FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear ENMU Family and Friends: I am overwhelmed with admiration and respect after witnessing all the ways our local businesses and community members are adjusting to this pandemic, fighting to stay afloat, helping neighbors, and dreaming of better days. I wish ENMU could bring back our thousands of students, send cohorts of faculty and staff out to dine together in the local restaurants, window-shop around the Portales square, and buy out all the merchandise. ENMU’s move to online instruction was probably the hardest decision we have ever made, and it was hard because we knew local restaurants and businesses were counting on us. But we could not do the expedient thing. We could not follow our hearts when ENMU needed to do our part to help keep students, employees, and our beloved community safe. You taught us better than that. You expect more from Eastern than that. I’m thrilled that this newsletter is featuring a very special alumnus--our Board of Regents President, Mr. Terry Othick, who came “home” to ENMU to serve six years as a regent. In hindsight, Terry and his fellow regents could not have predicted six years ago that they would be guiding ENMU through both a state budget crisis and a pandemic in 2020. And as our world and campus shifted gears swiftly to address COVID-19, Terry and his talented spouse and college sweetheart, Sissy Othick, helped to home-school their grandchildren all the while Terry agonized about the tough choices facing ENMU. Terry Othick is the kind of person who defines his alma mater, defines what the University values, and defines how ENMU quietly and competently must do what is right, no matter the personal cost. Volunteer leadership like Terry’s is why you can trust Eastern to stand with you through and after this pandemic. He is why you can trust everyone at ENMU to do what is right and safe for students. He is why we say, spring will come, and we will be back. ENMU will never forget these days and everyone’s sacrifices. And when the pioneering resiliency of ENMU, Portales and Roosevelt County has pulled us through this pandemic, we will be even stronger partners supporting the students and the community we love. Sincerely,
Patrice Caldwell, Interim President Eastern New Mexico University
ENMU Athletics Suspends All Activities for Fall Semester Eastern New Mexico Athletics suspended all athletic competitions scheduled for the fall semester. The announcement came in response to the state of New Mexico’s efforts to mitigate the pandemic. ENMU will honor all student athlete scholarship awards for the year despite the absence of competition or on-campus team activities for all sports. “First and foremost the safety of our student-athletes has been and always will be our top priority.” Eastern New Mexico Athletic Director Matt Billings said, “This decision reflects that mission and we look forward to safely bringing our student-athletes back onto campus and preparing for competition when that time comes.” While campus facilities were closed to students and the community this summer, crews painted and resurfaced the Greyhound Arena court.
A decision on whether or not Eastern New Mexico will compete during the spring semester will come at a later date.
