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As student regent's term ends, potential successors interviewed

Nikole Mckibben | December 4

The search for a new student regent continues, as student governing entities have interviewed and selected potential candidates that they believed will be suitable for helping decide the strategic direction of the University, and also be the voice of the student body. “Student regent is the only member of the Board (of Regents) to walk, live and breath the UNM community on a daily basis,” said current Student Regent Ryan Berryman, whose term finishes at the end of the month. “It is vital to bring that grassroots perspective to the board.”

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NM Democrats high on chances of pot legalization

Brendon Gray | December 4

At the next general election, voters may expect to see a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, a long-gestating initiative that should gain some momentum following the results of Nov. 8’s local elections. With the newly-elected Democratic majority in both the New Mexico House and Senate, proponents of recreational marijuana predict certain proposed bills will get through the legislature at the next general session in early 2017. One bill was proposed by state representatives Bill McCamley, D-NM, and Javier Martinez, D-NM, at the special session called in September.

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UNM Regents to discuss possible suspension and termination of University president

Daily Lobo Staff | December 4

University administration announced Sunday afternoon that UNM Regents will meet in a closed session on Wednesday to discuss "whether to place President Robert G. Frank on administrative leave with pay pending completion of an internal investigation." The notice of the private deliberations also goes on to hint at a possible more ominous ending for Frank's tenure, stating that there will be "possible action" to provide Frank "with notice of proposed termination for just cause."

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Daily Lobo newsroom broken into, camera stolen

Daily Lobo Staff | December 2

The Daily Lobo newsroom was broken into sometime between 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening and early Friday morning, resulting in the theft of $700 worth of equipment. An individual or individuals entered the Daily Lobo – located in Marron Hall – through the window of the editor-in-chief’s office after breaking the window, causing glass to litter the room. The stolen items are a D300 Nikon camera with a 35-70 millimeter lens, a 2 GB memory card that was in the camera, and a camera bag that contained some microphone cables.

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ASUNM fails resolution calling for more options provided by Women's Resource Center

Denicia Aragon | December 2

The Associated Students of UNM failed a resolution that would have asked the UNM Women’s Resource Center to add options for pregnant students on their website. Before the resolution was brought to ASUNM Senate by its author, Sen. Sadé Patterson, she met with the Women’s Resource Center to see if the suggestion could be turned into an action. Not only was it viable, but WRC staff already implemented the changes before the senate meeting, updating the site with Patterson’s suggested resources to the Parenting Resources (Health and Wellness) section.

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Board of Regents ASAR committee briefs

Nikole Mckibben | December 2

ASUNM constitutional amendment gains momentum An Associated Students of UNM constitutional amendment was passed by the Board of Regents Academic Student Affairs and Research committee on Thursday that, pending full Board of Regents approval, will change the way spring elections are conducted. The proposed amendment would set the vice president and presidential election three weeks prior to the senatorial election.

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Art student brings comfort to campus with her mattress

Cathy Cook | November 30

With finals week approaching and the weather growing colder, it’s tempting to stay in bed. One UNM art student did just that on Wednesday, although she decided to bring her bed out into the cold. Grace Moreau, a senior fine arts student at UNM, brought her mattress to the center of Smith Plaza Wednesday for a performance art piece. Performance art is her focus as an artist, and the piece is for her Art and Ecology class.

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UNM group to begin well project to aid Bolivian communities

Nichole Harwood | November 30

Engineers Without Borders UNM, a chapter of the parent organization EWB-USA, will be receiving a $1,000 donation towards efforts in Bolivia to construct wells for impoverished communities. The donation comes from the AWMA, otherwise known as the Air and Waste Management Association. Santiago Trujillo, Chicana and Chicano Studies major and chapter president for EWB UNM this year, said his team will receive the donation after a presentation scheduled for Dec. 6. “What we're doing is giving the presentation on our chapter and project, particularly looking at our trip from last summer where a team of ours actually got to install a hand pump that was working for a community,” he said.

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Absence of Lobo Alert raises concerns

Nikole Mckibben | November 30

On Nov. 9 Daniel Arushanov walked into the Student Union Building with a loaded gun. A Lobo Alert was not sent out that day, although he was taken into custody, and is now banned from campus. The Clery Act states that alert must be sent out as soon as an immediate and present danger to students has been confirmed. “We have to verify there is a threat, there was no threat to the campus and no time to alert to what was going on,” Byron Piatt UNM Emergency manager said. Arushanov violated the law by bringing a weapon on campus, which is when the SUB manager made the call to the UNM Police Department, UNMPD Lt. Tim Stump said.

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New scholarships support Mexican students

Brendon Gray | November 30

Last week, funds were granted to UNM to support students of Mexican origin in pursuit of higher education. UNM President Bob Frank and Mexican Consul Efren Leyba signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony on Main Campus, representing a collaboration between UNM and the Mexican Consulate to provide for economically challenged students of Mexican descent. After the announcement, Leyba joined UNM Vice President of Student Affairs Cheo Torres in handing out checks from the IME-Becas Scholarship Program.

