The Eastern New Mexico News - Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Santa Fe is a political hot spot right now and the Eastern New Mexico Board of Regents decided to meet there on Thursday to discuss budget-balancing and banking services for ENMU-Roswell as well as to meet with state legislators on the 135-mile rule.

Colleges such as ENMU and New Mexico State University offer in-state tuition for Texas students living within 135 miles of the border to New Mexico.

The ENMU alumni hosted a reception for members of the ENMU Board of Regents, ENMU administration and Roosevelt County legislators Sen. Stuart Ingle, Sen. Gay Kernan and Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa.

“It was a statewide representation,” ENMU president Steven Gamble said. “There were around 50 legislators in attendance. Some of the most influential representatives from the state were there. They were very receptive to what we had to say.”

ENMU officials expressed their concerns over the 135-mile rule.

“We’re concerned that they might cut off funding for Texas kids wanting to go to Eastern,” Alva C. Carter, board of regents member, said. “We are bitterly against it. It doesn’t benefit ENMU. It wouldn’t affect only ENMU. It would affect NMSU and Western (New Mexico University) also.”

ENMU-R Business Manager Bill Jones introduced the board of regents with the winner of the banking services contract for approval. Bank of America was chosen to provide the same types of services that Portales National Bank provides with the Portales branch, such as an ATM machine on campus and student credit cards.

“Most of the meeting was routine,” Carter said. “We went over some small items, closing out books. According to the business manager, Bank of America was the best choice.”

Board of Regents members also discussed flexible plans and investment allocations as options for ENMU faculty.