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After travel ban, Iranian Student Association provides info to students at teach-in

Cathy Cook | February 9

There were more people than seats at an Iranian Student Association-organized teach-in Thursday to help international students understand the effects and status of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, as well as their rights and the work being done in Albuquerque to support them. Micah McCoy, the communications director for American Civil Liberties Union New Mexico; Linda Melville, a representative of the Global Education Office; and Sammia Assad from the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice formed the panel. Parya Nickbeen, a graduate student and head of the ISA, hosted the event.

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Local group meets, discusses ways to resist Trump

Celia Raney | February 9

Excitement, joy and applause sprouted from every corner of a crowded room where community members gathered with a plan of action: stop President Donald Trump. Founded by Barbara Lemaire, the Nob Hill chapter of Indivisible held its second meeting at local restaurant Canvas Artistry Wednesday evening. A nationwide organization founded by activists and former congressional staffers, Indivisible’s goal is to proactively resist Trump’s political agenda.

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HSC holds symposium on childhood adversity

Hannah Eisenberg | February 8

On Tuesday evening the Health and Sciences Center held a symposium to address the issues of childhood adversity affecting New Mexico. Dr. Andrew Hsi, professor of pediatrics at UNM’s medical school and a key figure in UNM’s fight against childhood adversity, walked on stage for his presentation with a large, black trash bag thrown over his shoulder. Hsi dropped the bag on the floor as he said that it was a visual presentation of the burden children and families carry with them after adverse childhood experiences. Being involved in the field of childhood and family adversity for over 27 years with FOCUS, a division of UNM’s Center for Development and Disability, Hsi knows the weight all too well.

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#YouAreWelcomeHere Campaign Embraces UNM’s Diversity

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 8

Lights. Camera. Equality. Yesterday, students, staff, faculty and community members gathered at the SUB Atrium, taking photographs and short videos, sharing pins reading “welcome” in various languages and creating a short film. This was part of an effort to appreciate diversity at UNM through the #YouAreWelcomeHere Campaign. Danielle Gilliam, the administrative officer at the UNM Global Education Office, said the #YouAreWelcomeHere Campaign has already been brought to over 20 other universities.

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HSC discusses plans to replace outdated hospital facilities

Nichole Harwood | February 8

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, the UNM Health Sciences Center Committee met with the UNM Board of Regents to discuss important agenda items, including the replacement of some of UNM Hospital’s outdated medical facilities. UNM Regent Marron Lee called the meeting to order and Chancellor for Health Sciences Paul B. Roth presented the plans for designing and building more modern medical facilities. To answer questions in regards to the strategy of the HSC, Roth presented the current conditions of the medical facilities, especially concerns about the amount of beds they currently hold and patients being transferred into, as well as out of, the current facilities.

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Q and A: Acting President Abdallah discusses recent controversies on campus

Sarah Trujillo | February 8

Chaouki Abdallah is the acting president of the University of New Mexico. Abdallah began serving UNM as Provost in July 2011, but stepped up when then-President Bob Frank was forced to leave his post. Abdallah sat down with the Daily Lobo to discuss the controversial events that have rocked campus recently.

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Crime Briefs for Feb. 9

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 8

Auto Burglary at South Lot On Jan. 30, an officer was dispatched to South Lot in reference to a potential auto burglary, according to a UNMPD report. An unknown caller reported that he noticed an individual break a window on a white Dodge truck, enter the vehicle and leave in a gray Toyota Corolla.

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UNM architects meet to discuss Smith Plaza renovations

Matthew Reisen | February 8

On Tuesday, University architects met with Associated Students of UNM Joint Council to talk about upcoming renovations to Smith Plaza, as well as get feedback. Amy Coburn, University architect and director of Planning, Design and Construction, said the renovation of Smith Plaza aims to create an outdoor space that promotes UNM as a destination university. “The new Smith Plaza will accommodate the diverse University community, by promoting a balance of social and academic activities and providing flexibility to allow for small and large gatherings that will encourage student engagement and connectivity,” Coburn said.

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HSC Brief: Some U.S. ethnic groups experiencing rise in premature death rates

Matthew Reisen | February 7

According to a UNM Health Sciences Center press release, a study of U.S. mortality data by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, the UNM College of Nursing and others has found that premature death rates actually rose for whites and American Indians and Alaska Natives between 1999 and 2014, and these disparities are growing. According to the press release, the increase is due largely to drug overdoses, alcohol-related deaths, and suicide, the study found it also parallels the rise in heroin and opioid use over the last two decades. While Improvements in diagnosing and treating chronic killers like cancer and heart disease have lowered death rates for adults under age 65 in this century, this doesn’t apply to all ethnic groups, according to the press release. 

