Twitter @agunnwrites. Justin Garcia is the editor in chief of the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Just516garc.
New chairs open committee meetings
Emma Hotz, the chair of steering and rules, sits with committee members during the first ASUNM meeting on August 21st. Kristina Tanberg / @ktanberg11 / Daily Lobo
By Alyssa Martinez @amart4447 The first Associated Students of the University of New Mexico senate committee meetings of the fall semester were held Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Student Union Building. With new chairs taking their seats and senators settling into their assigned committees, the night consisted of three vice-chair appointments, one commendation acknowledgement and a unanimous passage of a $300 appropriation. The three ASUNM committees are Steering and Rules, Outreach and Appointments, and Finance, with a minimum of five senators on each committee. ASUNM vice president, Madelyn Lucas, is tasked with choosing which senators go on what committees and with appointing chairs to each committee. Emma Hotz, a second year political science student, was appointed to be the Steering and Rules chair. Steering and Rules handles all
commendations, condolences, resolutions and changes to the ASUNM Constitution or Lawbook. Hotz was elected to Senate in Spring 2019. She served as a legislative coordinator for ASUNM before that. According to Hotz, her position as chair is to lead the committee in going over all legislation and to correct grammar mistakes before the legislation heads to full senate. Kristin Woodworth, a third-year political science student, is the Outreach and Appointments chair. Outreach and Appointments is responsible for vetting and approving officials before they are sworn in during the full senate, reaching out to student groups on campus and organizing events. Gregory Romero, a second year business student, is the Finance chair. As Finance chair, Romero said he helps guide the committee on what to consider when approving or failing an appropriation or when constructing the budget. As the undergraduate represen-
see
ASUNM page 3