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UNM student organizations fight to keep funding

By Elaine Baumgartel

Albuquerque, NM – Several University of New Mexico student organizations met today to protest budget cuts that would eliminate three community service groups and withhold funding for a new Queer Resource Center. UNM Administrators last week denied a recommendation by student leaders for a 10 dollar-a-year student fee increase to fund the groups and the center.

Jeffrey Waldo of the UNM Queer Straight Alliance says it's unusual for the administration to go against Student Fee Review Board recommendations. He says student leaders are planning to make their voices heard at the UNM Regent's meeting this Friday.

WALDO: "I would just like the regents to know that a lot of students are behind this and that the recommendations of the SFRB aren't just frivolous. The small fee increase isn't that big of a deal to have these monumental programs."

Waldo wrote the proposal for the Queer Resource Center, which would provide lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay, queer and questioning students with a place to go for support, information, and community. He says if the Queer Resource Center isn't funded now, future Student Fee Review Boards might not be so supportive.

UNM's main campus is facing budget cuts of about $15 million. Other organizations that would lose funding under the administration's plan include the New Mexico Public Interest Research Group, Community Learning and Public Service and the Research Service Learning Program.

Elaine Baumgartel was KUNM's News Director from 2013 to 2019. She was local Morning Edition host from 2007 through 2012 and she regularly hosted the station's live news and public affairs show for some years. Elaine originally came on board at KUNM as a volunteer and student employee in 2003.