Some legislators see administration’s fingerprints on the situation, say a vote of no confidence in the NMSU regents is possible
The resignation of New Mexico State University Interim President Waded Cruzado is in the works, a move that has angered some powerful state legislators who believe the Board of Regents and the Richardson administration are forcing the change.
Cruzado is going to return to the job she previously held, executive vice president and provost, a number of sources with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed. Three powerful legislators — Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, President Pro Tem Tim Jennings and Finance Committee member Mary Kay Papen — are all upset by the move, saying they believe the Richardson administration is behind it.
“I’m a fan of hers,” Smith said of Cruzado. “I think she’s tried to do what is right, and I will certainly lead a charge in the New Mexico Legislature on a vote of no confidence on the entire board of regents and whoever else is involved.”
Cruzado and most members of the NMSU regents could not immediately be reached for comment. Student Regent Chris Anaya referred questions to Regents Chairman Blake Curtis, who was not available.
Jennings said, in dealing with Cruzado in this year’s legislative session, he found her to be “somebody who was up front and wasn’t going to tell you what you wanted to hear. She was going to do what was in the best interest of New Mexico State University and the students, and that’s what I want.”
“We need stability. We don’t need to create more confusion and suspicion about what’s going on,” Jennings said. “Here’s a lady who was up front, she was doing what was right, and now she’s going to get dumped. I hate to see her get dumped.”
It’s not immediately clear when Cruzado’s resignation will be announced or who will replace her. The regents plan to meet in executive session this afternoon and hold a public meeting on Friday.
The history
Cruzado was named interim president last summer after Michael Martin left to be chancellor at Louisiana State University’s main campus in Baton Rouge. After spending $90,000 on the search to replace Martin, the regents scrapped the process late last year, saying a state law that required them to publicly name five finalists hampered the process.
Gov. Bill Richardson responded by replacing three of five regents.
The new board has said it plans to restart the search later this year. Though she was interim president, the regents have said Cruzado could apply for the permanent job, a move that angered some who didn’t want the appearance of a done deal. Cruzado hasn’t said whether she plans to apply for the permanent position.
But Cruzado is popular among students and faculty, and there has been a movement on campus to make her the permanent president. That popularity was one of many positives about Cruzado cited by Papen.
“She’s a double minority. She’s a woman and a Hispanic. She is like a bulldog for the university, and the legislators have been very pleased with her. The faculty I’ve talked to and the students I’ve talked to have all been extremely pleased with her,” Papen said.
‘Fed up with this administration’
Smith agreed with Papen’s praise for Cruzado, and said he’s upset by the administration’s meddling in the higher education system.
“Quite frankly, I am fed up with this administration. Even though they deny the fact that they get involved, our higher education system, everywhere you turn, has the indication of the executive branch micromanaging,” Smith said.
The governor’s office said it had no involvement in Cruzado’s resignation from the interim president job.
“If that’s the decision (the regents) are going to make, then they’re making it without any input from the governor’s office or, my understanding, the higher education department,” said Richardson spokeswoman Alarie Ray-Garcia.
Smith said a vote of no confidence in the regents would be “very embarrassing” for the university and might also affect its credibility.
“If they’re whimsical on personnel, then the finance committees have to assume they’re whimsical on the budget,” he said. “We’re going to do what’s right because the concern is the students.”
Jennings said he also believes the Richardson administration is directing the regents. If a no-confidence resolution is introduced, he said, “it would probably have a good chance of passing.”