Bipartisan Legal Group Urges Lawyers to Defend Against ‘Rising Authoritarianism’; The New York Times, August 1, 2024

 Charlie Savage , The New York Times; Bipartisan Legal Group Urges Lawyers to Defend Against ‘Rising Authoritarianism’

"A bipartisan American Bar Association task force is calling on lawyers across the country to do more to help protect democracy ahead of the 2024 election, warning in a statement to be delivered Friday at the group’s annual meeting in Chicago that the nation faces a serious threat in “rising authoritarianism.”

The statement by a panel of prominent legal thinkers and other public figures — led by J. Michael Luttig, a conservative former federal appeals court judge appointed by President George Bush, and Jeh C. Johnson, a Homeland Security secretary during the Obama administration — does not mention by name former President Donald J. Trump.

But in raising alarms, the panel appeared to be clearly referencing Mr. Trump’s attempt to subvert his loss of the 2020 election, which included attacks on election workers who were falsely accused by Mr. Trump and his supporters of rigging votes and culminated in the violent attack on the Capitol by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021."

UNM President seeks campus input on 2040 strategic plan; UNM (University of New Mexico), January 24, 2022

UNM (University of New Mexico); UNM President seeks campus input on 2040 strategic plan

"Last May, UNM President Garnett Stokes announced the start of planning for UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined, the multi-year plan for the future of The University of New Mexico. She announced in her weekly message the strategic planning process is now in one of the most important and exciting parts: gathering ideas from the campus community about the future of The University of New Mexico.

Timeline of planning

After UNM 2040: Opportunity Defined was launched virtually on May 7, 2021, multiple virtual focus groups for students, faculty, staff, and supporters were held from May 3-24. These events provided an early chance to share insights about how UNM can be more relevant, more visible, and more competitive for what it distinctly does best.

In October and November of 2021, the 2040 task forces took the emerging vision plan to a new level of detail by suggesting key activities that need to occur over the next five years for UNM to carry out its ambitious goals and realize its loftiest aspirations. A month later, a survey went out asking for feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors about the draft vision framework. More than 1,600 Lobos completed the survey and helped better inform decision-making as the process moved forward.

The survey responses and other comments helped to fine-tune the vision framework and led to a revision of the plan, so goals and objectives were more reflective of the feedback."