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Constraints strain Cottagers' conduct

Erika Eddy | September 3

Student residents at the Cottages of New Mexico said they are unhappy with recent changes made by the property’s management. Residents of the housing development, which is marketed to college students, received an email over the weekend stating that each resident will be allowed to invite one guest at a time, and parties will no longer be permitted. Previously, residents could invite up to five guests and register a party with management that could run until 2 a.m. Brianna Gallegos, a junior multimedia journalism major, said living at the Cottages is different than she thought it would be since the implementation of the new rules.

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UNM could face fines for not complying with Cleary Act

Jyllian Roach | September 2

UNM could be looking at heavy fines if the Department of Education turns its eye on the University. According to an internal auditor’s report released in mid-August, UNM is “not substantially compliant” with the Clery Act, which requires schools to properly communicate and monitor campus safety issues. The school is working immediately to resolve the issues, said Deputy UNM Police Chief Christine Chester, who was also named interim Clery coordinator based on the auditor’s recommendation.

A row of bicycles sit parked at a bike rack on campus Tuesday evening. The UNM Police Department reported a 70 percent increase in bicycle thefts 2013-14 school year compared to the previous year.

News

Bicycle thefts on campus increase

Sayyed Shah | September 2

The number of bicycle thefts on campus increased by 70 percent during the 2013-14 academic year, the UNM Police Department reported. UNMPD and the UNM Global Education Office are trying to find ways to counter bike thieves operating on campus by employing random security sweeps, bicycle registration and increased outreach and awareness efforts. “From Aug.

Danny McCarthy, a senior dual major in art history and studio art, works on a project in the Fine Arts woodshop on Tuesday. McCarthy, along with other staff and students, has been affected considerably by the lack of funding to the Fine Arts department.

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Fine Arts lacking vital money for upgrades

Matthew Reisen | September 2

Facing aging equipment and leaky roofs, some professors in the Fine Arts department are struggling to help their students succeed with limited resources. Randall Wilson, a professor in the sculpture area, said equipment is severely outdated and money to fix the problems is just not arriving.

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UNM crime briefs

Erika Eddy | September 2

A skateboard, laptop, insurance card, scooter and camera were all reported stolen within two days last week. Aug.

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World briefs

Jonathan Baca | September 1

Ukraine NATO announced on Monday the creation of a “very high-readiness force” in response to Russian military aggression in Ukraine, CNN reports. The force will be part of a Readiness Action Plan designed to help allied countries respond to security challenges, in addition to dealing with Russia, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a speech.

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New UNMPD chief vows to rein in assaults

Erika Eddy | September 1

Lowering the number of sexual assaults on campus and improving general safety will be the new goals of the UNM Police Department. The department’s new chief, Kevin McCabe, said he hopes to accomplish these things by collaborating with the Albuquerque Police Department. “The focus is on the educational experience — to provide a safe campus for everybody that is a part of the UNM family: students, faculty and staff,” McCabe said. UNM hired McCabe over the summer to replace the outgoing police chief Kathy Guimond.

In an online video posted Friday, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry describes why he vetoed a five voter initiatives that, if pass, would have decriminalized marijuana and raised taxes.

News

Albuquerque mayor cans marijuana proposal

Tomas Lujan | September 1

On Friday Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry said he vetoed five voter initiatives because he does not want to approve the decriminalization of marijuana or raise taxes in Albuquerque. Berry exercised his veto authority on R-14-91 because of last-minute provisions added by the City Council that he said lack detail or circumvent state and federal law. “This is a bill that has the potential to raise the taxes of the citizens of Albuquerque without any clear or concise plan as to how those tax resources will be spent,” Berry said in a video posted to YouTube.

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The Howl: Aug. 30 episode

August 30

Check out this week's episode of The Howl, the Daily Lobo's online newscast.

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Voting on pot penalties in Berry's hands

Jonathan Baca | August 28

Mayor Richard Berry must decide today whether he will give residents the chance to to vote on decriminalizing marijuana in Albuquerque. On Aug. 18 the city council passed an election resolution of five ballot initiatives, including a measure that would decrease penalties for personal possession of marijuana under an ounce to a $25 civil fine. If Berry vetoes the resolution, all five initiatives would not be brought to voters on the upcoming November ballot.

The restrooms behind the locked door, at the bottom of this stairway at Hokona Hall will be renovated this fall. The new restrooms will feature new plumbing fixtures, partitions, hand dryers and trash receptacles.

News

Hokona's Cellar soon to get a facelift

Matthew Reisen | August 28

The Cellar recreation area in Hokona Hall may be getting a makeover for the first time in 40 years. The proposed budget, at nearly $400,000, will add 10 fixtures to the existing bathrooms, which will be the first improvements since The Cellar was established as a recreation area in the 1970’s, Chris Vallejos, Institutional Support Services’ associate vice president, said. The renovations would reduce wait times at the bathrooms in The Cellar, where two stalls each in the men’s and women’s restrooms serve about 750 people. But the project needs to be approved by the Higher Education Department, according to a memorandum submitted to the board of regents.

