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Brain bee stresses education over competition

Lauren Topper | February 9

Twenty-five high school students competed in the state’s first New Mexico Brain Bee held at the Health Sciences Center, but only Taos High School senior, Alayna Barela, will move on to the national competition. The event, hosted by the UNM Department of Neuroscience, included guided tours of some of the UNM Neuroscience research labs, viewing and handling of real human brains and live EMG scans of each student’s brain. “We’re really excited because this is the first time that we’ve had a statewide Brain Bee in New Mexico,” said Dr. Jonathan Brigman, assistant professor of Neuroscience. “We’re excited to have support from the Brain and Behavioral Health Institute to send the winner of this statewide competition to the national competition, which is in Baltimore this year.”

UNM President Robert Frank speaks to the Board of Regents during Fridays meeting. According to Frank, UNM has made progress on 18 out of the 27 goals in his strategic eight year plan and completed four of them.

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Frank's agenda makes headway

Lena Guidi | February 9

UNM President Bob Frank gave a promising update on his strategic eight-year plan for improving the University during this month’s Board of Regents meeting. According to the presentation he gave during the president’s administrative report, UNM has made progress on 18 out of the 27 goals in the plan, and completed four of them. “There are a couple of places where we’re struggling,” Frank said, “but by and large we’re making excellent progress.”

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Sex assault survivors must undergo background check before services

Matthew Reisen | February 6

Survivors of rape and/or sexual assault are now required to have a background check before they can receive services from the Albuquerque Family Advocacy Center. The policy, titled “AFAC Safety and Security Plan,” states that “the client, and all those accompanying the client, will provide a name and date of birth for a background check in the NMJustice.org database.” It further states, “in cases where the client refuses to produce identifying information, the client will be directed to the appropriate off-site agency to seek the requested services.” The policy was created in 2007, but has only been actively enforced since November.

President of ASUNM Rachel Williams gives a speech during the Senate and Committee meeting at the SUB on Wednesday. ASUNM passed Resolution 1S declaring their support of Black History Month.

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ASUNM votes unanimously to support Black History Month

David Lynch | February 6

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico unanimously passed Resolution 1S at Wednesday’s senate meeting, declaring their support of Black History Month and campus events educating and informing students about African-American accomplishments and heritage. Sen. Rebecca Hampton introduced the legislation at Wednesday’s meeting, saying that the resolution goes beyond supporting Black History Month events. “It’s about celebrating the accomplishments that black people have achieved in their struggles, both historically and presently,” she said.

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Lobos lobby Legislature in session

Marielle Dent | February 6

ost people who watched Schoolhouse Rock as kids understand the basic process by which a bill becomes state law: the bill passes through the House of Representatives and the Senate committees, is voted on, and is then approved by the governor. UNM’s Office of Government Relations, however, is involved with the more nuanced process that comes beforehand to familiarize legislators with issues important to the University community. This office serves as the University’s lead representative and advocate with elected officials, and ensures that important issues involving UNM are on their agendas. As soon as the legislative session ends, Government Relations begins working with UNM groups to find the issues that matter most to the community for the next year’s session.

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Crime briefs for Feb. 5, 2015

Erika Eddy | February 5

Garcia’s Kitchen swindled  by fast talker On Jan. 16, UNM Police Department was approached by an employee of Garcia’s Kitchen in the Student Union Building in reference to fraud. According to the report, a customer paid for a Gatorade using a $50 bill. The customer asked for the $50 bill back, saying he did not want to use it for the transaction, confusing the employee. After the customer left the restaurant, the employee realized that she had returned an extra $50, saying that the customer was a quick talker and good at confusing her. The UNMPD officer later found a subject who matched the description of the customer at the Phillips 66 and Donut Mart on Lomas Boulevard. The officer approached the subject who had a wad of cash in his hand. The clerk of the Donut Mart said the subject had tried to swindle him after he received change from a minimal purchase. The subject repaid the $50 to Garcia’s Kitchen. The restaurant did not pursue charges against the subject.

News

STC takes inventions to market

Lauren Topper | February 5

New Mexico is one of six western states — the others being Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Idaho — calling for the transfer of federal public lands to state control. The bill introduced to the New Mexico Legislature this year is asking for an interim study commission to simply investigate the issue further. Mark Allison, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, spoke with the Daily Lobo about the debate surrounding the transfer of public lands. NM Wild is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Mexico wilderness.

Empty chairs occupy the SUB Ballroom on Monday for the second annual Battle of I-25 Blood Drive vs NMSU. United Blood Services has said blood donations from students have been lower this year compared to last year.

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UNM struggling to keep blood drive title

Sayyed Shah | February 5

UNM is falling behind NMSU in the second annual Battle of I-25 Blood Drive by a “large margin.” So far 166 people have donated during this year’s blood drive. United Blood Services officials said this number is much lower compared to last year, when a large number of Lobos donated blood. “We hope that blood donations increase in the coming days,” said Abraham Chacon, a regional donor recruitment manager for the United Blood Services, a non-profit community blood center.

