Daily Lobo new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
UNM confident in favorable DOJ review
monday Monday, Januar y 12, 2015 | Vo l u m e 1 1 9 | I s s u e 7 9
The Pros of Comic-Con
Investigations span nation’s universities By Jonathan Baca UNM has turned over information requested by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of an investigation into the school’s handling of reported sexual assaults and harassment on campus. According to a press release, UNM handed over the information in time for the Jan. 9 deadline set by the Justice Department back in December. The press release stated that the University is “confident that the policies and procedures provided will demonstrate to the DOJ that the University is committed to creating a safe campus, and fair processes to all involved in these matters.” The documents supplied to the DOJ included copies of University policies, procedures, guidelines, student conduct codes and training regarding sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence, according to the press release. The packet also included information about police investigations, and details several measures UNM has already taken to combat the problem, including the Sexual Misconduct and Assault Response Team, the Women’s Resource Center, and outside resources utilized by UNM like the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and the Rape Crisis Center. The DOJ has not indicated how long the compliance review will take, but University officials have stated they are willing to make changes to procedures if any are recommended by the review. “At the end of the day I’m sure they will come back and say ‘these are the things you are doing really well, and these are the things you need to do better,’” said Dean of Students Tomas Aguirre. “And I’ll be the first one to say ‘thank you for letting me know, and we are going to make it better now.’”
UNM is one of 74 universities being investigated by the DOJ regarding the handling of sexual assaults. The list of universities includes Ivy League schools like Harvard, Dartmouth and Princeton. According to a 2009 DOJ-funded study, titled “College Women’s Experiences with Physically Forced, Alcohol or Other DrugFacilitated Sexual Assault Before and Since Entering College,” 19 percent of undergraduate women are sexually assaulted by the time they graduate. Only four percent of women assaulted will report the crime to authorities, and a mere one percent of accused perpetrators will face disciplinary actions, according to the report. UNM Clery Campus Safety Reports show that the number of sexual assaults reported on campus has gone down, from 11 in 2013 to eight in 2014. If the DOJ’s statistics are accurate, however, the true number of sexual assaults and related incidents at UNM could be far higher. A December press release from the DOJ stated it would be investigating complaints made by students against UNM regarding the way the University has handled cases in the past. President Bob Frank said in a statement he has assured the DOJ of his and the University’s “deep concern” about this issue. “We look forward to sharing the many steps that UNM has already taken to address it, as well as detailing the programs we are continuing to implement for training and education aimed at prevention,” Frank said in the statement.
Jonathan Baca is the news editor at the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news @dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ JonGabrielB.
J.R. Oppenheim / Daily Lobo /@JROppenheim
Actor Chad Rook organizes his autograph cards at his booth during Day 2 of Albuquerque Comic-Con Saturday morning at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The three-day convention brought thousands of comic book, film, television and anime fans together with celebrities and artists. Rook has played various parts in film and television shows, such as the Weather Wizard on The CW series “The Flash.” Check out more photos from Comic-Con on Page 6-7.
New regents await NM Senate approval Governor Martinez’s appointees to Board of Regents
Robert Doughty III
Matt Chandler
Jamie Koch
Republican
Republican
Democrat
Clovis-based lawyer at Chandler Law Firm
Lawyer with ABQ firm Doughty, Alcaraz, & DeGraaw, P.A.
Former President of Daniels Insurance in Santa Fe
Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Eastern New Mexico and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa
Bachelor of Criminal Justice from NMSU and a Juris Doctorate from UNM
Chair of Finance and Facilities Committee and the Lobo Development Corporation
While working as a prosecutor, one of his highest-profile cases involved the 2005 murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez, which led to the convictions of five individuals and the international manhunts of two men
Has been a strong reformer in raising the standards of horse racing conduct and ending the doping of racehorses
Has worked on reforms designed to increase the number of university graduates and decrease the number of years it takes students to earn their degree
By Marielle Dent The three new members of the Board of Regents appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez last month are waiting to be approved by the New Mexico State Senate during this year’s legislative session. Matt Chandler and Robert Doughty III are new appointees, while Jamie Koch has been reappointed to take the place of Regent Conrad James, who resigned following his election to the state House of Representatives in November. Koch will remain on the board for another four years to finish the duration of James’ term. “The individuals I am nominating today come from a variety of backgrounds and are well-suited to help manage our state’s universities,” Martinez said in a release following the announcement. “They will provide thorough financial oversight and planning for these institutions, and I am confident they will adopt reforms designed to graduate our students more quickly and prepare them for the workforce New Mexico needs.” Replacing Regent Gene Gallegos, Doughty III is a UNM alumnus, a practicing attorney and the chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission. The Racing Commission regulates the state’s horse-racing industry, including the Albuquerque Downs, which was subject to an FBI investigation in early 2014 after Martinez
was accused of improperly awarding them with a 25-year lease extension. According to a Santa Fe Reporter article, Martinez extended the lease after the owners of the Downs directed tens of thousands of dollars towards her gubernatorial campaign. The FBI has not, however, leveled any charges nor has the attorney general’s investigation produced results, according to the article.
“The individuals I am nominating today come from a variety of backgrounds and are wellsuited to help manage our state’s universities,” Susana Martinez Governor Matt Chandler, a former district attorney in Clovis, will take Koch’s position on the board. He was the youngest district attorney to be elected in New Mexico and has over 12 years of prosecutorial experience.
see
Regents page 8