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New archive developed by UNM doctor to advance precision medicine and drug development

Matthew Reisen | February 7

According to a UNM Health Sciences Center release, Tudor Oprea, a professor of Internal Medicine and chief of UNM’s Translational Informatics Division, and a team collaborators, have pulled back the curtain on an open-source archive for drug discovery, development and safety that is 20 years in the making. According to the release, the group recently published their work in the journal "Nature Reviews Drug Discovery." “This is a landmark paper,” David Schade, a distinguished professor in the UNM School of Medicine who oversees clinical research in the Department of Internal Medicine, was quoted as saying in the release. “Diseases that were not treatable 10 years ago are now treatable — that’s because of new medications that have been developed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.”

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HSC Brief: UNM neurologists study patterns of medication use for dystonia sufferers

Matthew Reisen | February 7

According to a UNM Health Sciences Center press release, a new study led by Sarah Pirio Richardson, a movement disorders specialist and assistant professor in UNM’s Department of Neurology, finds a surprising number of movement disorder sufferers don’t receive any treatment, while those who do don’t follow a consistent treatment regimen. People who suffer from movement disorders, called dystonias, experience painful involuntary muscle contractions that can seriously disrupt their lives, according to the press release. According to the release, in a paper published in the journal "Neurology," Pirio Richardson, who also heads UNM’s Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program, found that almost three-quarters of dystonia patients were on some form of medication.

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News Brief: Local optometrists support UNM's Biology Department

Matthew Reisen | February 6

According to a UNM newsroom press release, the Dr. William Jones & Dr. Siu Wong Biology Urgent Needs Endowed Fund, established by two local optometrists, will provide a scholarship for a full or part-time graduate or undergraduate biology student. Additionally, the endowment will help support student publication expenses, student presentation seminars, the department’s annual Research Day Lecture and may also help defray the cost of purchasing lab or classroom equipment as well as building repairs, according to the press release.

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News Brief: UNM alumna wins prestigious award after career in counseling

Matthew Reisen | February 6

According to a University release, Barbara Clark Diekman has received Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women’s prestigious Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award for her professional achievements. The Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award is presented annually to distinguished alumnae of Pi Beta Phi who exhibits “excellence and outstanding leadership” in service to their communities, according to the press release.

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News Brief: New Mexico institutions, NM State Library join forces

Matthew Reisen | February 6

According to a UNM press release, UNM, New Mexico State University and the New Mexico State Library are have partnered up for an effort to create a shared Regional Depository Library for federal government information in New Mexico. Federal depository libraries participate in the Federal Depository Library Program, which is administered nationally by the United States Government Publications Office, according to the release.

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Sports complex still in planning phase

Cathy Cook | February 5

UNM’s proposed entertainment complex project for South Campus — which officials previously estimated might begin construction this semester — is still in its feasibility phase, according to University Real Estate Director Thomas Neale. The entertainment complex was proposed in 2014 as a space for restaurants and live music to bring Lobo fans together as part of a broader effort by UNM to develop the area around University Stadium and WisePies Arena. The plans call for a 50,000 to 60,000 square foot building with 10 different restaurants and a live music venue, Neale said.

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Q&A: How institutions can help victims

Cathy Cook | February 5

Psychology professor Jennifer Freyd will be at UNM Monday at the invitation of Faculty for a Sexual Assault Free Environment and the Feminist Research Institute. Freyd specializes in betrayal trauma — when someone is traumatized after an incident involving someone they depend upon or trust — and will be talking specifically about institutional betrayal, when the perpetrator involves an institution. The Daily Lobo was able to talk with Freyd before her visit.

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What UNM can expect in 2017 from the DOJ investigation

Shelby Perea | February 5

The terms “Title IX” and “Department of Justice” have circulated the University of New Mexico’s classrooms, boardrooms and offices since the DOJ first began to investigate the University for its handling of sexual assault and sexual violence cases. That investigation has brought changes to policy and procedure. In October of last year, UNM announced they had reached a “formal three-year agreement” with the DOJ. Part of that agreement also outlined expectations for 2017-2018.

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Q and A: Legal discrimination then and now

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 5

The UNM Law School will host an exhibition, “Lawyers Without Rights: Jewish Lawyers in Germany under the Third Reich,” from Tuesday, Feb. 7 through Friday, Mar. 11. Dickason Chair and Regents’ Professor of Law Sherri Burr will be giving a presentation on opening night on the correlations between Jewish, black and current history. She sat down with The Daily Lobo to discuss her role in the event and why subjects like these should be examined.

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Monday on the Street: Hollywood and politics

Matthew Reisen | February 5

Should Hollywood and politics mix?

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Campus car thefts on the rise

Gabriella Rivera | February 5

Car thefts have been on the rise, both around the city and on campus. According to Lieutenant Timothy Stump of UNMPD, car thefts on campus have nearly doubled from 64 car thefts in 2015 to 124 in 2016. Albuquerque as a whole now has the highest auto theft rate of any city in the country, according to Yahoo Finance, with about 677 auto thefts per 100,000 people. “It is a big epidemic,” Stump said. “It’s one of our main concerns right now, it’s been mine for a while. We have to determine what we can try to do to deter this. All year long we're making these assessments and trying to figure out how to combat this.” Stump also said the thefts are sporadic, with no specific areas on campus being targeted. In addition, it is difficult to identify the crime because of how quickly thieves can break in.