News

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.

Course takes positive approach to psychology

When Dr. Bruce Smith began teaching his Positive Psychology course in 2005 on a bi-annual basis, only about 30 people were enrolled. It wasn’t until 2011 that he began teaching the course every semester, and class sizes quickly grew closer to 200 students. The class was a hit, Smith said, and the numbers showed it. “People who had the class wanted to have another class,” he said, the high demand from students eventually resulting in the development of a Positive Psychology-themed lab and the installation of a curriculum.

ART aims to make travel easier for students as well as other citizens

The University of New Mexico’s Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) is working with Albuquerque to make transportation for students on and around campus easier and safer, as the city looks to break ground on its new Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) system in a few months. ART spokeswoman Joanie Griffin said the project will improve the bus system on Central Avenue. “With buses that come every seven minutes making it much more user friendly for the students at UNM,” Griffin said.

University improves discrimination reporting process

The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) is implementing new techniques and processes to speed up sexual assault and discrimination claims, as well as departmental investigations on UNM campus. Francie Cordova, director of OEO, said the previous method is not being abandoned, but rather modified to fit the needs of those experiencing injustice at the University.

Road renovations begin on Redondo Loop

A four-week project on Redondo Loop to make the road more suitable for pedestrians, motorists and bicyclists is well under way this summer. With temperatures at a high of 97 degrees on Thursday, construction workers took to repaving the road east of Johnson Field. The project, which involves patching of existing asphalt, concrete collar installation around utility valves, fresh pavement marking and sign enhancement is likely to be finished by the middle of July.

UNM engineering students take 4th in solar boat race championships

UNM engineering students made waves last week in Solar Splash championships, an international solar competition which took place in Dayton, Ohio. UNM's team, comprised of seven senior mechanical engineering students and one electrical engineering master student, and guided by mechanical engineering professor Peter Vorobieff, was founded this year and took fourth place overall in the competition over Father’s Day weekend. 

Monday on the Street: Beating the heat

How do you beat the summer heat?

Student dreams of colonizing Mars

From Mars to the moon and back, UNM student Zachary Gallegos has dreams of taking off. Gallegos is one of 100 candidates for Mars One, a nonprofit foundation that intends to establish a human colony on Mars by 2026. Gallegos said he has always dreamed of space exploration. He became a geologist because he figured there are different ways someone can become an astronaut.

Monday on the Street: Post-Orlando

What is the biggest takeaway from the Orlando shooting?