A remarkable 24 percent increase in new freshmen, and a big jump in the number of students living on campus, have brought a new level of vitality to NMSU this fall. Without doubt the state's Lottery Success Scholarship has had a significant impact. Also contributing to the increase has been the state statute permitting in-state tuition for Texas residents living within 135 miles of our campus.

Just as clearly, the growth is also a reflection of NMSU's strong and caring faculty and staff. All of us, including our alumni who remain involved and supportive in so many ways, can take pride in the reputation NMSU has earned as a university that places students first.

As the 1999 legislative session approaches, we are working with the Commission on Higher Education and the Legislature on funding requests to support our programs of education, research and service. Heading the priorities approved by our Board of Regents and the Council of University Presidents is a request for an 8 percent increase in compensation for employees for next year, and an average annual increase of 5 percent over the subsequent five years, to bring NMSU salaries near 100 percent of the average of our peer land-grant institutions. Although we received an average increase of 4.5 percent for this year, our salaries still are not as competitive as they should be. Our faculty salaries, for example, are more than 10 percent below those at our peers.

Our No. 1 capital project priorities are funding for a new classroom/office building to benefit our College of Health and Social Services and our College of Arts and Sciences, and renovation of Williams Hall, which houses NMSU's art department and gallery.

Of course, NMSU must depend on other funding sources besides the 40 percent of our budget provided from state appropriations. Thanks to our researchers and others, grants and contracts provide another 33 percent. And I'm also pleased to report that, for the first time ever, individual and corporate friends and donors contributed more than $6 million to our university and its foundation last year.

Black Steamer This antique car, known as the "Black Steamer," is on display in the east lobby of Engineering Complex III. From left, George Alexander, '72, department head of engineering technology, and Tony Alvarez of mechanical engineering share stories about the car with retired mechanical engineering instructor Jimmy Field, '38. The car was built in 1902 and donated to NMSU in 1961, when Field rebuilt most of it. He maintained the steamer for about 30 years. Now it has been restored again. (Photo by Michael Kiernan)

Letters to the Editor
We encourage letters related to issues discussed in Aggie Panorama and issues that relate to university news or policies. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Mail, fax. (505-646-2099) or e-mail (rpopp@nmsu.edu) letters to the editor.

Role Model
Dear Aggie Panorama:

Recalling someone at NMSU who made a significant impact on my life immediately brings to mind the late Anna Gardiner, a rather stern Quaker lady with great compassion. She, along with her husband, George, headed up the Physical Science Laboratory on campus, where many a student worked to get through college, including me.

Mrs. Gardiner took us all under her wing, although not one to put up with any nonsense, of which I was full. Take, for example, the time I put a piece of silver foil icicle behind a burned-out bulb with the expectation that it would light. Instead, every bulb on the very big tree went dark and I went limp. Learning of my failed attempt to be helpful, and after her blood pressure lowered and her color returned to normal, Mrs. Gardiner pardoned my act of stupidity instead of firing me on the spot!

Once she bought me new glasses since I was too poor to have my old ones replaced. She also served as chapter adviser for the Delta Zetas and "rushed" me along with the best there was. She was a wonderful role model before anyone knew what that really meant and only came to recognize later on in life.

I so admired her that I asked her to be Godmother to my first son. Through the years, we kept in contact through Christmas cards and an occasional phone call. However, my card of 1995 was returned, and I was unable to reach her by the phone number I had. Then I read in a recent Panorama that she had died and had endowed a scholarship. How like her!

Joyce S. Pugliese, '57
427 Logan St.
Frederick, MD 21701

Chavez-Chavez

In the September 1998 issue of Aggie Panorama, a photo of Professor Herman Garcia was published in place of a photo of Professor Rudolfo Chavez-Chavez with a story about Dr. Chavez-Chavez's leadership efforts in the national Hispanic Dropout Project. Panorama apologizes for the error.

Garcia

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