Sergio Jiménez ·

News

President Frank challenges Lobos to join cause

Daniel Montaño | August 28

Nearly $2,200 has been raised since President Bob Frank challenged the UNM community to donate to ALS research after taking the Ice Bucket Challenge on Wednesday. Frank took the icy bath with several other top UNM administrators in Smith Plaza in front of Zimmerman Library after being challenged by Mayor Richard Berry and head Soccer Coach Jeremy Fishbein last week, Ethan Rule, University marketing representative, said. Frank said campus administrators will collectively match the donations up to $1,000 dollars.

Kenneth Ellis, father of Albuquerque Police shooting victim Kenneth Ellis III, holds a photo of his deceased son at the office of Mayor Richard Berry at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Several relatives of people shot and killed by APD came to City Hall to call on Mayor Berry to cancel a police shooting competition taking place next month.

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Protesters object to APD shooting contest

Zach Case | August 27

Two upcoming shooting competitions are drawing community members’ interest, but not in a positive way. Protesters rallied at Civic Plaza Wednesday against the Albuquerque Police Pistol Combat Tournament and the NRA Police Shooting Championship. The tournaments, scheduled for Sept. 10-12 and Sept. 13-18, respectively, are co-sponsored by the Albuquerque Police Department and the National Rifle Association. David Correia, an associate professor of American studies at UNM, has been actively involved in recent protests against APD shootings and said he is a proud advocate for families affected by APD’s alleged use of excessive force.

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Lobo researchers make 'most-cited' list

Jonathan Baca | August 27

Three University of New Mexico researchers have been named among the ‘World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.’ XueXian Yang, Vittorio Cristini and Dr. Mauricio Tohen were recently recognized by Thomson Reuters on their list of Highly Cited Researchers. The list honored more than 3,000 of “the standout researchers of the last decade” from around the world in 21 different fields, according to ScienceWatch.com. “I think it’s a great pride for UNM,” Cristini said. “It’s about 3,000 researchers worldwide, in all disciplines of science, medicine, everything — and UNM has three of them. It’s pretty good, right?”

Sergio Jiménez ·

News

VIDEO: UNM president takes Ice Bucket Challenge.

August 27

On Wednesday morning, President Robert Frank and leaders at UNM took the Ice Bucket Challenge to draw awareness to ALS. Check out this video.

Mary Macias, a local farmer, sets up her produce early Tuesday morning at the Albuquerque Uptown Grower’s Market, located at Presbyterian Hospital. Macias and other vendors are part of an initiative to foster positive economic relationships between local buyers and farmers by accepting various modes of payments such as WIC, Senior Checks, EBT and Debit.

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Growers' Market sprouts love of produce

Daniel Montaño and Matthew Reisen | August 26

Low income students can double their money at a UNM-area market. Nancy Erickson, manager of Albuquerque Growers’ Market at Presbyterian, said her market price matches any EBT or SNAP purchases up to $20, doubling the amount of food those customers can purchase. The market, which is located in the Northeast corner of the Downtown Presbyterian Hospital parking lot, focuses on providing excellent food from local growers, she said. “I have a deep appreciation for fresh local food that goes back as far as I can remember”, she said. The market has been operating for three years, every Tuesday from 7 a.m.

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Union staff pay raise delayed by four weeks

Daniel Montaño | August 26

Union staff employees missed out on nearly four weeks of a pay raise, and UNM officials said Human Resources does not plan to reimburse the lost wages. All UNM staff members who are not a part of the union started receiving their raise on July 1, according to University officials, however because contract negotiations between the University and the United Staff at UNM were ongoing, union members were unable to receive the pay increase. All university staff members were guaranteed a 1.9 percent raise by the New Mexico legislature in February, and the Board of Regents voted to increase the raise to 2.5 percent in late March. Jeanette Albany, a union member and administrative assistant for the Communication and Journalism Department, said she contacted the staff council, the union and Human Resources after receiving her first reduced check and did not receive any explanation as to why her check was lessened. All she knew was that she did not receive her promised pay raise and was paying more in deductions, she said. “They were taking all that out, but we didn’t get our raise, so I got a net loss, a decline in my pay,” she said. Albany’s situation is not an isolated incident.

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Crime Briefs

August 26

Aug. 18-19 UNMPD detained two people at the UNM bookstore on separate occasions after the bookstore employees caught them trying to leave with items they had not paid for.

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Magazine gives UNM high marks

Daniel Montaño | August 25

UNM has been crowned the “king of graduate schools” for Hispanics in the United States, according to a recent ranking. Hispanic Business magazine ranked UNM fourth in business, sixth in engineering and 10th in both law and medicine in its annual list released this week.

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C&J platform buoyed by grant

Sayyed Shah | August 25

UNM’s Communication and Journalism department, in partnership with local media outlets, is using a $35,000 grant to create a platform where students can get their schoolwork published and read by thousands across the state. The department has established an online news portal called New Mexico News Port with the help of the grant.