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News

Vet Center hosts first Suicide Awareness Day

Madison Spratto | September 10

The University of New Mexico’s Veteran Resource Center is hosting UNM’s first Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day on Sept. 26. Sept. is also National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. More than 41,000 people commit suicide each year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2015, New Mexico had the fourth-highest suicide rate in the U.S. according to the New Mexico Health Department.

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Red Rally showcases school spirit before NMSU game

Aaron Cowan | September 7

If you missed Zozobra or Burning Man, then you’re in luck. The University of New Mexico has a similar tradition during its 12th annual Red Rally Bonfire and Pep Rally, hosted by ASUNM’s Lobo Spirit Committee. This year’s rally begins at 8 p.m. Thursday on Johnson Field and will feature UNM’s Spirit Squad, Marching Band, members of the UNM football team and, of course, a 25-foot tall Aggie effigy to be burned to prep before the NMSU-UNM game.

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DACA supporters rally in response to Trump's actions

Alison Luttrell | September 6

Students, staff and faculty gathered together on the University of New Mexico’s Main Campus and marchedTuesday morning in an act of solidarity for fellow immigrant community members. After a weekend of rumors, President Donald Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program early Tuesday morning. DACA was implemented under the Obama administration and gives its recipients refuge from deportation and the ability to work in the United States. The deconstruction of the program will impact roughly 800,000 youth immigrants, approximately 8,000 of which are New Mexico residents eligible for DACA — 6,815 of the residents are already DACA beneficiaries.

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ASUNM begins year with budget surplus

Brendon Gray | September 6

A nearly $20,000 budget excess has returned to the Associated Students of UNM to finance items cut last year. The balance forward — totalling $18,877 — will be used to restore the funds of the ASUNM agency, Lobo Spirit, which hosts spirit events like this week’s Red Rally. The balance forward is paid for by a portion of extra money not used by ASUNM entities. Specifically, $11,196 is coming from the Southwest Film Center, $2,575 from the Elections Commission and $5,105 from Lobo Spirit itself.

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Hiring freeze puts pressure on UNM departments

Nichole Harwood | September 6

The University of New Mexico’s hiring moratorium has been ongoing since Sept. 2016 and has resulted in an elimination of vacant positions — causing concern for some departments. “Campus-wide, we have eliminated approximately 120 vacant positions since November 2016 through the hiring moratorium and vacant position review process,” said Kevin Stevenson, director of University HR business services. Feedback on the process addressed concerns from UNM departments and employees, who are continually being asked to take on more job responsibilities using fewer resources, impacting the University's current employees, Stevenson said.

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Former Lobo killed in shooting

Cameron Goeldner | September 6

Former UNM Football player Meiko Locksley, the son of former UNM head coach and current Alabama co-offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, was shot and killed in Baltimore, Md. on Sunday, Sept. 3. He was 25-years-old. Alabama head coach Nick Saban confirmed the news during his weekly press conference last Monday. Locksley was shot outside of his home Sunday night and found by a neighbor who was one of multiple people to call 911; the callers reported hearing a single gunshot just before 10:30 p.m.

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Despite prevention efforts, spam still plagues LoboMail inboxes

Brendon Gray | September 5

For many at the University of New Mexico using LoboMail, spam emails come with the territory. For Eden Vigil, a UNM senior, spam means “non-stop” emails asking for passwords or soliciting jobs. She receives as many as two emails daily. Often, the senders claim to be from UNM’s “IT Desk,” she said. Vigil is not alone. Though only five percent of the millions of daily spam emails make their way to student inboxes, the effect of spam is widespread.

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Brief: Students walk out in defense of DACA

Celia Raney and Celia_Raney | September 5

“The University of New Mexico supports DACA students, supports everyone who is on this campus,” said Chaouki Abdallah, University interim president at a Defend DACA walkout on UNM campus Tuesday. Several hundred students joined together Tuesday morning to show their support for immigrants, specifically those benefitting from the Deferred Actions For Childhood Arrivals program. Many students did not attend class, walked out early or were released by instructors who also wanted to show their support.

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Fall Sports Issue: Football ticket price drops for upcoming season

Cameron Goeldner | September 4

The UNM Football program announced during the offseason that it is lowering season ticket prices by 10 percent across the board in an effort to bring more fans into Dreamstyle Stadium. In addition, the program has announced single-game promotions for the year — this started with last Saturday’s game against Abilene Christian. "We are constantly evaluating ways to get more fans to come enjoy Lobo football, and we have a product that we are very proud of," former Athletic Director Paul Krebs said in a release at the time of the announcement.

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UNM names Nuñez as new Athletic Director

Gabriella Rivera and Cameron Goeldner | August 31

Eddie Nuñez, the Deputy Director of Athletics for Louisiana State University, has been named the 13th Athletic Director for the University of New Mexico, Interim President Chaouki Abdallah announced on Thursday. "We had a good search process that yielded three qualified and personable candidates," Abdallah said in a release. "We were looking for a leader who is dedicated to academic excellence, strong ethics, careful financial management and community engagement. The committee and I agreed that Eddie is the right person for this key position at UNM. Welcome to our Lobo family, Eddie.” Nuñez will replace Paul Krebs, who served in the position from 2006 until his retirement last June.

