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UNM cancels large events over COVID-19 worries

Megan Gleason | March 14

The University of New Mexico has been canceling events frequently due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Some of these events include the cancelation of all Popejoy events until May 1, the cancelation of Fiestas, Farmworkers Awareness Week and the closure of the UNM Art Museum during spring break. UNM Housing recommended students stay off-campus during the extended break if possible. However, some resources will stay open on campus for the students that cannot leave, like Zimmerman library and meal plan options, both with limited hours.

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News

UNM apologizes for confusion over extended break announcements

Justin Garcia | March 14

The University of New Mexico apologized Saturday for confusion surrounding two messages regarding the extended break.  “Broadly, the spring break extension that was announced for students did not have explicit provisions for whether academic content would be available after March 23,” a press release said.  On Friday, UNM President Garnett Stokes announced UNM would extend spring break by two weeks, from March 15 to April 5. Stokes’ address didn’t mention coursework or class schedules. 

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News

Provost: Some classes will resume online March 23, before extended break ends

Justin Garcia | March 14

Though campus will be closed, some classes will resume during the “extended spring break,” according to a campus message from Provost James Holloway.  This latest announcement, released late Friday evening, comes as UNM scrambles to prevent the spread of COVID-19 onto Main campus. Earlier in the day, UNM announced it would be extending spring break by two weeks, from March 15 to April 5.  “You should be in contact with your instructors about their instructional plans for this period, as other forms of instruction may continue,” the Campus Communication said. Online classes will continue as normal, including the online second-half classes, according to the provost’s communication. 

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Culture

Zimmerman Library Women's History Month exhibit to remain open

Megan Gleason | March 14

As pieces of the University shut down, the Women’s History Month exhibit will remain open.  The University of New Mexico’s Zimmerman Library has been displaying an art exhibit “We Knew Exactly What You Wanted and WE. GOT. IT.” since March 2 and will continue through April 6 during regular business hours. On March 13, UNM President Garnett Stokes announced the University of New Mexico will be on an extended spring break until April 5 with limited University operations. Essentials such as Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), student housing and Zimmerman Library are expected to remain open.  This art exhibit is an educational timeline highlighting important women and movements in the women’s suffrage movement, in honor of Women’s History Month in March.

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News

UNM: Extended break will see ‘limited operations’ of staff

Justin Garcia | March 13

The University of New Mexico will reduce the number of employees on campus and instruct some staff to work from home — the latest measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. According to a press release from UNM President Garnett Stokes, staff will be notified Monday, March 16 if they will be asked to work from home.  “UNM employees are a critical and valued part of our community and will continue to be compensated during this period of limited operations,” the release said. 

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News

What we know about COVID-19 and UNM so far

Alyssa Martinez | March 13

The University of New Mexico will be on spring break until April 5, according to UNM President Garnett Stokes.  Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), Residence Life and Student Housing, La Posada Dining Hall and Zimmerman Library will remain open throughout the extended break, according to University officials.  Down south, New Mexico State University (NMSU) followed other campuses and extended spring break by a week to curb the spread of the disease while remaining open for those dependent on-campus services, which was announced on March 13. New Mexico Tech also extended their spring break until March 23. 

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Culture

UNM Uni Nights canceled

Loreena Cain | March 13

The University of New Mexico has canceled Uni Nights for the remainder of the semester due to growing concerns about the novel coronavirus at UNM and around the state. The last three Uni Nights of the spring 2020 semester — Disco Night planned for March 27, Plant night planned for April 17 and Late-Night Breakfast planned for May 10 — have all been canceled and are being rescheduled. The Student Union Building released a statement on Facebook that said, “The Student Union has postponed the remaining spring programs due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus until further notice.”

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Sports

Spring sports, winter championships canceled amid COVID-19 fears

Spencer Butler | March 13

The Mountain West Conference announced Thursday all spring sports and remaining Mountain West winter sports championships will be canceled due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. The cancelations follow the NCAA’s order to cancel all spring and winter events.  Cancelations include the 2020 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which were slated to take place at the Albuquerque Convention Center in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, this weekend.  The conference’s Board of Directors announced the decision shortly after the NCAA canceled all of its nationwide winter and spring championship events. The board had previously held these events to an “indefinite suspension” until March 12.

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News

UNM land will not be used for Gateway Center

Beatrice Nisoli | March 13

After weeks of debate, analysis and public comment-laden with controversy, the City of Albuquerque announced March 13 that the University of New Mexico has withdrawn its land from consideration for a possible Gateway Center location.  The lot in question is University property off of the I-25 Frontage Road and Lomas Boulevard and was among three finalists — the other two locations between the former Lovelace Hospital on Gibson and Coronado Park — that expressed interest in housing Albuquerque’s first-ever low-barrier, rehabilitative shelter to be open every hour of the day.  All three locations were considered due to their proximity to medical and transportation services as well as their affordability within the city’s $14 million budget approved by voters last fall.

