News - The Daily Lobo

Provost Chaouki Abdallah listens to Sarah Nezzer as she asks questions during a conference held Wednesday afternoon at the SUB. The provost and President Bob Frank spoke to community members about the University's budget.

News

Budget in a precarious place

Sayyed Shah | February 29

Last week, UNM President Bob Frank informed attendees of a town hall that the University is facing budget cuts as a result of the recently-finished state legislative session, briefing a mix of students, staff and faculty on the tough competition for state dollars this year. “They have taken money out of our current budget and they also have cuts for the forthcoming year,” he said. UNM will receive a total reduction of 0.6 percent from the current budget, Frank said, meaning a total recession of $1.9 million dollars for the University.

News

Graduate study space opens in Zimmerman

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 26

The grand opening of a new commons area in Zimmerman library on Thursday kicked off a fresh opportunity for graduate students to exclusively utilize a quiet study space. Located on the first floor of Zimmerman, in Room 102 opposite the Learning Commons, the new space will be open during usual library hours, said Abigail G. Robertson, a graduate medieval studies student. Robertson is the incoming Graduate and Professional Students Association (GPSA) Chair of Media and Outreach. She said many factors - including the library's location at the center of main campus as well as availability of resources vital for graduate research - makes Zimmerman an ideal home for the Graduate Commons.

News

UNM to host FAFSA workshops

Matthew Reisen | February 26

According to a UNM Newsroom press release, several departments and programs at The University of New Mexico will be hosting FAFSA workshops leading up to the priority deadline of March 1. The Office of Admissions, College Enrichment Program, American Indian Student Services and El Centro de la Raza have each scheduled workshops during the month of February, according to the press release.

News

Fourth Indigenous book fest hosted by UNM

Matthew Reisen | February 26

The Institute for American Indian Research at the University of New Mexico hosts its fourth Indigenous Book Festival on March 3-4, celebrating the work of contemporary Indigenous poets, novelists, scholars and writers, according to a UNM Newsroom press release. This festival is supported by The Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies and through a grant from the New Mexico Humanities Council, according to the press release. Some activities for the festival include: a keynote address by Professor C. Matthew Snipp, film presentation of Mekko and 12 dialogue presentations featuring writers/scholars, according to the press release.

News

UNM department 'Open Houses' hosted by Student Affairs

Matthew Reisen | February 26

On March 3-4, from 9 to 11 a.m. or 2 to 4 p.m. 20 of Student Affairs’ departments and programs will open their doors to the UNM community to showcase what they do, according to a UNM press release “While our departments are always open to students and staff, the open houses will serve as an excellent way to get a more comprehensive look at what each department does,” Dr. Eliseo “Cheo” Torres, vice president for UNM Student Affairs quoted in the press release. “Each department will have someone on hand during their scheduled times to answer specific questions, provide informational brochures, and some will be offering refreshments, tours and prizes.”

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UNM listed in top group for Fulbright Scholars

Matthew Reisen | February 26

Six UNM faculty members are Fulbright Scholars for 2015-2016 and, according to a UNM press release, The University of New Mexico is ranked by the Chronicle of Higher Education as one the of research universities who produced the most Fulbright Scholars during the 2015-16 term. The Fulbright Program is considered the U.S. flagship international educational exchange program, according to the press release.

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HSC under lawsuit and subpoena over fetal tissue

Matthew Reisen | February 25

The New Mexico Alliance for Life filed a lawsuit, through its attorney, against UNM Health Sciences Center for withholding documents in regards to using fetal tissue for research. Elisa Martinez, Executive Director of the New Mexico Alliance for Life, said that the alliance requested documents from UNMHSC in accordance with the state's open records laws. The documents requested involved biohazard compliance and approval processes for research on human subjects.

Mary Leto Pareja, Frank Cardeza and Scott Woody sit and discuss law cases outside the Law School Wednesday afternoon. The trophies presented were awarded to Woody and Cardeza for best overall and best written submission in the J.D. division of the 15th Annual ABA Law Student Tax Challenge.

News

Two UNM students win tax law competition

Sayyed Shah | February 25

Two UNM Law School students won best overall and best written submission in the J.D. division of the 15th Annual ABA Law Student Tax Challenge held in Los Angeles. The students received first place in the oral arguments for their performance in defending their work product at the competition. They also won for the best written submission, which was decided before attending the meeting.

A memorial at Rio Grande High School made for Jacob Salazar, a UNM student who died in a vehicular manslaughter case in January.

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Drunk driver charged in death of UNM student

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 25

An Albuquerque man has been charged with vehicular homicide that resulted in the death of a UNM student. Jacob Salazar, a freshman mechanical engineering major on a full academic scholarship, was killed in January during a car accident while driving on Coors Boulevard and Las Estancias Court.

UNM Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Chaouki Abdallah scans through new modules created by the Institute for Design and Innovation. These new systems are geared to help students achieve their academic goals through intensive analytic analysis.

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IDI designs software to support students in NM and across the country

Matthew Reisen | February 25

The Institute for Design and Innovation recently unveiled some of the cutting edge work being done at UNM to increase student success in the long run. These developments come in the form of analytic tools, developed by IDI, working in conjunction with compiled data to present higher education outcomes. The tools have various functions across higher education and are meant for use by students, faculty, advisers, administrators and decision makers in NM.

A pro-Bernie Sanders hat adorns a statue near the SUB. Supporters of the democratic presidential candidate gathered to give out free hats, pins and stickers to students on Tuesday.

