The closer we examine Dr Joseph Shepard's record, the deeper the corruption goes. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/47-trips-abroad-for-brass-of-western-new-mexico-university/article_bd4043ac-bec2-11ee-94d9-d71c7b9847dc.html , Kelley Riddle, the WNMU VP of Business Affairs, has reported that in the last five years, Shepard, his wife, several Regents and several WNMU Vice-Presidents have traveled to foreign countries including Columbia, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Israel, Nepal, the Netherlands, Serbia and Zambia, frequently flying first-class, all using University money to finance their travel. Shepard's wife, Valerie Plame, who has no official relationship to WNMU, was illegally issued a University credit card which she has used freely. One begins to wonder if criminal charges are appropriate against several of these individuals.

Joe Shepard is beyond despicable – using badly needed University money to satisfy the globe-trotting adventures that he, his wife and his friends have taken. The depth of the involvement of the Regents in this corruption is equally disgusting. If there are any Regents who have not participated in this Joe Shepard gang of miscreants, now would be the time to step forward and speak truth to power. Lacking such individuals, all of the Regents should be fired and replaced with honest citizens who actually deserve the trust of this community.

The students of WNMU, our kids, are the real victims of Shepard's extravagant personal spending and boondoggle vacations. It is long past time to go, Joe.

Mark S. Donnell, MD

Silver City