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UNMPD officer under investigation for alleged assault

Celia Raney and Celia_Raney | August 31

“Everyone was horrified, and none of us knew what to do,” said Lisa Chavez, associate professor at the University of New Mexico, after witnessing a UNM Police officer punch a woman while taking her into custody. A video originally posted to Snaphat using the UNM geotag seems to show a woman being punched and thrown to the ground by a UNMPD officer. The incident occurred around 12:40 p.m. near the bus circle on the north side of the Duck Pond on Aug. 25. UNMPD issued a statement Friday describing the progression of events.

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UNM rolls out its new logo

Ashish Khatri | August 31

This June the University of New Mexico launched a new logo, represented by the interlocking letters “UNM.” “The previous logo appeared on letterhead and on websites but was not sold more often at bookstores, neither appeared as much in T-shirts or caps,” said Cinnamon Blair, chief marketing and communications officer at UNM. “It’s about pride to wear the campus logo/mark and build recognition with the branding effort.” The previous logo was an image of Mesa Vista Hall with “UNM” written beside it. This version of the logo was created in 1989 for the University’s centennial.

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Honors College moving to make room for SHAC expansion

Nichole Harwood | August 30

A proposal this summer stated that the University of New Mexico Honors College would move their services to what is currently the University's Art Annex, which would allow the Student Health and Counseling to expand their services. Reactions from the Honors College and students who hold space in the Art Annex seem to indicate this plan seems to solve one problem while creating two more. “SHAC has occupied the same facility for over 50 years without any addition of space,” SHAC Director James Wilterding said. “Everyone agrees that expanded space is needed. The nature and type of the upgrade has been actively discussed for more than a decade.”

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LaPo ready for students to start digging in

Madison Spratto | August 30

Students got the chance to experience the newly renovated La Posada dining hall Aug. 30 at the University of New Mexico’s #EatLikeALobo Block Party and Grand Opening event. “Today we are excited to celebrate the upgrade of this dining hall in the heart of our student residential neighborhood” Interim President Chaouki Abdallah said. Abdallah said he was excited to participate in the grand opening event, because he understands that food service “plays an important role in education performance.” “(La Posada) is a space to foster inclusion in student success, and it’s a safe place for our campus community to study, collaborate and to nourish their minds,” Abdallah said.

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Crime briefs for Aug. 31

August 30

Battery at Casas Del Rio On Aug. 17, an officer spoke with a male student at the UNMPD station, because the student said another student was harassing him, according to a report. The male said he was attending an event at Casas Del Rio with his girlfriend when he saw another male student staring at him — the two males previously attended high school together in Gallup, New Mexico. The staring continued, even after the couple moved to different locations at the event, the reporting male said. The couple decided to leave, but the other male followed them when they walked outside. The reporting male said the other male approached them, kicked the reporting male in the leg and said, “You’re lucky I’m on probation.”

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UNM student in stable condition after Clovis shooting

Celia Raney and Celia_Raney | August 29

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Two people are dead and four others are injured after 16-year-old Nathaniel Jouett opened fire Monday afternoon at a public library in Clovis, New Mexico. The incident occurred at Clovis-Carver Public library just after 4 p.m. According to local law enforcement, two women were found dead inside the library — two men and two women were injured.

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Local organization offers help for immigrant women

Nichole Harwood | August 27

New Mexico Women's Global Pathways is a local grassroots mutual assistance organization, seeking to help refugees and immigrants through design and development of effective self-reliance programs that promote economic independence and independent living. The organization began in 2008 when several newly arrived refugees from Africa and Bhutan were finding jobs only to lose them within a few days, said Nkazi Sinandile, director and volunteer program coordinator. “As their economic situation became more desperate, we began to discuss ways to become self-sufficient but realized that we did not have the tools and did not know how to get resources from the community,” Sinandile said.

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Crime briefs for Aug. 28

Elizabeth Sanchez | August 27

Disorderly conduct, assault on a peace officer and battery on Lomas Blvd. On Aug. 4, a UNMPD officer heard a UNM security officer calling for help over dispatch, according to a report. Although the transmission was cut off, the UNMPD officer heard the location, 2000 Las Lomas Blvd. NE, and left to assist him. Upon arrival, the UNMPD officer saw a male leaving the area; the security officer said the male leaving tried to fight him and struck him with multiple rocks. The security officer said he was on duty, patrolling campus, when he noticed an individual sleeping on the sidewalk. When the officer woke him up, the male stood up, taking an aggressive stance and hitting the officer’s upper body with rocks.The officer blocked the rocks with his arm. The male threw rocks at bystanders as well.

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UNM gives back with new minor program

Madison Spratto | August 27

The University of New Mexico’s Community Engaged Learning and Research office is working with students to incorporate volunteering into class curriculums with hopes that students will gain a wide variety of benefits that come from helping the local community. “I think New Mexico has a really rich history of activism,” said Monica Kowal, the associate dean of CELR. Their efforts are focused on getting students to apply their knowledge from the classroom to a “high-needs area within the community,” Kowal said.

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UNM pres condemns Charlottesville, encourages peaceful discourse

Kelly Urvanejo | August 27

The events that happened at a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on Aug. 12, 2017 have initiated hate crimes around the United States, shocking and disappointing many Americans. “I was saddened and disturbed by what I read and watched on the news. What happened in Charlottesville brought back memories from my teenage years in Lebanon and reminded me of the thin veneer of our civilization,” said Chaouki Abdallah, President of the University of New Mexico. Members of the Associated Students of UNM were also shaken by these events.