Festival policy concerns ill-founded

As an Eastern New Mexico University regent, I am somewhat perplexed about the recent articles regarding the wine festival being approved by ENMU Chancellor/President Jeff Elwell.

The concern that Elwell improperly waived a board policy is ill-founded. This matter was discussed at length during our last meeting on Sept. 27 (at which a representative of the Eastern New Mexico News was present) and since it had not been placed on the agenda (which any board member could have done) the board could not act upon it at that time. It was clear, however, that the board was unanimously in favor of the wine festival being held on campus and that formal board approval was a foregone conclusion.

The two regents who are now concerned about a policy violation acknowledged that in your recent article.

Recognizing that, I commented that Elwell should discuss this with our attorney (who was also present at that meeting) to see if he, as chancellor, could waive the policy and sign the agreement, and if not, that we could hold a special meeting, by phone, to approve the waiver. Not a single regent spoke in opposition to this.

After discussing this with our attorney and receiving notice that waiving policy in this instance was an option, Elwell informed the board of this opinion. He also informed the board that, based upon our comments when this issue was raised at the Sept. 27 meeting, he believed that him granting a one-time waiver was what the board preferred at this time and that he was going to sign off on that one-time exemption.

The opportunity was there for any regent who wanted the board to vote on this matter to request a special meeting and it would have happened.

No one called for one! Why, now, is there an issue?

As further background related to this matter, the board has expressed its desire for the university to increase community relations and involvement. One of the ways to do this is to provide better access to the campus for community events.

The board, in early 2018, gave approval for the administration to apply for a liquor license in order to facilitate this. When we did this we knew that a change to policy would be necessary if and when the liquor license was approved. That application is still in process.

When the wine festival representatives approached Elwell about holding the festival on campus, he needed to make a decision and, knowing the board’s desire to increase community relations and involvement, he negotiated an agreement to do so.

I believe this was where the “exigent circumstances” came into play. He was providing a community service by opening the campus to an important community event, which is exactly what the board wanted him to do.

Dan Patterson is a member of the ENMU board of regents. Contact him at:

[email protected]