News

Ethnic centers protected from cuts

While the 2009 New Mexico Legislature special session has yet to bear budgetary fruit, one thing is pretty much guaranteed: University presidents will have discretion in making the cuts handed down to them from the state. For UNM, this means that the University’s ethnic centers — including El Centro de la Raza, African American Student Services and American Indian Student Services — are going to be protected from any budget cuts, according to a statement from President David Schmidly. “We’ve asked for flexibility in dealing with the proposed budget cuts so that we can do what’s best for the institution as a whole,” Schmidly said. “UNM’s ethnic centers are vital to the success of our students and it is always our priority to preserve the programs that deal directly with student success.” Before the special session, the Council of University Presidents wrote a letter to legislators requesting flexibility in implementing the cuts the Legislature recommended. “Institutions want to control their own budget decisions,” the letter stated.

Heinrich stumps for flu prevention

Congressman Martin Heinrich was on campus Monday to meet with UNM health officials, visit the flu vaccination clinic in the SUB and discuss UNM’s preparation for the H1N1 virus. “I wanted to see the clinic here and see how they are handling the coordination between UNM-H, UNM and the entire campus community,” Heinrich said.

Symphony musicians: pay cuts sound wrong

Classical-music lovers may not see much of Popejoy Hall auditorium in the weekends ahead. The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra often performs at Popejoy, but since Aug.

Medieval Homecoming theme inspires events

Homecoming week has arrived, filled with festivities for the UNM community. The celebration will kick off Tuesday with a department-decorating contest.

Homecoming marked by alumni public service

UNM alumni have donated their time, money and cooking skills to kick off community service projects for Homecoming week.

Cancer treatment advances honored

UNM professor Shaung Luan has received the first-ever Qforma Lectureship award for making technological advances in radiology treatment that reduce the amount of time cancer patients spend in the hospital. Luan, an assistant professor of radiology and computer science, assisted in the development of two software programs to improve linear-accelerator-based cancer treatment, minimizing patient time in radiology machines.

UNM gets subpar 'green' grades

According to the Sustainable Endowments Institute, students need to do their part to make UNM “greener.” The institute released a Sustainability Report Card last week that gave UNM a “B” overall, but a “C” for student involvement. UNM’s overall grade did not change from last year’s report card, even though the University got lower grades in some categories.

Award-winning robotic research flies stateside

A pilot’s job might soon be a thing of the past, according to a UNM graduate student’s research.

Head coach locked out of next game

Thirteen days after UNM Human Resources launched an investigation into a Sept. 20 altercation between Locksley and Gerald, Athletics Director Paul Krebs announced that Locksley will be suspended for one game — UNM’s homecoming game against UNLV — after Human Resources determined UNM policies were violated. Locksley will be docked 10 days of pay, which is “in the neighborhood of $29,000,” Krebs said.

Columbus Day opponents push alternative holiday

About 50 UNM students from diverse backgrounds turned out Monday to show their support for Indigenous Day. Since 1934, the second Monday of October has been a federal holiday: Columbus Day.

Harassment charges withdrawn

Mike Locksley will probably take any victory he can at this point. While his Lobos are 0-6 on the field, Locksley was dealt a favorable off-field result on Monday. Locksley endured a very public battle after former administrative assistant Sylvia Lopez filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Later, it was reported by the Albuquerque Journal that Lopez said she was replaced because Locksley wanted “younger gals” in the office to entice recruits.

Indigenous Day attacks Columbus 'myth'

A group of UNM students would like to see Columbus Day traded for Indigenous Day. Native American Studies Indigenous Research Group will celebrate Indigenous Day for the sixth year today, member Dina Gillio said.

Question and Answer

Chris Wilson, chairman of cultural landscape studies at UNM, is the closing speaker at “Through the Lens,” an exhibit at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe.

Gerald takes steps toward resignation in fight aftermath

It looks like wide receivers coach Jonathan “J.B.” Gerald is on his way out of UNM. Athletics Director Paul Krebs confirmed Sunday that Gerald turned in his University-issued cell phone and car keys on Friday. Gerald has been on paid administrative leave since he filed a police report on the evening of Sept.

Knife-wielding Nixon reported near library

Once again, Richard Nixon is not a crook — only an alleged assailant. Student Chris Hannemann said that a little after 2:15 a.m.

Sukkot makes joyful noise

Hands clapping, voices raised in song, bongos pounding, guitars strumming open chords, tambourines shaking wildly — this was the opening scene of the Feast of Tabernacles at Olive Tree Messianic Temple on Saturday night. The Feast of Tabernacles, known as Sukkot in Hebrew, is a celebration that recognizes the 40 years the ancient Israelites spent living in the desert, according to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Web site (www.mjaa.org). The name “sukkot” is derived from the Hebrew word “sukkah,” which means booth or hut.

Question of the Week

Johnson Field used as landing site

Student Kimberly Metz awoke in her dorm to loud, frightening noises coming from Johnson Field early Monday morning. “I thought there was a giant lawnmower going off,” she said. “I was really freaked out, because I didn’t know what was going on.” A glance out of the window of her Redondo Village Apartment did not quell her fears, she said, as police cars were scattered over Johnson Field surrounding a helicopter. UNMPD spokesman Lt. Robert Haarhues said that Johnson Field is used as a back-up helicopter landing pad for the UNM Hospital if there are problems with the regular landing pad.

City Councilor sides with UNM neighbors on Master Plan

City Councilor Isaac Benton was re-elected Tuesday, and he attributes much of his success to his stance on the UNM Master Plan of Development. “I think that a lot of the folks in those neighborhoods (around UNM) recognized that I’ve been fighting for them, and they probably voted for me,” he said. Benton wrote a letter to the Board of Regents on Sept.

ASUNM senators want Locksley suspended

A resolution calling for the immediate, temporary suspension of head football coach Mike Locksley made it through the first leg of the ASUNM Senate on Wednesday. The undergraduate student government’s Steering and Rules Committee drafted a resolution concerning Locksley’s Sept.