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What led to Trump's rise? UNM professors offer their thoughts

Nichole Harwood | November 22

Two UNM professors — from the departments of Sociology and Political Science — commented on Donald Trump’s historical rise to presidency and the factors which may have been involved in his victory. Peter Kierst, who teaches constitutional law and theory, said the Constitution is silent about political parties, but this election does raise two constitutional issues: the influence of “factions” and the use of the Electoral College. A faction is a group of people, part of either a minority or majority, who are animated by a passion which is contrary to the right of individuals or contrary to the public interest, Kierst said.

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State officials react to passing of bail reform

Brendon Gray | November 22

A proposed state constitutional amendment designed to reform the bail industry passed with 87 percent voter approval on Tuesday Nov. 8. For New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Daniels, the spokesperson and primary author of the amendment, the passage was a big win. “I was gratified to see such support for the amendment,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised because the vast majority of people who have studied this (amendment), without a personal financial incentive in the dysfunction of the system, supported it.”

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Native American Studies faculty find different rewards from work

Cathy Cook | November 22

With only six faculty members, UNM’s Native American Studies Department has a relatively small group of faculty, but their research subjects are many. Minthorn works for both the Native American Studies and Education departments and, ever since she came to UNM in 2012, focuses on leadership. She said her favorite class to teach is one she created, centered on principles of leadership in an indigenous context. “I think a lot of times when we’re taught about leadership it’s from a Western perspective, and so this class takes that away,” Minthorn said.

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Pathology professor, Innovate ABQ leader recognized as recipients of Presidential Award of Distinction

Daily Lobo Staff | November 22

In his weekly University-wide communique, UNM President Bob Frank announced this year's honorees of the Presidential Award of Distinction, recognizing a pair individuals who have made an impact in two very different facets of the University. Terry Laudick, one of the honorees, is currently the president and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union, according to Frank's communique, and also sits on the Board of Directors for STC.UNM, an arm of the University devoted to fostering local economic growth with the institution's involvement.

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UNM releases video highlighting University as a "culture of contrast"

Nikole Mckibben | November 21

The University of New Mexico is reaching out to prospective students by creating an authentic brand that administrators say accurately tells UNM’s story. “A lot of people who have never been here have a misperception of UNM and Albuquerque,” said Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair. “We want to show that it is a great place to be and to live.” The campaign recently released a roughly 90-second video, created in collaboration with marketing agency 160over90, detailing the advantages of becoming part of the Lobo community.

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Should the U.S. do away with the Electoral College?

Brendon Gray | November 21

The popular vote totals from this month’s election puts Hillary Clinton ahead of President-elect Donald Trump by nearly 1.8 million votes, according to the most recent estimates by the Cook Political Report. Trump dominated the Nov. 8 election with nearly a 60-electoral vote margin, according to estimates, while not all states have given official results. In the election aftermath there has been an uptick in conversations about the Electoral College, with some feeling the system is outdated.

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KIVA Club's long activist history

Johnny Vizcaino | November 20

What began in 1952 as a social club for Native American students at UNM, quickly evolved into one of the most politically active groups in New Mexico by the time the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak in the '60s. Kiva Club, a student organization meant to encourage community involvement in Native American issues, is steeped in a history of consistent activism. To many students, Kiva Club might best be known today for its ongoing campaign to abolish the University’s official seal — which it has called offensive — but this effort is just the latest in a series of social movements spawned by the group’s members.

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The effectiveness of political protests

Megan Nyce | November 20

When it comes to making changes in the U.S., most of the time it takes more than one person. Many drastic shifts in the past have resulted from individuals coming together to protest and convince others to help make desirable changes. “One of the purposes of a protest is that it is a public statement,” said Chris Banks, a local activist who helps organize major protests. “When someone goes to a protest, they’re overcoming disempowerment, and for the first time recognizing the power of the people.”

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UNM conservatives have mixed emotions on election

Sarah Trujillo | November 20

With the results of the election, Republicans now have dominance in the House, Senate and the Oval Office. The zeitgeist across the nation and here on campus has been a potpourri of varied reactions and emotions. In what may come as a surprise to some, Republican students at UNM are also experiencing ambivalent feelings.

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Monday on the Street: University seal decision

Matthew Reisen | November 20

What do you think of the University’s decision to not change the University seal, particularly during Native American Heritage Month?

