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Program benefits freshmen research efforts

Elizabeth Sanchez | September 25

For the first time, UNM is engaging freshmen in research projects traditionally reserved for upperclassmen through the First Year Research Experience program. The program was formed via a collaboration between the College Enrichment Program, the Associated Students of UNM, the Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Student Fee Review Board. CEP Specialist and UNM graduate José Villar said the program was established to put new students on the fast track with experience.

Gernot Bankel, age 73, donates money to ASUMN Community Experience's Syrian Refugee Relief Fund on Thursday, September 24th. Bankel, who moved to the U.S. in 1952 after World War 2 identifies with the current situation in Syria.

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ASUNM agency seeking donations for refugee aid

David Lynch | September 25

A University organization is taking its mission of community service to an international scale by taking donations for Syrian refugees. Community Experience, an Associated Students of UNM agency, works to bring service opportunities to campus in the spirit of helping others, which is essentially the focus of their new initiative, said CE Executive Director Amelia Linde. “We’re the ASUNM organization that’s oriented towards both making UNM a positive experience for students, and doing that through getting people opportunities to reach out to the community, and to engage fellow students as well as make a difference in the world,” Linde said.

A UNM Police Department officer, Luis Santiago, demonstrates how students sit in the corners of buildings at night during ASUNM’s meeting Wednesday evening. Santiago talked about safety around campus, what students should and should not do.

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4 Things to know from the Sept. 23 ASUNM Senate meeting

David Lynch | September 25

On Wednesday, the Associated Students of UNM held their third full senate meeting of the semester. Here's an overview of what happened, including the introduction of two vital pieces of legislation.

Police officers exit the UNMH parking structure Thursday night after searching all of its floors. Officers were looking for two suspects who previously evaded APD with a stolen vehicle and hid into the structure.

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100-mph pursuit ends at UNMH parking garage

J.R. Oppenheim | September 24

A high-speed vehicle trek through the city ended at the UNM Hospital parking structure Wednesday evening, and two individuals have been taken into Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department custody. An unidentified male and female are now being questioned in the incident, which began at roughly 6 p.m. in the South Valley area when deputies responded to a stolen vehicle report, Sgt. Aaron Williamson said.

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University executes behavioral science ideals of executive order

David Lynch | September 24

Last week, President Barack Obama, via executive order, indicated his goal for federal agencies to utilize behavioral science research to a larger extent when developing new policies and programs. “To more fully realize the benefits of behavioral insights and deliver better results at a lower cost for the American people, the Federal Government should design its policies and programs to reflect our best understanding of how people engage with, participate in, use and respond to those policies and programs,” the executive order states.

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UNM professor awarded Fulbright exchange

Sayyed Shah | September 24

A UNM professor has been nominated as Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Water and the Environment at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. Reed Benson, Weihofen professor at the UNM School of Law, will conduct research, deliver guest lectures and mention students at “one of the Canada’s most influential research universities for the fall 2015 semester,” according to a UNM press release.

City Councilors Isaac Benton and Rey Garduno listen to public testimonies concerning legislations being proposed on Monday night Sept. 21, 2015. Benton and Garduno are strong proponents of the decriminalization of marijuana and passed a 5-4 vote in favor of it.

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Albuquerque City Council narrowly approves marijuana measure

Matthew Reisen | September 23

The Albuquerque City Council passed a bill to decriminalize marijuana late Monday evening, leaving the decision up to Mayor Richard Berry. The council voted by a 5-4 split on Ordinance 15-60, which makes one ounce or less of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia a civil infraction with a $25 fine and removes any potential for jail time. “It serves the public interest, it’s reasonable, elected and appointed government officials have a duty to serve the public interest and uphold the public’s trust,” Art Tannenbaum, an Albuquerque resident, said as he addressed the council on Monday.

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Officials: UNM already hitting goals outlined in governor's initiative

David Lynch | September 23

Gov. Susana Martinez visited UNM earlier this month to highlight her goals to get more college students graduating on time, some of which UNM has already undertaken. Forty-two percent (792) of students who graduated in 2013 took five years to walk the stage. Meanwhile, only 29.5 percent (569) of the 2013 graduating class received their degree four years after starting at UNM. Faculty Senate President Stefan Posse acknowledged that graduation rates are a key metric of student success, and that the senate is always looking for ways to increase the quality of education at UNM. “We have a responsibility to the people of New Mexico and to provide a high value education,” Posse said. “We’re engaged in a lot of processes ... to become an even more successful flagship institution in the 21st century.” UNM Regent Bradley Hosmer said the gears are already turning at UNM with some of Martinez’s goals, and have been for some time.

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UNM geochemistry professor receives National Speleological Society award

Denicia Aragon | September 22

Victor Polyak, senior research scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UNM, has been honored with the National Speleological Society Science award, according to a UNM release. Polyak received the award for his “dedication to the research of caves,” much of which includes published studies. He is currently the manager of the Radiogenic Isotope Laboratory. According to the statement, the award recognizes an NSS member who has shown impressive commitment to the scientific study of caves.

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UNM Students Attend Domenici Public Policy Conference

Denicia Aragon | September 22

Nine UNM students were given the chance to question top U.S public policy leaders last week at the Domenici Public Policy Conference hosted by New Mexico State University held at the Las Cruces Convention Center, according to a UNM release. Nineteen students from NMSU, UNM, Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico Tech and Western New Mexico University collaborated over the summer to develop questions to ask each speaker at the conference. For this year's event, the speakers included “former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt, former U.S secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, a former U.S ambassador to Syria, and New Mexico's current governor Susana Martinez,” according to the release.

