Special election boasts record graduate turnout

GPSA’s special election about the UNM Athletics Administration saw a record turnout, and all four questions on the ballot passed by margins of at least 30 percent.

“This is an unprecedented number,” said GPSA President Lissa Knudsen. “It is our belief that GPSA has never had this turnout.”

As for the results, 1,163 students voted in the online election, which is more than twice the turnout of the April GPSA presidential election. Students could select “no opinion” on each question. There are roughly 5,500 graduate students at UNM.
More than 1,000 students voted to urge the Board of Regents to divert student fees from Athletics. Of those who had an opinion, more than 85 percent of students voted to urge the administration to divert student fees away from the Athletics Department to academic programs.

Also, 81 percent of students who voted said they have no confidence in Athletics Director Paul Krebs’ handling of the Sept. 20 altercation between head football coach Mike Locksley and assistant coach J.B. Gerald.

Roughly two-thirds of graduate and professional students with an opinion voted no confidence in Krebs’ overall performance as Athletics Director. However, only half of the voters selected “yes” or “no” to this question.

Athletics spokesman Greg Remington said Krebs had no comment on the results of the two votes. Krebs issued a statement to the Albuquerque Journal touting his accomplishments as Athletics Director.

“It is unfortunate that in this time of unprecedented success for UNM student athletes and the UNM Athletics Department, the GPSA chooses to focus on one isolated occurrence,” Krebs told the Journal on Friday. “For example, a record four teams participated in their respective NCAA tournaments in the fall; the UNM ski team is currently ranked No. 1 in the country; our men’s basketball team is experiencing great success.”

Sixty-five percent of students voted to ask the Board of Regents to launch an independent investigation into the Locksley/Gerald incident.
In addition to sharing the results of this election with legislators, Knudsen said she would distribute them to the Board of Regents.

GPSA Council Chair Danny Hernandez said he hopes undergraduate student government will pose similar questions to its constituents.

“It’s about time for the undergrads to chime in as well,” Hernandez said. “I’ve heard from about as many undergrads as graduates, and I think it’s time for ASUNM to chime in.”

ASUNM Vice President Mike Westervelt said there’s no talk among members of the undergraduate student governing body about holding a similar special election.
Knudsen and Hernandez announced the results early Friday morning to allow Knudsen to present the election results to the Senate Rules Committee hearing in Santa Fe. The hearing is regarding a joint memorial sponsored by State Sen. Eric Griego that asks the Board of Regents to cut UNM administrative salaries. Griego’s memorial passed and will go before the Senate Education Committee.
“One of the things that’s critical is that the State Legislature is in session,” Knudsen said. “This is one more piece that shows that … the University’s governance does not reflect its constituents.”