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Crime Briefs for Dec. 1

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 30

Criminal sexual penetration at Lomas parking structure On the evening of Nov. 20, an officer was sent to the UNMH triage area at 2211 Lomas Blvd. NE in reference to potential battery, according to a police report. When the UNMPD officer arrived on scene, a UNM Hospital security officer said a female arrived at the UNMH Emergency Room around 9 p.m. and was seen by a physician after claiming she was attacked at the Lomas parking structure. According to the report, she had injuries to the back of her head, her left ribs and pelvic area, the security officer said. He said she told the physician she was hit on the back of the head by an unknown person, knocking her out; she awoke on her stomach and with her pants around her knees, the report states.

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Despite general giving mood, problems persist for Albuquerque's homeless in winter

Sarah Trujillo | November 29

With the holidays in full swing and the sting of winter upon Albuquerque, many people are donating to charities and thinking of those less fortunate. However, for people in the city experiencing homelessness, winter conditions do not change problems they face year-round. “Especially when you’re sleeping overnight outside in the winter months, it’s very cold and that makes it very difficult,” said Lisa Huval, associate director of the Coalition to End Homelessness. “But really, the experience of being homeless is difficult throughout the whole year.”

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Leaders of new UNM fraternity highlight mission of diversity, service

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 29

For a year and a half, the Kappa Kappa chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity pursued philanthropic work as a non-chartered associate chapter by assisting La Posada, the Residence Hall Association, Carrie Tingley Hospital and local resource centers for disabled individuals. And there’s more where that came from, according to current chapter Archon Matthew Sanchez. Sanchez, a senior psychology and communication major, said the chapter was chartered in October, and in the spring members of its first class will be inducted.

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What ASUNM will discuss at Wednesday's Senate meeting

David Lynch | November 29

Several pieces of legislation will be presented at Wednesday’s Associated Students of UNM Senate deliberations, the final such meeting for the undergraduate student governing body this semester. Here is a rundown of the resolutions that will be discussed and voted on. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Lobo A&B room of the SUB.

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Lottery Scholarship funds heading south, students work on conveying impact up north

Sarah Trujillo | November 29

Thousands of college students across New Mexico utilizing the Legislative Lottery Scholarship might have to pay more to attend school next year, unless collaborative efforts between the state’s universities pays off in Santa Fe. The scholarship traditionally covers 90 percent of tuition, but due to legislative matters and other circumstances, this coverage will drop significantly. “That’s a difference between, annually, a UNM student paying $500 or $600 to around $2,000 out of their pocket a year,” said Nathan Cowan, executive director of ASUNM Governmental Affairs.

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Native American Studies Department continues growth with new degree program

Cathy Cook | November 29

UNM's Native American Studies Department may soon offer a new degree program focusing on leadership, self-determination and sustainable community building. Completion of the program would result in a master’s degree for students, professor Lloyd Lee said. “The jumpstart of that is our undergraduate program, but really with the master’s program we get to focus on that particular theme,” Lee said. “I think the courses that we’ve proposed, the curriculum outline that we’ve proposed, is very strong.”

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Campus Briefs for Nov. 28, 2016

Megan Nyce | November 27

UNM Professor Presented with Casimiro Legacy Award According to a University press release, A. Gabriel Meléndez, a UNM professor of American Studies, received the Casimiro Legacy Award at the Colorado Latino Hall of Fame gala event. The event was sponsored by the Latino Leadership Institute at the University of Denver, where the fellowship program honored the Latinos who have made an impact on Colorado’s economic, civic and political history, according to the press release. According to the press release, Meléndez was honored for his written works, which included an introduction about Casimiro Barela and other Hispanic biographical narratives.

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Risky drinking screening goes digital

Cathy Cook | November 27

If you visit the Sandoval Regional Medical Center in the next month, you may be talking to your provider about alcohol use via iPad. Since June, psychiatry professor Brandi Fink has been working with Mission Quest Biomedical to develop the Personal Alcohol Management System, an application created to improve the way primary care practitioners screen patients for risky alcohol use. “The World Health Organization, way back in 1979 said that it might be best if everybody would just screen and do a brief intervention for alcohol use in primary care,” Fink said. “So for decades this has been what we’ve been trying to do, but the actual implementation of it is really quite low.”

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UNMH's rural medicine program expands

Nichole Harwood | November 27

The School of Medicine’s rural healthcare initiative, Project ECHO, is being presented to the United States Senate on Tuesday in the hopes of having it implemented into the international health system. Also known as the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes, the project was started at UNM in 2003, with the goal of “dramatically increasing access to specialty treatment in rural and underserved areas.” Since then it has been implemented by 103 partners — 64 in the U.S. and 39 internationally.

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Banned man may have returned to campus

David Lynch | November 27

A 24-year-old man that UNM has banned for coming to campus with a gun and car with a trunk full of ammo a few weeks ago may have returned, according to one student on social media. The student posted on her Facebook account on Nov. 21 that a man who said his name was Dan – the man who was banned is named “Daniel” – entered her classroom “with no backpack or writing/school supplies.” According to the student’s post, no one in the classroom recognized the man, and he started to engage in activities that, according the student, the teacher of the class considers a “MASSIVE no-no.”