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Audit finds budget shortfall in low-income healthcare

Sarah Trujillo | November 18

The Office of the State Auditor recently released a report with a special audit addressing healthcare for economically disadvantaged people treated at the University of New Mexico Hospital, UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, and services rendered by the UNM Medical Group. Indigent care is the collective term used to describe programs intentionally designed to provide healthcare to people who cannot afford it.

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UNM groups toast to improving public speaking skills

Brendon Gray | November 17

UNM houses two Toastmasters clubs that meet weekly on both North Campus and Main Campus. Established in 1924, Toastmasters is an international organization designed to help members develop public speaking and leadership skills. The organization has over 300,000 members with 15,000 chapters in 142 countries, according to its website. “On its surface it’s a public speaking club, and it helps people learn how to speak in public,” said Mandy Gardner, a Toastmasters member. “It teaches you so much about being your real self in the world and being a member of the community.”

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Cherry Reel Film Festival nearly doubles amount of submissions

Nichole Harwood | November 17

2016 marks the fifth year of the ASUNM Southwest Film Center’s Cherry Reel Film Festival, previously known as the UNM Student Film Festival, and it will be the largest yet after organizers received the most submissions the event has ever seen. William Martin Dole, executive director of the ASUNM Southwest Film Center, said the festival reached a total of 53 submissions this year, compared to 30 submissions last year and 11 from the year before. The record number comes as a result of hard work by the SWFC team to market the event, Dole Said.

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Muslim students more fearful now than after 9/11

David Lynch | November 17

This story is the second in a series on post-Election Day reactions from different groups in the UNM community. Serene Akkad was in disbelief. She feared how she, as well as other Muslim Americans, would be viewed after this. It was something unprecedented for her community, and the potential aftershocks could be devastating. There are two events now inked into U.S. history that this description could apply to. The first is September 11.

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Speak Now for ASUNM nearly sweeps senate election

Gabriela Garcia-Huff | November 17

On Wednesday, the Associated Students of UNM held its Senatorial Elections for the semester, as more than 1,600 undergraduates cast ballots for undergraduate student government leaders to represent them for a year beginning in the spring. A total of 10 Senate seats were up for grabs, with 36 candidates eagerly hoping to fill them, but it was the slate Speak Now for ASUNM that dominated the results. Eight of the 10 senators-elect were part of the slate. Elena Garcia, who organized it, said their success is the result of two busy weeks of preparation for the team, but she was happy with their overall campaign efforts.

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Hundreds march against hate crimes on campus

Johnny Vizcaino | November 16

Hate crimes are on the rise all across the country since the end to a turbulent presidential campaign last week, and now the nation’s students are taking action, including at UNM. In a stand of solidarity against hate, University students and faculty — along with other local citizens — took part in the national #OurCampus movement against hate by staging a national walkout on Wednesday. The event’s organizers called students to action by way of a nationally-distributed Walkout Toolkit, which lists organization methods, de-escalation tactics for demonstrators, and a list of goals and demands.

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UNM seal to remain unchanged for now

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 16

UNM will continue to see the controversial Spanish conquistador and frontiersman displayed on diplomas, official documents, offices, event backdrops and campus merchandise after Tuesday morning, when the Board of Regents announced that the University seal will not be changing any time soon. During the meeting, after listening to a presentation by Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Jozi De Leon, a unanimous vote approved two of six recommendations to eliminate the seal. The approvals: appointing an inclusive committee to determine how a redesign will be executed, and creating a cost analysis plan for seal abolition and replacement.

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Crime Briefs for Nov. 17

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 16

Crime Briefs for Nov. 17

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UPDATED: Man who came to campus with gun also had car full of ammunition

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 16

In an email sent out to all UNM students on Monday night, the University advised to keep on the lookout for a man who came to campus with a gun last week and was subsequently released from the Metropolitan Detention Center on Monday, according to the email. The man, Daniel Arushanov, is not a student, and is now banned from campus. He was also violating a protection order, according to the email.

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UNM sees slight increase in early voting turnout over 2012

Nichole Harwood | November 16

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office held early voting at UNM through Nov. 8 — the Saturday before Election Day — and this year’s results yielded more votes than the previous presidential election cycle. Joey Keefe, a public information officer at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office, said a total of 8,511 voters cast an early ballot at UNM, a slight increase from 2012 when just under 8,300 voted at UNM. The office’s voter outreach team held numerous events at UNM throughout the year to promote voting among the University’s students, he said.