Daily Lobo new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
tuesday January 13, 2015 | Volume 119 | Issue 80
ASUNM looking to improve transparency By David Lynch The Associated Students of UNM announced Friday that it will focus on better connecting to the student body during the spring semester. ASUNM President Rachel Williams said connectivity across campus has always been the most important thing to her. She said one of her goals is for ASUNM to have a more positive and
Bailey aims to help APD relations By Jonathan Baca
Harold Bailey is the consultant and community outreach representative trying to create a productive dialogue between the Albuquerque Police Department and the community at large in the wake of the settlement between the APD and the U.S. Department of Justice. After graduating from UNM with a doctorate in American studies, he became a professor and the director of Afro-American studies at UNM in the 1970s. In 2003 he was appointed executive director of the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs by then-Gov. Bill Richardson. He retired in 2012. Bailey is currently working as the president of the Albuquerque National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and as a teacher for APS. DL: How did you get involved with making sure the community’s concerns were heard by the city and APD? HB: “I am working with (civil rights attorney Scott) Greenwood and (former police chief Thomas) Streicher to make sure that the community input is involved in the court decree between the DOJ and the APD. I am like a community outreach engagement person. I am acting as a conduit between the community at large and the city of Albuquerque and APD in this court situation. have been meeting with different entities within the community: community organizations, individuals, retired APD officers and some of the groups that are passion-
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widespread presence on campus, in which students can get to know their senators as people who care. “What I want is for ASUNM to be a word that is familiar with students – for example that ASUNM was the organization that brought UNM someone as amazing as (musician) Jack White,” Williams said. ASUNM’s Student Special Events was able to book the popular rocker, who will perform at Popejoy Hall on Feb. 3, according
to ASUNM’s website. Williams said her time in office last semester helped her recognize her weaknesses and strengths as president of ASUNM, and that she will work to develop the latter for the good of the student body. She said she will strive to be more involved in the Senate to help put a face on ASUNM that students will feel comfortable with. “I feel like I have really come into my own. I hope to work more
have been working on is a student success week the week before midterms and finals. Although the details are still being work out, Hagengruber said they hope to be able to provide students with the tools that they need to be successful. In an effort to further transparency with students, ASUNM will begin filming their meetings and archiving them so that anyone can
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Low oil prices cause disaster to budget By Lena Guidi
The recent drop in international oil prices is threatening to limit the funding UNM receives from the state, University officials warned during Friday’s Board of Regents meeting. When President Bob Frank gave his administrative report to the Regents, he noted that the price of oil per barrel dropped from $92 in August to $49. This is significantly lower than prices were in December at $66 per barrel, when Frank projected a $2.8 million budget deficit for UNM, he said. “Unfortunately, the news I bring you here in January is not much better,” Frank said. This collapse in oil prices along with several other factors such as PNM’s 13 percent rise in utility rates, he explained, have increased the projected budget deficit to $4.7 million. To put the numbers in context, Frank said a $1 change in the price of oil per barrel translates to a $7.5 million change in state revenues, nearly a fifth of which come from oil, gas and mining. That does not spell good news for UNM, which is partially dependent on state funding, Frank said. During a budget development update at the meeting, Andrew Cullen, UNM’s associate vice president of planning, estimated new state revenues in December were half of what they were in August. This means that estimates for the additional formula funding UNM would receive went from about $4.2 million to $2.6 million. If oil prices continue on the current trend, funding reductions going forward could be even more severe.
Sergio Jiménez / Daily Lobo / @SXfoto
A commuter pumps gasoline at the Costco gas station on Renaissance Boulevard on Monday. The recent drop in oil prices will limit the funding UNM receives from the state of New Mexico, increasing the projected budget deficit to $4.7 million.
However, Dianne Anderson, UNM’s director of communication, said that the administration does not currently expect a significant reduction in the normal funding allocations for the fiscal year. “We are hoping to get at least the same amount as we did last year,” Anderson said. She said that the state will not finalize its budget allocation until the state legislative session, which begins Jan. 20. “Because of the volatility of the oil market, it is a moving target right now,” she said. While UNM officials await news from the Legislature, there are sever-
al initiatives in place to offset the increased deficit. Frank stressed during the Regents’ meeting that while collapsing oil prices are beyond the control of anyone at UNM, there are key areas that can be focused on to increase revenue. “There are two things we can control: student enrollment and cost management,” he said. He said that UNM must increase enrollment and retention by improving amenities throughout campus and emphasizing the quality of its academic programs. Frank also discussed several strategies for increasing cost discipline, broadly referred to as “strate-
gic cost management.” Frank said the strategies include actions such as hiring pauses, shared services, department and program reviews and instructional efficiencies. Frank concluded his administrative report by stating that final budget decisions will be made in April, and that the Regents will be briefed on further developments at next month’s meeting. Lena Guidi is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com, or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
State funded revenue drivers August Estimate
December Estimate
Current Estimate
Crude Oil Price per Barrel
$92 Average
$66 Average
$40-$50 Average
New State Revenues
$280 Million
$140 Million
N/A
$4,230,000
$2,630,000
N/A
UNM Formula Funding Estimate Harold Bailey
with the Senate so there are more people who know what is happening on campus at any given time,” she said. “There is a lot that our university is facing, and having input from various sources – the Senate and especially the Joint Council – is imperative.” Jenna Hagengruber, ASUNM vice president, also said that connectivity with students remains a priority. One thing that Hagengruber said she and Sen. Victoria Pryor
Source: UNM Board of Regents Agenda