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SANE head defends background check policy

Matthew Reisen | February 23

Amidst criticism from advocacy agencies, the Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center is defending its policy of requiring sexual assault survivors to undergo background checks, or safety assessments as they are now called, before being treated by specially trained nurses and receiving other services that only they provide. Teresa D’Anza, program director at Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, said she agrees with the policy, and that it has never come up as an issue for those who come seeking services. SANE, which is housed within AFAC, provides important medical services to sexual assault survivors, such as rape kits used to identify assailants.

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'Black and blue' panel examines cultural rifts

Fin Martinez | February 23

In the wake of numerous deadly encounters between police and African Americans across the country, an intense national debate has been raging about the intersection of police brutality and race. Last week UNM students joined the conversation by inviting black police officers to share their experiences on the front lines of this battle. On Feb. 19 the UNM Black Student Union held a conference titled “Do You Know Your Rights?”, an event held in conjunction with Black History Month featuring a panel of African American police officers answering various questions about law enforcement issues and the difficulties of being both an African American and a police officer, or being “black and blue.” “For me, being a black law enforcement officer is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever faced in my life,” said officer Dajun Clark. “Just for the simple fact that when we walk into a room we don’t get the benefit of the doubt, and that’s one of the major things that I’ve noticed.”

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ASUNM puts Columbus Day decision on hold

David Lynch | February 20

Several impassioned students voiced their anger during Wednesday’s Associated Students of UNM meeting over the tabling of a resolution that would have encouraged the University to no longer recognize Columbus Day, and instead celebrate Native American resistance to colonization by the explorer. Emotions flared during the portion of the meeting devoted to comments from the packed gallery. Several students and some community members expressed their disappointment at the student governing body, hurling remarks such as “racist,” “evil” and “ignorant” at the senators and urging them to “change the damn name” of the federal holiday. Although members of the KIVA Club, which promotes Native American issues and identity, and other organizations criticized the student governing body for being ignorant, the backlash may have fueled by misunderstanding.

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Campus group celebrates gun rights

Marielle Dent | February 20

UNM’s Young Americans for Freedom rallied on Thursday to celebrate the recent failure of state legislation that would limit citizens’ access to firearms. The group also educated students on gun rights laws with the hope of gaining support for its organization. The Firearm Transfer Act, or House Bill 44, would have criminalized non-dealer firearm transfers at gun shows, according to the New Mexico Legislature website. The so-called “gun show loophole” currently allows any person to buy a gun from a private seller without undergoing a background check or being subject to other regulations.

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Lawsuit: UNM botched rape investigation

Thomas Romero-Salas | February 20

A former UNM student who alleged that two New Mexico football players and a third man raped her last April filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the University, alleging violations of Title IX regulations. The lawsuit states it is “arising out of alleged willful indifference of UNM in the manner in which it responded, or failed to respond, to her report of a gang rape on and near campus committed by UNM football players.” Crusoe Gongbay and SaQwan Edwards, who were UNM football players at the time, as well as CNM student Ryan Ruff were arrested on charges of rape, which was alleged to have occurred in Ruff’s BMW. The charges against the three were dropped on Aug. 12.

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UNM searches for better LGBTQI resources

Moriah Carty | February 19

New research on campus may widen UNM’s resources for a minority group – the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex community. Kristopher Goodrich, program coordinator and assistant professor of Counselor Education in the College of Education’s Department of Individual, Family and Community Education, is researching how to add diversity within counseling sessions at UNM. The program focuses on understanding the best ways to counsel LGBTQI individuals. People within the LGBTQI group are an important part of the community on campus, he said.

