News

UNM and Innovate ABQ foster growth in entrepreneurs, creators

Albuquerque is undergoing the unheard-of by growing a rainforest in the heart of a city. However, instead of seeds, the Lobo Rainforest building will be a place for innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers to grow. The Lobo Rainforest is the first sequence of Innovate ABQ, the inspiration being the creation of a one-stop shop approach for companies, entrepreneurs and investors seeking to evaluate new technology and create new business opportunities.

Anderson introduces entrepreneurship to the classroom

UNM has unveiled a new class for students interested in entrepreneurship at Anderson. MGT 190 Intro to Entrepreneurship is being offered in response to the growing entrepreneurial movement and the small business boom across New Mexico. The course will present students with the tools to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship through the use of text as well as the voice of experience from other active entrepreneurs, predominantly students who have graduated from UNM.

Monday on the Street: Student Employee Raises

Do you think it’s fair that student employees cannot receive raises and what negative effect could that policy have?

New Mexico works on sexual assault evidence backlog

The Office of the State Auditor held a community meeting last week to discuss an initiative which aims for a way to test the more than 3,000 Sexual Assault Evidence Kits (SAK) in Albuquerque. With the oldest of the untested evidence kits dating back to 1988, the process of clearing the backlog began in December 2015, when the Office of the State Auditor helped state police to determine the inventory count of untested kits.

UNM not making the cut for its student employees

With the growing movement for a national $15 per hour minimum wage, now included in the National Democratic Party’s draft platform, the Daily Lobo investigates the current student employee pay, pay-scale, raises and minimum wage at UNM’s main campus. Biology HR Representative Emily Arzate said understanding how student employees are paid is complex.

UNM seal discussion continues with staff member input

Last week, the third in a series of public forums discussing the topic of UNM’s official seal was held on the second floor of the SUB. The forums are being held in an effort to gather input that would allow the Board of Regents to make an informed decision about the future of the controversial seal.

UNM fights for immigrants

The UNM Dream Team recently held a forum at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to inform the immigrant community about the Supreme Court's recent decision to bar expansion of pro-immigrant program. The result was a split decision specifically affecting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs, which would have temporarily protected parents and youth from deportation, while giving them the opportunity to apply for work permits, according to Dream Team Organizing Coordinator Estefany Gonzalez.

Column: Conservative response to Dallas shooting appalling

This week in Dallas, five police officers were killed and many more were injured as gun violence continues in the United States. The murder of the Dallas police officers took place Thursday night at a peaceful demonstration for the black lives lost in Minnesota and Louisiana earlier this week. The shooter said his actions were a result of police brutality towards black people, and he specifically wanted to kill white officers.

Community comes together in ceremony of light and love against violence

On Friday morning, members of the SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) and Generation Justice came together with Remembering Ancestors ­Inspiring Culture­ Empowering Self (RAICES) at Tiguex Park for a ceremony, at the end of a week filled with news of violence across the country. The gathering was the latest installment of the “Interfaith and multicultural project of standing together in light and love against violence and hate.” RAICES, a group dedicated to educating the community on traditional medicine, said that healing has been important in the region for generations, especially healing together as one.

Campus Briefs

Monday on the Street: Campus in the Summer

What is it like being on campus during the summer months?

Activists convene at UNM to protest police brutality

In the wake of this week’s police shootings resulting in the deaths of two black men that many across the country deemed as avoidable, dozens of demonstrators gathered to stage an anti-police brutality protest outside of the UNM bookstore on Thursday evening. After speakers spread messages encouraging community involvement, hope, unity and change, protesters occupied the intersection of Cornell Avenue and Central Drive for several minutes, bringing traffic to a brief standstill. 

Disorganization causes strife at UNM department

Professor Dirk Gibson has been a faculty member at the Communication and Journalism Department for 20 years. In that time, much has changed around the department, but very little progress has been made, he said. When he first arrived at UNM in 1996, Gibson said the department was “the neatest place.” His first year with the department was a time when scholarly giants roamed the halls, “and they acted like giants”, he said, referring to academic figures such as intercultural communication expert John “Jack” Condon, Jean Civikly-Powell, and former department chair, the late Everett Rodgers.

UNMHSC woes continue over alleged fetal tissue usage

The UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC) and the abortion clinic at Southwestern Women’s Options (SWWO) have been criminally referred to New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas after an investigation carried out by the Selective Panel for Infant Lives under The Energy and Commerce Committee. According to the findings of the investigation, SWWO and the HSC may have violated a federal statute through transfer of fetal tissue, specifically for valuable consideration; that is, any benefit, money or services exchanged in a contract.

Monday on the Street: Celebrating Independence Day

What’s the best way to celebrate Independence Day? Caroline C. Senior, Evolutionary Anthropology “For me, it used to be about fireworks and going out with family.

UNM alumna creates poetry contest with donation

UNM alum starts writing contest with generous donation. Karen McKinnon, a UNM alumna from the class of 1960, has donated funds to create a poetry competition that will be run by the English Department.  There will be a 1,000 dollar first prize, with second and third place prizes for 500 and 250 dollars respectively, McKinnon said.

Greek life on the rise despite number of abandoned houses

UNM greek life is on the rise, contrary to popular belief stemming from abandoned houses. The abandoned Greek houses on the Northwest side of UNM Campus have gathered a lot of media attention in the last few months, as they have endured vagrants, fire, and negative attention.

UNM takes far reaching strides against cancer

A new study by Anita Kinney, associate director at the UNM Cancer Center, finds over-the-phone genetic counseling for breast and ovarian cancer to be just as effective as in-person counseling. Kinney said over-the-phone genetic counseling empowers those at risk with life-saving information.

UNMH, hospital union negotiations end in walkout

Local representatives of the National Union of Hospitals and Health Care Employees walked out of negotiations with UNM Hospitals last Friday.

SWAT situation unfolds near University Stadium

A little after 2 p.m., UNM police distributed a LoboAlert warning of a situation involving the Sheriff's Department and a SWAT team near the University Stadium area. UNM athletics may use the fields during the summer, but it is not yet clear whether there were University athletes or personnel in the area at the time.