Students, faculty and staff have been protesting outside the School of Architecture and Planning for about three weeks.
Dean Roger Schluntz said he hasn't noticed. The protests were in front of the building the dean's office is in.
Access to resources
Concerns arose over the school's model shop and its Media and Resource Center, both of which operate on an appointment-only basis.
The Media and Resource Center closed to students and faculty in August when the center's coordinator, Dale McKenzie, went on medical leave.
More than $5,000 of student money was left in the center's accounts and was credited back to UNM student accounts Thursday.
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Students pay a fee of $15 per credit hour for courses in the school. Many said because they do not have access, they should not have to pay the fees.
Schluntz could not say what it costs to run the center.
More than two-thirds of student fees support computing, with the percentage fluctuating each year based on the school's needs, Schluntz said.
This semester, he said student fees have not contributed to the model shop or the center.
McKenzie said he was given a figure each year of what he could expect from student fees. According to his books, he said the center had enough money to stay open. He rejects the claim that the center closed because of funding problems, which he said he had been told.
Many times shadow accounts are kept, but there is only one official book that is sent to UNM's Budget Office.
Schluntz said he has an open-door policy about allowing students and faculty to voice their concerns. He said students haven't e-mailed or sent letters to him about the resources.
"They are more or less unattainable," architecture student Aric Grauke said. "They deflect any attempt at communication."
School-wide assemblies have been held where Schluntz said issues have been addressed, but some students have taken their concerns to Deputy Provost Richard Holder.
Holder said he has not heard concerns of this kind.
"I would certainly like to hear from as many students who have a problem," Holder said. " I don't treat these things lightly."
Proposed solutions
In the meantime, without the right resources, students said they will not be able to be competitive in the architecture field when they graduate.
Some classes require students to print large drawings or assignments. Printers are placed in lab areas and in some studios in the school. To gain access, students must bring their own ink cartridges.
Steve Kramer, architecture student, said that has amounted to $400 in ink for the first half of his semester.
Students have the option of going to Kinkos, which is more expensive than the printing that was available at the school. Other places in town prove cheaper but are further away from UNM.
Conflicting views
Dale McKenzie said making sure the students have what they need is a major concern. He is scheduled to return to work before December. Schluntz said once the center has the support it needs, it will be able to reopen.
The school has split up the duties once given completely to McKenzie. He will remain as coordinator of the media portion of the center. The job posting for a printing coordinator closed Friday.
But McKenzie said the school will continue to be a hostile environment, because the administration breaks promises and does not effectively communicate with staff and students.
McKenzie said Associate Dean of Architecture Gabriella Gutierrez has promised him a manager position.
To make that happen, Schluntz said a proposal would have to go to the Department of Human Resources. He said the school has no need for a manager for the Media Resource Center.
Schluntz said the school would like to continue to subsidize printing costs but has been advised the budget will not support that.