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Academic dishonesty not clearly defined

Moriah Carty | February 19

A college degree can mean the difference between earning a livable wage and living paycheck-to-paycheck — but that degree hangs on academic honesty. Syllabi handed out at the start of each semester often include some reference to plagiarism and the punishment that stems from such writing violations, but the boundaries of what is and is not academic dishonesty are still unclear. Each campus department handles possible plagiarism differently, said Robert Burford, student conduct officer in the Dean of Students Office. Some departments have a specified policy teachers should use. Others let faculty decide for themselves. No matter who makes the decision though, the policy should match up with UNM’s Academic Policy, he said.

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Online business offers coffee tree adoption

Sayyed Shah | February 19

For many people, the idea of getting coffee from their own coffee tree is a wild fantasy. But for customers at one student’s new online business, it’s a reality. At Apasionado Coffee, customers adopt a tree on the coffee farm and get specialty coffee straight from the adopted tree to their cups, said Emily Lilo, an associate scientist at the UNM Prevention Research Center and co-founder of Apasionado Coffee. The venture is one-of-a-kind and, Lilo said, completely sustainable – for every tree people adopt, farmers plant a second one to support conservation and reforestation of the cloud forests of Bolivia. “We are not a coffee shop. We skip the coffee shop and bring the coffee straight from our farm to your door,” she said. “Only members can get this coffee. It is exclusive access. Once you have adopted a tree you can order as much coffee as you want when you want it, roasted to your taste and brewing preferences.”

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Scams on UNM's international students on the rise

Sayyed Shah | February 19

Scams targeting international students are on the rise again, and the Global Education Office has alerted students not to pay any money nor provide personal information to anyone claiming to be a public official on the phone. Again this year, the international students at UNM and throughout the U.S. are being contacted by individuals claiming they work for U.S. government entities like the Internal Revenue Service, said Linda Melville, associate director for international student and scholar services for the Global Education Office. “The most recent reports involve individuals pretending to be IRS agents telling students that they have reported the student to Homeland Security and the Police Department. Students have also been told that if they don’t wire money immediately, they will be in trouble,” she said in an email to students.

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AIDS awareness seminar to offer free testing

Fin Martinez | February 18

As part of Black History Month, the New Mexico Department of Health is collaborating with UNM African American Student Services and UNM Black Student Union to take measures in aiding the prevention of HIV/AIDS and to educate the community about the virus. The two UNM groups will hold a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day seminar in the SUB on Feb. 19 where there will be educational presentations and talks from a panel of people who are living with HIV.

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Novel research techniques grow tissues

Lauren Topper | February 18

The science of tissue engineering — scientists growing new organs in a laboratory setting — is the type of futuristic technology most often seen in movies or TV shows. But it’s closer than one might think, literally; it’s happening right here on campus. Elizabeth Dirk, assistant professor in the department of chemical and nuclear engineering, is leading an interdisciplinary team in the Center for Biomedical Engineering, working to tackle several aspects of this complex science. In particular, her lab focuses on the regeneration of heart valves and bone tissue to replace current transplant options, such as biological, from a donor animal or human, or synthetic.

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Campus briefs for Feb. 18

February 18

UNM has partnered with Albuquerque’s Emerging 2030 District, a nationwide initiative formed to meet the urban sustainability standards set by the 2030 Challenge for Planning, according to a UNM press release. Albuquerque’s Emerging 2030 District is a private sector-led effort utilizing collaboration, incentives, shared resources and public-private partnerships to promote the development of high-performance buildings and a healthier, livable city of the future, the statement said.

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Surplus Property Department stores, recycles old equipment

Lena Guidi | February 18

In the old Elks Lodge building located on North Campus, a multitude of miscellaneous items are warehoused: computers, old CRT monitors, gym equipment, projectors, furniture, medical tools and framed posters. There are even oddities like a handmade globe, a mysterious medical instrument from the early 20th century and a baby dummy. This is where UNM’s property comes to die — or, ideally, to be resold to a different department.

