DAILY LOBO new mexico
Sweet 16 out of reach see page 12
March 19, 2012
monday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Regents raise tuition, fees during spring break by Luke Holmen
TUNNEL VISION
holmen@unm.edu
During spring break, the Board of Regents proposed an initial budget which called for an $77 increase in student fees on top of the increase recommended by the Student Fee Review Board and the Strategic Budget Leadership Team. The new budget also calls for a 3-percent increase in tuition. SFRB Chair and GPSA President Katie Richardson said the regents went behind the backs of students by raising tuition and fees during spring break. “The regents tried to pull one over students by suggesting a fee increase during spring break when everyone is out of town,” she said. “Not a single student was in the room at the time. It’s outrageous that the regents would suggest an arbitrary and unfounded fee increase over the recommendations of students and the SFRB and the SBLT.” During the regents’ meeting on March 12, the board discussed the proposed student fees submitted by the SFRB, calling for an increase of $77 from the $503.20 fees recommended by the SFRB. This would bring fees to $580 and the increase would be split between Athletics and UNM Libraries, according to the board. Regent Gene Gallegos said the increase in fees will support the availability of journal subscriptions, computers and research technology that UNM students need to graduate. Richardson said these expenses should not be paid by student fees. “Students recommended that fee increases should cover a 24 hour (library),” she said. “Journal subscriptions essential to research at UNM and student education … should be funded by appropriations from the state or by tuition, not student fees.” President David Schmidly told the Albuquerque Journal that UNM needs to maintain its competitive Division I sports teams. “We are underinvested in terms of what we’re doing with student fees and Athletics, and I know it’s a lot to
Junfu Han / Daily Lobo Freshman infielder Michael Baca dons his special sunglasses while watching the game in Isotopes Park Sunday afternoon. The glasses were used to combat 27mph wind during the game. UNM swept the three-game series against SDSU over the weekend. Check the baseball gallery online for the full game coverage or follow the QR code.
ask the students to give more, but we have to think about this not only in the short term — we have to think about this in the long term,” he said. “And I would hate to see us begin to drop sports.” But Richardson said the University needs to focus on academics. “The fee applications of Athletics did not remotely justify an $77 increase,” she said. “Fees for Athletics cover student tickets. More fees to Athletics would only be wasted on covering the more than $1 million in
departmental debt.” SBLT representatives said the tuition increase would help pay for a one-time 1.25 percent increase in pay for instructors, and pay a portion of the $4.2 million required to hire new faculty as part of Provost Chaouki Abdallah’s five-year academic plan. The plan would also pay for a $1.5 million loan to Athletics in an effort to eliminate about $1 million in departmental debt. The increase of $2.9 million in tuition would cost full-time, in-state
undergrads about $87 based on current tuition rates. In town hall meetings sponsored by GPSA and ASUNM earlier in the semester, some UNM students said they would not be able to attend next year if tuition increased by more than $100. UNM student Thomas Rogers said he may not be able to continue to attend UNM if tuition continues to rise. “I came here this year as an freshmen because UNM has a lot more to offer than CNM, but to be
honest I may go to CNM next year and get all of my core classes out of the way,” he said. “It’s just ridiculous how much costs are rising when I can get the same classes done for less than half the cost.” The regents will continue discussing the budget for the University this Friday and finalize the budget April 27. Members of the Board of Regents were unavailable for comment as of Sunday afternoon.
by Keila Gutierrez
Lindquist, the director of this program and one of two faculty sponsors for the trip, said students dedicated themselves to hard work during a time that is normally a break in academic life. She said the reward they find is written on the faces of those they help. Student Nate Faust-Shucker said the woman whose house the volunteers helped repair was incredibly grateful for the volunteers’ time. “This house was in a neighborhood surrounded by finished houses but this one was just so bare … it wasn’t fair that her house is not done while everyone else’s is,” he said. “She (the owner of the house) was so emotional and grateful for us to be there to help her out.” Faust-Shucker said the house was not finished by the time they left, but
Students visit New Orleans for charity during break gutz55@unm.edu
Spring break is a time for rest, but several dedicated students volunteered their time to build a house for a woman whose home was destroyed in New Orleans. The second UNM Alternative Spring Break offered students a chance to volunteer and give back to the New Orleans community for five days last week. UNM teamed up with the St. Bernard Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disaster relief, to rebuild destroyed homes in New Orleans that are still in ruins eight years after Hurricane Katrina. This year the volunteers helped rebuild Pamela Clark’s house by putting up sheetrock, painting walls, and decorating the interior of the home. Lisa
UNM students pose outside a house they helped renovate over spring break in New Orleans. UNM’s Alternative Spring Break offers students the chance to make a difference in the hurricane-torn region. Courtesy Photo
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 116
issue 118
Where are we?
A look back at women’s basketball
See page 2
See page 12
see Spring
Break PAGE 3
TODAY
43 | 32