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News

State high school basketball tournament continues without fans

Spencer Butler | March 13

THE PIT — The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) announced on Wednesday, March 11 that the state basketball tournaments would continue as scheduled, but without any fans in attendance at Dreamstyle Arena. The update comes in response to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's public health emergency declaration issued the same day due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Although many sporting events across the country have either been postponed or canceled entirely, the NMAA concluded after consultation with Lujan Grisham and recommendations from both the Departments of Health and Public Education that the tournament could continue at the Pit with only players and essential staff present. 

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News

UNM advises caution to students traveling over spring break

Joe Rull | March 13

With the extended break looming, UNM’s dedicated coronavirus webpage has updated its travel recommendations for students who plan to leave the state, stressing that students should “avoid spring break travel to areas with active community transmission of COVID-19”.  Following a New Mexico State University (NMSU) announcement Friday morning that its spring break would be extended to two weeks and the three-week closure of public primary and secondary schools throughout the state, UNM President Garnett Stokes followed suit, announcing Friday that UNM’s spring break would be extended through April 5. 

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News

UNM extends Spring Break to April 5 amid outbreak

Justin Garcia | March 13

The University of New Mexico will close for three weeks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to UNM officials.  Friday's announcement coincides with the tenth confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Mexico and national emergencies. While no cases have been confirmed on Main campus, UNM said the preventive measure was essential for preventing further spread of the disease. 

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News

COVID-19 pandemic may impact US census count in New Mexico

Lissa Knudsen and Alex McCausland | March 13

The COVID-19 pandemic may mean an even lower census count in New Mexico this year — which could lead to the loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding over a decade. In 2010, New Mexico was the second most undercounted state in the nation, according to outreach campaign NM Counts 2020. In a statement released on March 12, the Census Bureau said depending on future COVID-19 recommendations from public health officials, they may need to delay or discontinue nonresponse follow-up visits in particular communities but will attempt to adapt their operations to ensure they get a complete and accurate count.

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News

Faculty prepare as expectations rise to move classes online

Makayla Grijalva | March 13

As the number of COVID-19 cases increase in the state, University of New Mexico faculty have quickly adjusted and are beginning to move many classes to an online format.  On the morning of March 12, an All-Faculty message solidified that classes would not be canceled after spring break as of yet, but encouraged faculty to decrease in-person interactions. 

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News

ASUNM: Fiestas canceled

Justin Garcia | March 12

Fiestas, one of the largest and most expensive events on campus, has been canceled for 2020.   The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) announced the event’s cancellation over a press release Thursday. Student Special Events (SSE), the ASUNM entity that hosts the densely-populated event, canceled Fiestas because of the growing spread of the novel coronavirus.   According to the New Mexico Department of Health, there are six cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico as of March 12. Shortly before the fifth case was announced, the New Mexico Secretary of Health banned large gatherings over 100 people. 

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News

ASUNM approves fee raise after students reject first attempt

March 12

SUB — The undergraduate student government pushed through a $5 fee raise Wednesday that was identical to the proposal students failed at the ballot box just hours before. The fee raise, which would increase the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico $20 fee by $5, will appear on the April ballot for the senatorial elections. While a majority of undergraduates (56%) supported a 25% undergraduate government fee increase, the referendum did not clear the two-thirds majority required to raise the fee in the three-day election.

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News

MyUNM gets a facelift

Amanda Britt | March 12

Freshmen will be greeted by a new online landscape when they log onto their MyUNM account next fall. The MyUNM Student Experience Suite is projected to replace MyUNM for incoming freshmen students starting in the fall 2020 semester. The project will incorporate help from various student groups and resources on campus, including the Office of the Provost, the Division for Equity and Inclusion and UNM Information Technologies (IT).

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Culture

Tricklock kicks off international theater festival

Cameron Ward | March 12

DOWNTOWN — The Tricklock Company welcomed artists from around the world to come and perform during the annual kickoff party for the Revolutions International Theatre Festival. The kickoff took place on Saturday, March 7 at the FUSION Forum. Tricklock, an internationally recognized theater company, reached out to artists from the United Kingdom, Uganda, Nigeria, Finland, Poland, Germany, Somalia, France and Australia, as well as many artists from companies throughout the United States.

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Culture

De Anza Motor Lodge celebrates historic reopening

Megan Gleason | March 11

NOB HILL — The De Anza Motor Lodge officially reopened on March 10 at 3 p.m. after years of work and reconstruction. The resurrected De Anza Motor Lodge has been repurposed as an apartment complex styled to resemble the motel it originally was in 1939, when it was built by local trader Charles Wallace. Members of the Albuquerque political class, including Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Pat Davis and Deputy Cabinet Secretary Jon Clark, attended the reopening.

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Culture

Former UNM teacher honors wife with art display

Megan Gleason | March 11

GEORGE PEARL HALL — A "Death Self" poetry reading and art display at the University of New Mexico highlighted the works of longtime UNM Honors College faculty member Vincent Barrett (V.B.) Price and Rini Price on March 9. The event was held in the memory of Rini Price on what would have been her birthday and celebrated her various paintings in collaboration with her husband V.B.’s poetry. Paintings by Rini were projected at the exhibit while V.B. read poems from "Death Self" along with additional readers at George Pearl Hall. The print edition of "Death Self" was handed out for free at the event.