Editorial: University should just say no to Garcia’s return

University of New Mexico professor emeritus F. Chris Garcia, in the clear for now on charges of promoting prostitution via a saucy website called Southwest Companions, is contemplating the reestablishment of his ties with the university.

Specifically, Garcia, or “Burque Pops” as he was known on the website, says that at some time he may ask UNM to restore some of the privileges that come with his status as professor emeritus. They include use of computers and an office — where at the time of June 2011 arrest, a police search turned up a cache of sex toys, pornographic videos and sex books. Then-UNM President David Schmidly yanked his privileges and essentially banned him from campus without written approval and an escort.

Garcia, a retired political science professor and administrator who served as university president, wants to come on campus “like any citizen” without having to ask permission. Perhaps he should be free to walk on campus without an escort, but under no circumstances should he be given back the trappings of office.

The criminal case against Garcia recently was derailed when the New Mexico Supreme Court upheld a state district court ruling that the website did not amount to a “house of prostitution or a place where prostitution is practiced, encouraged or allowed.” The court ruled that nothing in state law made the website illegal.

Garcia’s attorney says Garcia took no part in criminal activity and never profited financially from the site.

While prosecutors debate whether to try to file new charges against Garcia, a bill to clear the air on what constitutes a house of prostitution is moving through the Legislature. House Bill 295, sponsored by Rep. Tim Lewis, R-Rio Rancho, would make future cases of promoting prostitution via “an electronic, virtual or online forum or an Internet website” illegal.

At some point UNM may be faced with a request from Garcia to get back his old status. Even without considering the nature of the allegations — and even if Garcia is never convicted — the cache found in his office and involvement in the website show sufficiently bad taste and judgment that any thought of his official return should be a non-starter.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.