Daily Lobo new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
summer June 9-15, 2014 | Volume 118 | Issue 156
Lottery City Council disturbed by protests to cover tuition for now by Zach Pavlik
by Mychal Miltenberger
The Legislative Lottery Success Scholarship will continue to cover all tuition costs for University of New Mexico students who meet the updated scholarship requirements of 15 credit hours for the fall 2014 semester, according to the New Mexico Higher Education Department. A lack of funding has caused changes to the scholarship in order to make the system more sustainable. The changes are the product of a senate bill passed earlier this year by the state Legislature that determined scholarship amounts based on available funds. Under the new law, scholarship amounts are determined by dividing colleges and universities into three categories: research universities, comprehensive four-year colleges and two-year institutions. The average tuition for each group is calculated separately and determines the maximum award amount. The average tuition this fall at the state’s three research universities — UNM, New Mexico State and New Mexico Tech — is $2,519, according to the NMHED. This average will cover UNM’s tuition this fall. Under the new law, students at research and comprehensive universities are required to take at least 15 credit hours per semester to qualify for the scholarship — an increase of three credit hours from past standards. Rachel Williams, president of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico, said the news provides students on the scholarship peace of mind going forward. “It is incredibly encouraging that the NMHED determined that the (scholarship) will fully cover tuition for the 2014 to 2015 school year,” Williams said. “Although there is still hesitancy and frustration with the new requirements, it should be a relief for students to know that they won’t need to scrape together extra funds to cover any remaining amounts for tuition in this upcoming year.” Glenn Walters, deputy secretary of the NMHED, said there are still too many new factors to consider when determining whether UNM lottery students can count on full tuition coverage come spring 2015. “We believe, with the money that is in there and the revenue that is coming in, that we will be able to cover 100 percent of the sector average for students that are eligible,” walters said. “The spring semester, we believe, will be very close to that, but there are a lot of variables.” Mychal Miltenberger is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. Contact him at news@ dailylobo.com.
File Photo / Daily Lobo
Protesters occupy City Council seats after taking over the meeting on May 5, the first to be canceled as a result of protests. The bond not discussed at this meeting cost taxpayers about $170,000 in fees, according to City Council President Ken Sanchez.
Last Monday’s City Council meeting was the second in less than a month to be canceled due to protests. Ken Sanchez, president of the City Council, said that when a meeting is postponed it often entails greater consequences for the city and its citizens. “I think the biggest problem is that it’s a violation of other people’s rights who want to come into the meeting and speak,” Sanchez said. “I mean, we want to make sure that we give everyone the opportunity to attend the meeting.” On June 2, Sanchez was told at about 3:30 p.m. that the building was to be on lockdown for an indefinite period of time. An hour later, he canceled the City Council meeting and scheduled a special meeting for June 9, he said. Sanchez said that financial setbacks caused by the cancellation of Council meetings can occur as well.
see City
Council page 3
King takes mark to run vs. Martinez by Chloe Henson
Sergio Jiménez / Daily Lobo / @SXfoto
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez greets supporters at her election night party held at Abuelita’s New Mexican Kitchen on Tuesday evening. Martinez ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
William Aranda / Daily Lobo / @_WilliamAranda
Gary King, center, celebrates his victory in the gubernatorial primary elections at the Doubletree Hilton with his running mate Debra Haaland, left, and his wife Yolanda, right, on Tuesday. King will run against Susana Martinez for the New Mexico governor’s seat.
Gubernatorial candidates Gary King and Susana Martinez are gearing up their campaigns for the general elections in November. King won the Democratic primary election with 35 percent of votes, according to the Secretary of State website. Debra Haaland will run for the Democratic lieutenant governor position. Martinez and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez ran uncontested in the Republican primaries and will run as incumbents. Shaylyn Garcia Roy, educational advisor for King’s campaign, said King is trying to unite the Democratic Party in New Mexico by meeting with leaders and voters, she said. King may not have as much support from the Democratic Party as he would like because of the fiveway primary race, said Lisa Bryant, a political science PhD from UNM. She said King will have to work to win voters who voted for Alan Webber or Howie Morales during the primaries. “One of his biggest challenges going into the general election in November is going to be to gain independent voters’ support and to pull Democrats to his side,” Bryant said. Meanwhile, Martinez should try to win over northern New Mexico’s Hispanic Democrats, Bryant said. “They tend to vote Democrat, but they’re a very conservative population,” she said. “She knows that if she can pull them over, she can win the Hispanic and Latino vote in northern New Mexico.” Just after the primaries Martinez traveled to northern New Mexico to meet with voters, according to a press release sent out by her campaign. Local groups are also working to increase Republican votes for Martinez. The Republican Party of Bernalillo County is contacting voters of all ages to encourage them to vote, said Frank Ruvolo, chairman of the Republican Party of Bernalillo County. “We just do our own thing to encourage Republican voters of Bernalillo County to vote,” he said. Ruvolo said he thinks Martinez will do well because she has a good organization, has a considerable amount of money and has had identifiable political achievements during her term. “For the most part, she’s done well with some of her proposed legislation and ideas,” he said. Chloe Henson is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. Contact her at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ ChloeHenson5.