Priscilla Mendoza (left) laughs with Mimmi Muleta while they separate rice in individual bags with other volunteers. Groups of students gathered in front of La Posada to volunteer in a food initiative that was designed to put together bags of rice and beans to give to the Road Runner Food Bank.

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UNM food initiative calls for volunteers to prepare community fare

Matthew Reisen | September 22

UNM held a food initiative on Monday to benefit local farmers and call for volunteers to help a good cause. Daniel Maldonado, marketing director for UNM Food, said the event, called the “Local Food Initiative,” was held from four to six on Monday afternoon in La Posada Plaza. UNM collaborated with La Montanita’s Co-op and Bueno Foods to provide donations to Roadrunner Food Bank

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UNM's BA/MD program a finalist for Examples of Excelencia Award

Denicia Aragon | September 22

UNM's School of Medicine is receiving national recognition for its work to boost Latino enrollment in higher education achievement, in addition to shedding light on the lack of physicians in New Mexico, according to a University statement. Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit organization created to advance Latino student success in higher education, nominated UNM’s Combined BA/MD program as a finalist for its annual Examples of Excelencia award.

The Interfaith Vigil for Immigrant Justice and Dignity walks along 4th Street to support four Albuquerque women who are attending a 100-mile march.

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New Mexico women join march for migrant recognition

Isaac De Luna | September 21

A group of locals is joining 100 migrant women as they set out on a 100-mile pilgrimage from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. in hopes of attracting the support of Pope Francis during his visit to the nation’s capital this week. With more than 100 attendees, El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos – a local grassroots effort that fights for Latino rights – organized a vigil in support of the four Albuquerque women who will be joining the march to amplify its message of justice, said Fabiola Bawden, one of the four women who will participate.

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Monday on the Street: Albuquerque transportation

Matthew Reisen | September 21

What do you think about the current public transportation system in Albuquerque, and how do you feel about proposed plans to change it later this year?

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UNM alum starts foundation with programs to help underprivileged

Sayyed Shah | September 21

A UNM alumnus has established a foundation to show solidarity with underprivileged communities, and to help reduce health disparities across the globe. David Ishmael, a political science and geography graduate and founder of the Ishmael Global Foundation, said that the organization is dedicated to three primary issues: health, sustainability and education. “The healthcare part of the organization will focus on oral health,” Ishmael said.

Demetrius Johnson and Cody Artis watering the cornfield.

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KIVA Club provides relief for mine spill victims

Marino Spencer | September 18

UNM KIVA club members distributed about 1,100 gallons of water and 100 cases of bottled water donations to Navajo Nation communities near the Four Corners area in an effort to ease the burden of an area affected by the Gold King Mine spill in August. Residents near Shiprock, NM affected by the spill, a disaster releasing three million gallons of contaminated water into the Animas River, face the decision of keeping off their irrigation systems, which could lead to crop failure, or turning them on, resulting in possible crop contamination. KIVA President Demetrius Johnson said the association collected water from several donors, exceeded their goal and needed at least four vehicles to haul the donations from Albuquerque to Shiprock on Sept. 5. Cody Artis, the public relations officer for the KIVA club, said they distributed donations to five families in the Shiprock and Aneth, Utah communities. Both towns are located near the Four Corners area, along the San Juan River.

UNM graduate student Cyler Conrad works to explore the relationship between climate change and prehistoric subsistence in mainland SE Asia. Conrad is a National Geographic Young Explorer who will be one of the speakers at Saturdays Young Explorer Grant Workshop.

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National Geographic offers grant workshop for hopeful researchers, explorers and conservationists at UNM

Elizabeth Sanchez | September 18

The National Geographic Young Explorers Grants workshop, which is being held this Saturday at UNM, aims to inspire future explorers, researchers and conservationists to use their program to see the world and share new discoveries. The workshop will cover all the ins-and-outs of the program via presentations by Young Explorers and National Geographic representatives followed by refreshments, allowing students to interact with National Geographic grantees and staff. The National Geographic Society’s (NGS) Young Explorers Grants (YEG) program, which has given more than 450 grants for work in 90 countries, awards individuals between 18 and 25 years old with some of their first fieldwork grants. Director of the National Geographic Expeditions Council and the National Geographic YEG Program Rebecca Martin said that the grants, offered year-round, focus on “research in social, natural and physical sciences; conservation of species, habitats, ecosystems and biological diversity; (and) exploration through expeditions, filmmaking, photography, arts, journalism, etc.”

Tia Reid, a CAPS tutor, helps a student at the algebra and pre calculus table on the second floor of Zimmerman Library. CAPS tutors are found at different locations on campus through out the week depending on time and subject matter.

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UNM's CAPS and CTE merge, offering new programs for students and faculty

Matthew Reisen | September 18

UNM has merged the Center for Academic Program Support and the Center for Teaching Excellence to form the Center for Teaching Learning, with the mission of helping students succeed through new methods. “Now we’re working together, because the bottom line is the exact same result: we want students to learn more,” said Aeron Haynie, CTL director. “We’ve got to teach faculty some things and we’ve got to empower students at the same time.”

The projected outcome of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit system on Nob Hill.

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Transport rep: Central project will improve commuter flow through city

Matthew Reisen | September 17

Albuquerque is seeking federal funding to build new transit infrastructure in order to help relieve an already overburdened system. The item proposed is a 10-mile bus lane down Central Avenue, from Louisiana Boulevard to Coors Boulevard. Dayna Crawford, deputy director of Albuquerque's transit department, said they intend to break ground in May and be in operation by September 2017.

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Athletics budget situation improving

David Lynch | September 17

Every year since 2010, UNM’s athletics budget has spent more than it has brought in, although its situation has improved as of late. According to University documents, UNM Athletics was in the red by more than $1 million in 2012. But by 2013 that number was shaved to $800,000, and was $23,000 last year.