Lobos Basketball Tournament

News

Retiring chair championed feminist perspectives

Marielle Dent | February 16

Karen Foss, chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism, will be retiring in August after having held various positions at UNM since 1993. Foss originally came to UNM from Humboldt University in northern California and worked as a faculty member until she became director of Women’s Studies in 1995. After two years she became chair of the C&J department and remained in that position until 2000, when she returned to being a faculty member. Two years ago Foss became department chair once again. “There has always been a nice community in C&J. I have enjoyed my colleagues, my graduate students and the opportunity to do administration,” Foss said. “It’s a different way to contribute than just being a professor or researcher.”

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News

Grad students help prisoner dads reconnect

Sayyed Shah | February 16

Graduate students at the Department of Communication and Journalism are collaborating with Fathers Building Futures, an Albuquerque business, to help felons integrate into their families after incarcerations. Tema Milstein, associate professor at the Department of Communication and Journalism, said the students from a PhD professional seminar class are collaborating with PB&J, a nonprofit organization working for the rights of children, and specifically with Fathers Building Futures. “This unit of the class in which we are collaborating is focused on using research and teaching to help bring about positive change,” Milstein said. “We really wanted to engage our graduate students, who are going to be future professors, in understanding how they can bring about positive change in their work.”

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Sports

Volleyball team adds sand to prove its grit

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 13

New Mexico’s newest sport makes for an enticing lure for potential recruits to UNM’s volleyball program. Head coach Jeff Nelson and assistant head coach Lisa Beauchene are heading the sand volleyball program, which Nelson has taken on in addition to his duties indoors. Beauchene said the sand play appeals to a broader range of potential players. “It’s a way for us to get an edge on some of the teams that are very good programs,” Beauchene said. “It really complements our weather here, and brings some interest from the northern states and the east where maybe they don’t have that opportunity.”

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News

No sunny retreat for Tent City residents

Moriah Carty | February 13

After a safe transition from one side of the street to an empty parking lot on the other, things seemed to be going well for Tent City’s residents. It looked like they had found a new place for their temporary settlement. But that changed when the owner of the lot withdrew his support for the new camp on Thursday. Initially, the Barelas Community Coalition came to a unanimous decision during an open meeting Tuesday night to allow the residents of Tent City to move their camp to an empty lot a few blocks south. The announcement was made Wednesday night, and was followed by a celebratory potluck provided by nonprofit group Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice.

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Opinion

Column: Judiciary can't work without proper funding

Chief Justice Barbara J. Vigil | February 13

Our courts require additional resources to meet the justice needs of New Mexico’s citizens. Each day, courts address the aftermath of strained social and economic conditions including crime, child and domestic abuse, and broken family and business relationships. Our independent court system also supports economic growth and investment by enforcing contracts and resolving business and property disputes. And it does all of this with less than 3 percent of the state’s overall budget. Inadequately funding the Judiciary undermines our ability to serve the public and fulfill our constitutional responsibility to provide fair, timely and impartial justice to all New Mexicans.

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Sports

Baseball: Lobos gear up for four-game weekend

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 13

Ray Birmingham isn’t afraid of constructing difficult schedules. In fact, the head coach of New Mexico’s baseball team often boasts about how difficult a slate the Lobos play. Another tough schedule is on tap for UNM this season, beginning with the Surprise Tournament in Surprise, Arizona this weekend. The Lobos will face Michigan State today, Northwestern on Saturday and Oregon State on Sunday and Monday. “Oregon State is the premier program in the country; they were number one in the country all year long last year,” Birmingham said. “That’s who we seek to play. We don’t have any protectionist scheduling here.”

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Sports

Men's basketball: Greenwood, Delaney light up in lackluster season

Kyle Tomasi | February 13

Some of New Mexico’s losses this year have looked downright ugly. There is one bright spot for UNM, however, and it starts with the team’s two seniors. Guards Hugh Greenwood and Deshawn Delaney are leading the team in scoring this season with 11.5 points and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Interestingly, both Greenwood and Delaney averaged more points per game through the team’s 10 losses this season than the 14 wins. Greenwood is averaging just 10.7 points per game in UNM’s wins this season, due in part to him sharing the ball a little bit more. He is averaging 3.5 assists per winning game, while only 3.2 in losses this year.

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Sports

Women's basketball: Height isn't everything

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 13

New Mexico has a tall obstacle to overcome in order to maintain the team’s winning ways. Nevada’s Mimi Mungedi, listed at 6’8”, is among the biggest players in the conference, and will look for success against UNM’s interior defense as the Lobos play host to the Wolf Pack. UNM is the hottest team in the Mountain West of late, riding a six-game winning streak and having won its past nine home games, while Nevada is coming off its first win in nine games. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said the Lobos will need to keep Mungedi in check in order to come out on top in Saturday’s game.

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News

UNM student reports sexual assault

Jonathan Baca | February 13

The UNM Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly attacked a female student outside of Zimmerman library on Tuesday night, threatening her with a knife and attempting to unbutton her jeans. According to the UNMPD report, the victim was able to fight off her attacker by kicking him in the groin, after which he fled the scene in an unknown direction. The suspect was described as a white male, 5’6” in height, wearing a black hoodie. The victim did not know the suspect and was unable to give a better description of him, according to the report.

