Hey, want to hear a few secrets about your University? Read on to learn what you need to know about the UNM campus.
Parking —
It’s an issue that vexes the majority of students. Just drive around UNM any time between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and it’s a safe bet you won’t find a legal parking spot. And if you think for a minute you’ll get away with parking anywhere for free, think again. UNM’s parking and transportation services are constantly patrolling for violators, and they’re always quick to ticket offenders, even the five-minutes-just-to-turn-in-a-paper ones. That’s because UNM is primarily a commuter school, and with only 2,400 students living on campus, the other thousands have to vie for parking spaces among the seven available lots. For those unlucky enough to have missed out on a permit, or have to park on the south lot or Q lot, convenient on-campus parking costs $1.75 per hour, and is hard to come by. However, after 8:00 p.m., parking is free and plentiful. The best bet for the parking dilemma is to ride your bike or walk to school if possible. Otherwise, good luck.
Johnson Center —
Offers two gyms, three swimming pools, eight basketball courts, and a variety of fitness facilities for no cost to anyone with a valid UNM ID. The catch? Parts of the center are often closed to anyone not enrolled in a fitness class. While the facility is available during early morning hours, an hour during lunch, and from 5 to 10:45 p.m., it lacks the convenience to commuter students who have jobs after class or are unable to rise early enough to get to the gym.
Student Gabe Garcia said last year he only had time to go to the gym during his lunch break.
“We would go down to work out at the gym, and usually they only had a half hour of open gym from 12 to 12:30 p.m. or some random time,” Garcia said. “And every other time you couldn’t work out while the class was there, even if the class had only 10 or 15 people. In order for you to work out, you had to make sure to get there for those 15 or 30 minutes they were open.”
However, if you are willing to hang around UNM until the gym opens, or sign up for a weightlifting class, you really can’t beat a gym without a monthly fee.
Art Museums and Performance Halls —
Popejoy Hall is featuring four Broadway performances this fall, including “The Wizard of Oz” and “Beauty and the Beast,” and UNM students pay half price for tickets. Also, students can catch shows for a discounted rate at Rodey Theatre or the experimental theatre. Furthermore, there are multiple art galleries on campus, such as the John Sommers Gallery in the art building and Johnson Gallery, next to Yale Boulevard and Las Lomas Road. Both galleries feature changing exhibits in the visual arts, such as photography, paintings, and sculpture. The UNM Art Museum, which features work from modern artists, also deserves a visit, and student admission is offered at a discount.
Students who would rather make their own art can visit ASUNM’s craft studio in the SUB, where, for $8, they have access to a full pottery and craft studio.
Tutoring —
Why pay for tutoring services when you can get them for free at the Center for Academic Progress and Support? The group is a University-funded organization that provides support in math, writing, foreign languages and science. CAPS also teaches students good study habits, different learning strategies to fit the individual, and test-taking techniques. Furthermore, CAPS offers online problem sets with solutions in multiple subjects, including math, science and art history. They also have an online writing lab where a student can submit a paper to CAPS and receive feedback in one business day. Finally, CAPS offers Supplemental Instructions, which are weekly reviews for various classes where students can compare their notes and thoughts on classes. These Supplemental Instructions promote a collaborative learning environment. Students should also be sure to check around campus for departmental study groups, such as the math table in Dane Smith Hall, which focuses on courses such as calculus and algebra.
Other Survival Tips — Don’t wander around the UNM Student Resident Centers. You will get lost. Watch out for long boarders, who have a habit of riding too close to pedestrians. Watch out for pedestrians when driving on campus because they rarely use the sidewalk, especially along Redondo Drive between the Coronado and Alvarado dorms. Get a free bus pass from the Lobo Card Office, on the bottom floor of the SUB. Get free tickets to Lobo games with your student ID. Eat at the Frontier at least once if you’re really going to be an Albuquerqueian. Always pick up the Daily Lobo. It’s filled with coupons, insightful and entertaining stories, and comics and sudoku.