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Nurses for Bernie visit campus

Johnny Vizcaino | February 25

After rolling into town on the “Bernie Bus” provided to them by the Progressive Democrats of America, members of National Nurses United set up shop outside of the SUB this week. Only they weren’t selling things, they were literally giving them away. From beanies and buttons to bumper stickers endorsing democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, there was no shortage of Bernie-brand goods being distributed by the Nurses 4 Bernie in Cornell Mall on Tuesday.

Julia Ann Garcia, a nursing student at UNM talks about suicidal awareness at the Agora Crisis Center on Monday afternoon. She works for the center as a volunteer to provide help for the people showing suicidal tendencies or anyone who is in need of emotional support.

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UNM student lends an ear to people in need

William Longenbaugh | February 24

The Agora Crisis Center has a hotline that takes calls on issues like domestic violence, LGBT issues, rape and suicide. One of the people working for the crisis center hotline is Julia Garcia, a nursing student who offers time out of her busy schedule to help others who are struggling. "Through Agora, you do a month long training that is really intense, but only one day was focused on suicide," Garcia said. "So I did another set of training regiments to get the Suicide First Aid certification so that I could intervene in suicide cases."

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UNM professor visits D.C. as part of new cancer treatment consortium

Sayyed Shah | February 23

A UNM professor visited the White House to brief Vice President Joe Biden's staff on new developments in cancer research. Cheryl Willman, a distinguished professor of pathology and internal medicine at the UNM School of Medicine, was part of a five member delegation that visited Washington D.C. about the progress of The Total Cancer Care/Oncology Research Information Exchange Network consortium that spoke about advancements in the field of precision medicine, the importance of speeding up development of more effective personalized cancer treatments and the need for sharing scientific data.

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Award winning supervisor talks managing strategies

Johnny Vizcaino | February 23

The old adage "don’t take it personally" doesn’t resonate with Linda Schenkel, program manager for the Department of Psychiatry at UNM. And since she was recently named a recipient of the UNM’s Staff Council Outstanding Supervisor award, she might be on to something. Schenkel, one of 10 children and a mother of two, said she believes the most important aspect of supervision is the development of fair, personal relationships with each of her staff members. “It’s really important to get to know them,” she said. “Every employee wants to be heard.”

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No easy solution to stop school shootings, professor says

William Longenbaugh | February 22

On April 20th, 1999, in Columbine, Colorado, two eighteen year old high school seniors named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School and slaughtered 12 students and one teacher before killing themselves in a new, unprecedented kind of crime. According to an NBC report on 20/20 with Diane Sawyer that aired Feb. 12th, there have been upwards of 270 school shootings since Columbine, two of which occurred just this past month in Miami and Phoenix.

Mari-Fer Straits, age 6, writes on the floor during the anti violence rally on Sunday afternoon at the Civic Plaza. Straits, was one of the four Aztec dance performers from Circulo Solar Ollin Xochipilli that performed at the rally.

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Rally to promote unity draws hundreds

Johnny Vizcaino | February 22

Several hundred protesters gathered in Civic Plaza Sunday afternoon for an anti-hate rally promoting understanding and inclusion while opposing the political rhetoric of figures such as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Former Albuquerque City Councilor Rey Garduño contributed to the atmosphere of the demonstration, which was organized by the Albuquerque United Front Against Hate. “We gather here today not to bury (Donald) Trump, although we’d like to. We’d rather gather here to make sure that he and his reckless, hateful speech are buried forever,” Garduño said.

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Resource Center Fair will provide students with support and community

Elizabeth Sanchez | February 22

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) will be hosting a Resource Center Fair in the SUB Atrium on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. ASUNM Senator Sarah Moore, who sits on the Outreach & Appointments Committee and is project leader for the resource fair, said over the past few weeks she, along with other senators on the committee, has been coordinating the event with campus resource centers, SUB staff and ASUNM as well as spreading the word about the fair to other students.

Julia Grimes, director of child life at UNMH, talks to a donor on Friday afternoon. UNMH held their annual radiothon on Thursday and Friday to raise money for the children's hospital.

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Radiothon fundraiser brings cash to children's hospital

Denicia Aragon | February 22

This year marks UNM Children’s Hospital’s 12th annual Radiothon fundraiser, hosted by 100.3 The Peak, to raise money for the children’s hospital. The two-day event raises about $200,000 every year by broadcasting patients, families and medical professionals sharing stories of medical miracles that occurred at the children’s hospital.

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Monday on the Street: Is UNM a safe campus?

Matthew Reisen | February 22

Do you think UNM is a safe campus in terms of violence and, if not, what could be done to make it safer?

Greg Golden, student activities advisor for Greek Life, talks about the plans on renovating the campus at the SUB on Wednesday afternoon. Greek life is collaborating with the Physical Plant Development on a project to remove graffiti, clean up UNM-owned open spaces, collect recyclables and paint benches and crosswalks on campus.

News

Greek life to enhance campus beauty

Denicia Aragon | February 19

Greek life is switching its focus for community service day during Greek Week by teaming up with the Physical Plant Department to beautify UNM campus. "Community service will kick off the very first day of Greek Week right here at the University on February 20th. We are contributing the time and energy of about 200 students in the morning at the UNM campus. We are going to be removing graffiti, doing some mulching and some recycling projects as well," said Greek Advisor Greg Golden. The idea to bring Greek life's community service day to UNM came from brainstorming ways the volunteers could impact their community the most, he said.