Rep. Javier Martínez, Mayor Tim Keller and other community leaders Thursday at UNM. Courtesy photoNMDP News:
ALBUQUERQUE ― Rep. Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) joined Mayor Tim Keller and other community leaders Thursday to urge UNM to bring to the Legislature alternate solutions for the proposed sports cuts before making any final decisions.
“I represent people in this district, in this community, and people across this state for whom soccer and athletics have become a pathway out of poverty, a pathway into jobs, and a pathway to alleviate some of the social ills we deal with day in and day out,” Rep. Javier Martínez said. “I hope that UNM does the right thing tomorrow, and I hope this message is heard by them loud and clear: We are going to work with them over the next five months and in the next legislative session to ensure that soccer and the other athletic programs that are slated to be cut can be saved.”
July 19, the UNM Board of Regents made the decision to cut four sports programs from the UNM Athletics Departments as part of efforts to cut costs and meet federal Title IX equity guidelines. The Board approved the recommendations to cut men’s soccer, the men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams, and the men’s and women’s skiing programs.
