Daily Lobo new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
tuesday March 17, 2015 | Vo l u m e 1 1 9 | I s s u e 1 1 9
Campus out two regents
Senate blocks Chandler, Koch resigns in protest By Jonathan Baca
The Democrat-controlled New Mexico Senate voted not to confirm one nominated regent and another veteran regent resigned in protest of the Senate’s actions. Former Clovis prosecutor and Republican Matt Chandler was appointed to the board by Gov. Susana Martinez in December, but his appointment was shot down on March 13 with a 23-17 vote. Shortly before the vote and following an argumentative committee hearing where Democrats railed against Chandler’s past political activity, 12-year Board of Regents veteran James Koch sent the governor his resignation letter, citing the Senate’s treatment of Chandler as his reason. “Despite my extensive political activity on behalf of the Democratic party, the Senate unanimously confirmed me to the Board earlier this week,” Koch wrote in his resignation letter. “Based on this committee and the Senate’s rationale for refusing to confirm an eminently qualified nominee because of his political activity, I do not think I can continue to serve having myself spent many years involved in Democratic politics.” Before this, a gubernatorial appointee had not been voted down since 1997. Most have interpreted the Senate’s move to block Chandler as being completely politically motivated. Martinez’ office called it “despicable politics at its worst.” “The decision by these extreme Senate Democrats not to confirm a decent and highly qualified man is disgusting and pathetic,” said Enrique Knell, a spokesman for Martinez. In an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, UNM President Bob Frank called the whole event a real loss for the University.
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Diana Cervantes/ Daily Lobo / @dee_sea_
A Camp Resurrection resident relaxes outside his home on Monday afternoon. Residents of the previous tent cities have relocated to a plateau on the northeast corner of Lomas Boulevard and I-25.
Tent City community moves to new location Residents of Camp Resurrection will soon be on the move with this week’s eviction By Matthew Reisen Tent City residents have moved yet again — this time closer to UNM’s campus — while advocates hope to find a permanent solution to help them stay grounded. Tentatively called Camp Resurrection, the new lot is situated on a plateau on the northeast side of Lomas Boulevard and I-25. The tents are cropped together tightly, some tied to each other to help stem the high winds that often afflict the area, due to its location. A makeshift fence, made up of medium sized sticks and rope encircle the lot, signs posted on the fence lay out rules and restrictions to residents, visitors and local
media. Portable toilets have been placed within the Tent City for use by residents, but they will not be able stay for long as the lot being used is state land. Steven Kramer, a UNM alum and ABQ Justice member, said constantly moving the homeless population of tent city is only prolonging the issue for them and the city itself. “People say, ‘they are not our responsibility and they’re not our problem.’ The health and well-being of our city is our responsibility, it is our problem,” Kramer said. “A huge homeless population that has no real chance of anything, that is our problem.” The current lot for “Camp
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Diana Cervantes/ Daily Lobo / @dee_sea_
A Camp Resurrection resident looks out onto the city from his home on Monday afternoon.
Criticism from resolution leads ASUNM to post copy By David Lynch For the first time in about a year, the Associated Students of UNM have posted a copy of a finished and signed resolution online to address backlash and criticism that has hit the student governing body since its passing. Several University students and Albuquerque citizens voiced their criticism of Resolution 6S, which passed unanimously at ASUNM’s March 4 meeting, and urges University administration to state their “opposition of Islamophobia, and related hate crimes.” “Any resolution that seeks to silence political opposition is, fundamentally, an affront to the freedom of speech and expression
that has formed a cornerstone of our nation since its inception,” read one letter to the Daily Lobo. However, the backlash may have simply been a byproduct of bad timing. ASUNM has received emails and phone calls by the dozens to both the governing body and University Communication and Marketing, requesting to see a copy of the resolution, according to ASUNM Director of Communications David Ishmael. ASUNM President Rachel Williams said the request would have been fulfilled much earlier, but spring break made for a logistically awkward situation. As a result, those who had wanted to see the text of the
resolution were unable to for a time. Williams signed the resolution on March 6, making it official, and that’s when the backlash started coming in, a trickle at first, then a roar. “It’s just a fundamental problem,” she said. “A lot of the comments are critiquing certain issues in the world today, but they are misguided in the fact that they are not what this particular resolution is about.” Ishmael said the last time ASUNM felt compelled to address criticism of a passed resolution was last spring, when there was heated debate over a resolution calling for the University “to stop investments in companies involved in human rights violations,” according to The Daily Lobo. “It’s not that regular. Typically,
unless resolutions are mandated that they are posted online, we don’t do it,” he said. “The president or vice president may request the director of communications to put it up since he or she is usually the webmaster. Literally that is the only protocol.” Ishmael said they are working to change the procedure so that all legislation is visible on the ASUNM website following meetings. Such changes are only a fraction of an ongoing effort by ASUNM to improve transparency with their constituents. ASUNM Vice President Jenna Hagengruber said she spent time on Monday, calling people back to talk to them about the resolution, as well as emailing the full text to those simply asking for it. But she said some
haven’t been as cordial. “There are a few that are throwing in some name-calling, saying that we’re bigots and we shouldn’t be allowed to pass Islam as a religion, which isn’t even what this is about,” she said. Hagengruber said when she sees where people are forming their opinion; it’s easy to see what they are frustrated about. But lack of access to the resolution and place to speak for 12 days, has left people uninformed. “In context with what we passed, it has no relation whatsoever,” she said. Hagengruber emphasized the portion of the resolution stating ASUNM’s support and respect for all religions, saying that the
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