News

Budget Summit brings cuts, tuition increase

Crime Briefs

March 30-April 3 Two cars were burglarized on campus this week. One was parked in South Lot; the other was in D Lot, east of La Posada. A third car was stolen from the UNMH parking structure. March 31-April 4 Fourteen skateboarders were stopped and cited for unlawful use of public property this week.

News in brief

Alcohol-related deaths, ODs on the rise in NM ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Despite recent success in lowering drunken driving deaths, overall alcohol-related and drug overdose deaths are still rising in New Mexico, leading health officials to call for the state to expand its work to prevent substance abuse to save lives.

Construction of new rec center could raise fees

Students might see a $100 increase in student fees to fund the construction of an additional recreation center, said Kim Kloeppel, vice president for Student Affairs. Students voted to support the building of a recreation center on campus, according to a survey conducted in February.

University DWI program beefs up security efforts

UNM Continuing Education's DWI Education program has been working to improve security after a breach in 2007. The program - designed to educate first-time licensees in New Mexico about DWI laws and prevention - operates in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

ASUNM, GPSA list priorities

ASUNM and GPSA share a few initiatives they hope the Board of Regents will fund during the budget summit today. Tuition, scholarships and searching for alternative sources to fund University Libraries and bus passes are four issues the student governments addressed in their budget recommendations to the Board of Regents.

Lobbying Around

Department eliminates fourteen UNM recycling bins

Fourteen recycling bins were removed from the Student Family Housing complex and South Campus two weeks ago. All seven of the bins at SFH were removed, and seven of more than 100 bins were removed from South Campus. Serena Pearson, spokeswoman for Risk Management - which includes sustainability and recycling - said the bins were taken out to make the pickup route more efficient.

Dean aims for health care reform

Nancy Ridenour said the U.S. health care system needs to shape up. Ridenour, who was appointed dean of the College of Nursing this year, said the system fails to treat patients with chronic diseases and share patients' medical records with providers. She said it could improve by more effectively translating health care research into policy.

Get to know: Lissa Knudsen / GPSA Presidential Candidate

GPSA presidential candidates B. Lee Drake and Lissa Knudsen sparred during debates last week, so the Daily Lobo decided to sit down one-on-one with the candidates to talk about their platforms. GPSA elections are being held online through Thursday. Daily Lobo: What things happening around UNM made you want to run for GPSA president? Lissa Knudsen: I really feel like the fact that students' voices need to be heard.

Feature Photo: In 3D

University sets tobacco-free date

UNM will go tobacco-free on Aug. 1. That means no cigarettes and no chewing tobacco, except within designated smoking areas around campus, said Pug Burge, co-chairwoman of the Smoke Free Environment Committee. The committee has presented its revised campus smoking policy to campus groups, including GPSA and ASUNM, Burge said.

Disability-centered society comes to UNM

A new, exclusive student organization has joined campus. The Delta Alpha Pi honor society initiated its first members of the UNM chapter at a ceremony Friday. The organization recognizes the academic achievements of students who live with a documented disability and are proud of their academic accomplishments.

GPSA leaves 3 motions off ballot

Three motions were missing from the GPSA ballot when it opened Monday, and President Christopher Ramirez said the error was caused by a miscommunication between GPSA officials and Information Technology Services. The missing measures were a no-confidence vote in former Regents President Jamie Koch, a request for an external audit of the University's finances, and a request for the immediate reorganization of the decision-making structures at UNM.

Feature Photo: Taking it to the streets

Get to know: B. Lee Drake, GPSA Presidential Candidate

GPSA presidential candidates B. Lee Drake and Lissa Knudsen sparred during debates last week, so the Daily Lobo decided to sit down one-on-one with the candidates to talk about their platforms. GPSA elections are being held online through Thursday. Daily Lobo: What things happening around UNM motivated you to run for GPSA? B.

Mesa victims' families urge wider search

The flames of white wax candles flickered in the dark just 20 minutes from the site where at least a dozen people were buried in a mass grave. About 100 people held a candlelight vigil at Robinson Park on Saturday to honor the women whose bodies were found on the West Mesa.

Group may discontinue 'free stuff' events

The Free Stuff Guys, who have been out on Smith Plaza every Thursday for 2 1/2 years, might stop serving students. On April 2, about 40 students showed up to an event called Save the Free Stuff Guys at First Baptist Church on Broadway and Central avenues.

Staff looks for ways to avoid pay decrease

University employees have proposed alternatives that would keep them from having to give 1.5 percent of their paychecks to retirement funds. The 1.5 percent increase in employee contribution would be mandated if Gov. Bill Richardson signs House Bill 854 into law.

Question & Answer

Digital media artist Andrea Polli focuses her attention on the climate changes occurring around the world. Polli recently spent two months in Antarctica learning more about the situation. She began this semester as the director of the Interdisciplinary Film and Digital Media Program.