News

Public Land debates addressed in bill

Marielle Dent | February 5

New Mexico is one of six western states — the others being Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and Idaho — calling for the transfer of federal public lands to state control. The bill introduced to the New Mexico Legislature this year is asking for an interim study commission to simply investigate the issue further. Mark Allison, executive director of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, spoke with the Daily Lobo about the debate surrounding the transfer of public lands. NM Wild is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Mexico wilderness.

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Campus Briefs for Feb. 4, 2015

February 4

Black History Month events scheduled Black History Month at UNM will include various events hosted by African American Student Services, Africana Studies and other student organizations.

Carl Agee holds up a meteorite from the collection at Northrop Hall. Agee is currently working on updating the Meteorite Museum for an April opening.

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UNM scientist studies the authenticity of meteorites

Lena Guidi | February 4

In 2011, Carl Agee received a rock in the mail from a meteorite collector in Morocco. At the time, nobody knew what it was or where it had come from. Even for Agee, director of UNM’s Institute for Meteoritics, the rock’s origin remained a mystery for quite some time. At the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, he tested the rock’s chemical composition, isotopic composition, and mineralogy to determine its makeup.

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Film center offers off-beat movies

David Lynch | February 4

Every week, some students make sure to catch a mid-week movie screening of a film they may have missed a few months prior, for only a few bucks at UNM’s theater. What many may not know about are the films offered by the Southwest Film Center, an agency of the Associated Students of UNM which bring relevant and diverse films, both old and new, to UNM for students to experience.

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School earns success with little resources

Lena Guidi | February 3

As one of the smallest academic programs at UNM, the School of Architecture and Planning always finds a way to make its limited resources go far in the community. Through projects such as CityLab, Innovate ABQ and the Design and Planning Assistance Center, SAAP’s faculty and students are able to work directly with the city to improve the built environment. SAAP has maintained a relationship with communities throughout New Mexico for 45 years, and Geraldine Forbes Isais, dean of the institution, said she is working to strengthen that relationship. Isais is responsible for setting a course for the school’s academics as well as overseeing projects such as CityLab.

Ben Studer, a senior in Family Studies, donates blood for the Battle I-25 Blood Drive vs NMSU at the SUB Ballroom on Monday. The blood drive event is in its second year and runs through this week inside the SUB and at bloodmobiles around campus.

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Blood drive rivalry between UNM, NMSU resumes

February 3

The second annual Battle of I-25 Blood Drive between UNM and NMSU has begun. During the week-long event UNM will try to defend its title. Last year UNM defeated NMSU by donating 402 units of blood compared to 283 donated by NMSU.

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City Council selects nine civilians for Police Oversight Board

Jonathan Baca | February 2

Albuquerque’s City Council has made appointments for the new nine-person Police Oversight Board. The nine appointees, who will have the job of reviewing complaints against the Albuquerque Police Department, voting on appropriate discipline for officers, and making policy recommendations, were approved in a unanimous vote on Monday night’s council meeting.

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Jack White graces UNM's Popejoy Hall

Matthew Reisen | February 2

Jack White is coming to Popejoy on Tuesday — arguably the biggest artist the venue has hosted in years — and the people who made it all happen couldn’t be more excited. Student Special Events booked White for a one-night concert in Popejoy Hall, a 2,000-capacity venue, only five days after the artist played a sold-out performance in New York’s Madison Square Garden, an 18,200-seat auditorium. “It brings Popejoy a whole new audience, it’s not a Broadway show at all,” said Emily Garrity, marketing director for Student Special Events.

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NM grads lobby Legislature

Marielle Dent | February 2

Students representing every graduate school in the state advocated for higher education and presented their research and scholarship to lawmakers at the Roundhouse on Friday. The first-time event was coordinated by the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans, and they intend for Graduate Education Day to become an annual event during the legislative session. Five UNM graduate students representing diverse fields displayed research projects. The Graduate and Professional Students Association representatives were present to further advocate for UNM’s many graduate programs.

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Proposed UNM center would aim to reduce child abuse in NM

Sayyed Shah | February 2

The New Mexico Legislature is considering a proposal to fund the establishment of a new center at UNM specializing in child maltreatment. Funding will allow the Child Abuse Response Team at the UNM Health Sciences Center to bring in staff dedicated to supporting the center and expand clinical services to better reach areas outlying the metro area, said Dr. Leslie Strickler, medical director for the Child Abuse Response Team and associate professor of pediatrics at UNM Children’s Hospital. “Our goal is to improve clinical care, education, advocacy and collaboration between all stakeholders and incorporate primary, secondary and tertiary prevention initiatives,” Strickler said.

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The Howl: Jan. 31, 2015 episode

January 31

The Howl is a weekly online newscast produced by the Daily Lobo. On this week's show: Brianna Serna talks with UNM President Robert Frank about the recent UNM Climate Assessment Report; UNM looks to reign in on campus smoking; The Cottages of New Mexico hosts a blood drive; Gov. Susana Martinez donates to the "Pink Pack"; and the UNM Women's Soccer team gets a new head coach.

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Sneakers suit VIPs' call for cancer awareness

Marielle Dent | January 30

On Monday New Mexico legislators joined with UNM men’s basketball coach Craig Neal to support “Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week,” an American Cancer Society awareness campaign. Gov. Susana Martinez and state lawmakers wore sneakers with their dress clothes to the Roundhouse to show their support for the nationwide event.