Las Cruces Council OKs Civic Center on NMSU Campus
Associated Press
LAS CRUCES — A resolution that seeks to have a civic and convention center built at the west end of the New Mexico State University campus has been approved by the City Council.
Councilors amended the resolution Monday after hearing from students and faculty members.
One amendment states that the land where the center would be located would be annexed by the city, but NMSU would maintain ownership.
Another amendment urges NMSU officials to consider finding a site for the university's Small Farm Initiative, which had apparently been offered the same land where the proposed center would be built.
University officials plan to study the resolution and the amendments.
''The university wants a win-win situation for the university, the College of Agriculture and the city,'' said NMSU spokeswoman Mary Benanti.
Opponents, many of whom are faculty members and students, presented the council with a petition that contained 638 names of those who wanted the council to either table or vote against the resolution.
''The number of people who signed this petition represents over 30 departments on campus and eight departments in the College of Agriculture and Home Economics. ... We are constituents and want to have a voice here,'' said Kari Bachman, a representative of the Committee to Preserve Ag Land on Campus.
Biochemistry student Ana Garrison said paving the land over to build a civic center ''would be shortsighted'' because it could still be used for agricultural research.
But student Anthony Quintana argued that the center would rejuvenate that part of the city.
news 
E-mail Story
Print Friendly