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Q and A: Lack of international communication path to terrorism

Jonathan Baca | February 17

Dr. Emile Nakhleh is a retired Senior Intelligence Service Officer, a research professor and coordinator of national security programs at UNM, a National Intelligence Council/IC Associate and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has worked with the CIA as a senior analyst and director of the Political Islam Strategic Analysis Program. He is also the author of several books and articles, and has won several awards and accolades. As the White House prepares for a major summit discussing how the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, the Daily Lobo talked with Nakhleh about why people become terrorists, and what governments and communities can do to deal with the problem.

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Educators protest proposals in Santa Fe

Marielle Dent | February 17

Educators from across the state rallied at the Capitol on Monday to protest legislative proposals dealing with third grade retention rates, changes to the teacher licensure process and the proposed right-to-work law. Participants marched from the Santa Fe Railyard to the Roundhouse and weathered cold winds outside while multiple speakers rallied the crowd and encouraged them to visit their legislators’ offices inside. The “United Voices for Our Students” rally was organized by the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the National Education Association New Mexico, two groups that represent public education and higher education employees in the state.

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Retiring chair championed feminist perspectives

Marielle Dent | February 16

Karen Foss, chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism, will be retiring in August after having held various positions at UNM since 1993. Foss originally came to UNM from Humboldt University in northern California and worked as a faculty member until she became director of Women’s Studies in 1995. After two years she became chair of the C&J department and remained in that position until 2000, when she returned to being a faculty member. Two years ago Foss became department chair once again. “There has always been a nice community in C&J. I have enjoyed my colleagues, my graduate students and the opportunity to do administration,” Foss said. “It’s a different way to contribute than just being a professor or researcher.”

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Grad students help prisoner dads reconnect

Sayyed Shah | February 16

Graduate students at the Department of Communication and Journalism are collaborating with Fathers Building Futures, an Albuquerque business, to help felons integrate into their families after incarcerations. Tema Milstein, associate professor at the Department of Communication and Journalism, said the students from a PhD professional seminar class are collaborating with PB&J, a nonprofit organization working for the rights of children, and specifically with Fathers Building Futures. “This unit of the class in which we are collaborating is focused on using research and teaching to help bring about positive change,” Milstein said. “We really wanted to engage our graduate students, who are going to be future professors, in understanding how they can bring about positive change in their work.”

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No sunny retreat for Tent City residents

Moriah Carty | February 13

After a safe transition from one side of the street to an empty parking lot on the other, things seemed to be going well for Tent City’s residents. It looked like they had found a new place for their temporary settlement. But that changed when the owner of the lot withdrew his support for the new camp on Thursday. Initially, the Barelas Community Coalition came to a unanimous decision during an open meeting Tuesday night to allow the residents of Tent City to move their camp to an empty lot a few blocks south. The announcement was made Wednesday night, and was followed by a celebratory potluck provided by nonprofit group Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice.

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UNM student reports sexual assault

Jonathan Baca | February 13

The UNM Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly attacked a female student outside of Zimmerman library on Tuesday night, threatening her with a knife and attempting to unbutton her jeans. According to the UNMPD report, the victim was able to fight off her attacker by kicking him in the groin, after which he fled the scene in an unknown direction. The suspect was described as a white male, 5’6” in height, wearing a black hoodie. The victim did not know the suspect and was unable to give a better description of him, according to the report.

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UNM student becomes celebrity after 'Saul' debut

Fin Martinez | February 13

Early Thursday morning Sarah Minnich, a communications graduate student, watched someone taking pictures of her on the way to school. Later, she found herself tagged in that photo on Facebook. This was Minnich’s first paparazzi encounter. Minnich is an Albuquerque actress who appeared in the recently aired series “Better Call Saul.” She played the role of Brenda, the secretary of Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill law firm. Minnich’s role in the show, which is set and filmed in Albuquerque, had an almost immediate effect on her IMBD.com page. “Better Call Saul” was the most anticipated network show prior to its premier, which broke records as the most-viewed premier in cable network history with 6.9 million viewers tuning in, according to HollywoodReporter.com.