Daily Lobo: With the start of the new school year, what sort of goals do you hope to achieve?
Louis Caldera: First of all, I believe in the edict that you should keep the main thing the main thing, so no. 1 of course is improving the quality of education. That's a continuous goal that you can focus on. And there are a number of things that we're looking at that will help enrich education for undergraduate students. We're also very much looking at the support we provide to graduate students.
DL: With another raise in tuition in effect this year, how do you think the extra money will benefit UNM?
LC: Well, I have been very proud of the students and the student leaders, because the case that we've tried to make to students is when we raise tuition, we use the dollars to invest in improving the quality of education that the students receive and improving the facilities, the advising, the ability for students to get to degree completion on time.
DL: Do you have a favorite spot to hang out or visit on the UNM campus?
LC: You know, I love the Duck Pond and I love the fact that so many students gather there. I think part of the reason is because it's green and tree-shaded, and I would love for us to think about creating more green tree-shaded areas on campus.
DL: What do you think are some major issues that will need to be addressed in upcoming semesters?
LC: I think we're very much focused on the financial issues at the University Hospital. We're very much focused on the tremendous pressure that the growing levels of uncompensated care are placing on University Hospital and it's impact on our ability to create a true academic health center and to have a school of medicine where the education and research of the faculty is highly regarded.
DL: Do you have a favorite memory of UNM?
LC: One of my favorite memories and things that I really look forward to every year is the hanging of the greens, when the students come up caroling to the University House, and then going out and seeing the luminarias all over the campus.
DL: As president, what sort of legacy do you hope to leave behind?
LC: Well I hope it's not too soon (laughs). Not to rush Caldera here, but you know, I hope when people look back over this period of time, they'll look at it as a time when a lot of things got done to help the University forward, and personally I don't care whether they attribute that to me. I think more importantly it should be attributed to a great team, because it's the deans, it's the faculties, it's the students, it's the staff that works so hard to make these dreams a reality that deserve the credit.
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- Aidan Turowski