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News

UNM student becomes celebrity after 'Saul' debut

Fin Martinez | February 13

Early Thursday morning Sarah Minnich, a communications graduate student, watched someone taking pictures of her on the way to school. Later, she found herself tagged in that photo on Facebook. This was Minnich’s first paparazzi encounter. Minnich is an Albuquerque actress who appeared in the recently aired series “Better Call Saul.” She played the role of Brenda, the secretary of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill law firm. Minnich’s role in the show, which is set and filmed in Albuquerque, had an almost immediate effect on her IMBD.com page. “Better Call Saul” was the most anticipated network show prior to its premier, which broke records as the most-viewed premier in cable network history with 6.9 million viewers tuning in, according to HollywoodReporter.com.

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Sports

Turnovers hurt UNM against CSU

Kyle Tomasi | February 12

The New Mexico Lobos dug themselves in too deep a hole on Tuesday night against a stingy Colorado State team. The Lobos dropped their third straight game of the season to the 70-59 at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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News

UNM crime briefs for Feb. 12, 2015

Erika Eddy | February 12

On Feb. 3, UNM Police Department was dispatched to the SUB in reference to harassment. According to the report, a student told police that a subject continues to flirt with her and constantly engage her in conversation. Also, the subject has reportedly showed up at the student’s work and asked her co-workers for her schedule. UNMPD has been asked to advise the subject to leave her alone and will be called the next time the subject shows up at the students work.

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Opinion

Letter: ASUNM license resolution disregards one side of story

February 12

The UNM Conservative Republicans are disappointed to find that ASUNM recently passed a resolution supporting the issuing of licenses to illegal immigrants. Last school year, our student organization showed documentaries with the goal of informing the UNM community of the economic cost of illegal immigration and the security risks of an open border policy.

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News

UNM Valencia to offer certificate in 3D printing

Matthew Reisen | February 12

UNM Valencia will offer a mini certificate in 3D printing, starting this fall, according to a Board Of Regents proposal. The mini certificate will encompass a total of 12 credit hours and meet industry needs, the document states. The classes included are “Intro to 3D Printing,” “Modeling for 3D Printing” and “3D Printing Project.” These courses will be offered at UNM Valencia in face-to-face lectures and lab classes. According to the proposal, students are required to pay a $25 lab fee that will cover basic equipment maintenance and upgrades.

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Sports

Women's basketball: Lobos dominate Colorado State Rams in MW

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 12

New Mexico earned a share of second place in the Mountain West with a 67-40 blowout over Colorado State on Wednesday night. The Lobos dominated in nearly every aspect of the contest to snap a three-game losing streak against the Rams. UNM is riding a nine game home win-streak and have won six straight overall. Senior guard Antiesha Brown said the team was confident in beating CSU, but said she had no clue the Lobos were going to trample the Rams by that much.

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Culture

Put a little love in the world

Skylar Griego | February 12

This week, Kyle Stepp, a junior organizational communication major, delivered baskets filled with toys, gifts and arts and crafts to the UNM Children’s Hospital. Stepp said he was diagnosed with stage-four osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in high school. He was given a 10 percent chance of living. In his three years receiving treatment from the UNM Children’s Hospital, he went through 98 chemotherapies and nine surgeries. “Sometimes we forget that right across the street there are 62,000 kids a year fighting for their lives. The least we can do is take the time to brighten up those kids’ days and show them Lobo love,” Stepp said. “A lot of these kids just want friends.”

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Opinion

Letter: Fewer cyclists would die if all obeyed traffic laws

February 12

I am not surprised that New Mexico has the dubious honor of being the second deadliest state for bicyclists. New Mexico’s rate of bicyclist injuries is 50 percent higher than the U.S. average. While both of these facts are troubling, I find that experts and public officials are placing much of the blame in the wrong direction. Officials state that primary reasons for the appalling number of bicyclist deaths and injuries are New Mexico’s high rate of substance abuse, lack of bike lanes and poor street infrastructure. In addition to the reasons listed, they also state a need to increase motorists’ awareness and understanding of motor vehicle laws pertaining to bicyclists and motorcycles.

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Culture

Poetry slams hit popular brewery

Moriah Carty | February 12

When ABQSlam poets perform, they do more than just speak; they pour their soul into a topic that is close to their heart. That’s what happened Tuesday night during Poetry and Beer at Tractor Brewing Wells Park. Damien Flores, slam master for ABQSlam, said Poetry and Beer night almost seems like a traveling act, having taken place at several different venues before closing down and moving to the next one. Most recently, the show moved from the now closed Blackbird Buvette to Tractor.

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News

UNM Arts and Crafts Studio creates student outlet

David Lynch | February 12

Art history majors go to class every day to perfect their craft for a prospective career in the field, but for those students who simply want to make some art on the side, ASUNM’s Arts and Crafts Studio provides the space and materials essential to creating masterpieces. Executive Director Helen Atkins said the studio, located on the bottom floor of the SUB, provides a creative outlet for students. “Not everyone has the ability, with their busy schedules, to set aside time or a space to make art that is important to them,” Atkins said. “We offer something that I think is essential. It’s really therapeutic and sort of meditative for students.”

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News

College legend passes away

Kyle Tomasi | February 12

College hoops lost a legend on Wednesday morning when former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian died at 84. The national championship-winning coach for the Runnin’ Rebels faced many years of battling health issues later in his life, including a mild heart attack in March of 2012. Tarkanian, known for his winning ways and always having a damp game-day towel handy to bite down on, took the Runnin’ Rebels to four Final Fours and won a national championship in 1990. UNM men’s basketball head coach Craig Neal had nothing but praise for Tarkanian. “His footprint on college basketball is always going to be there,” Neal said. “He did a lot of great things at UNLV and a lot of good things at Fresno. It’s just a sad day and he was a really, really good guy. He was a funny character and he did a lot of changes in college basketball and he did a lot of great things for our conference.”