News

Feature Photo: A hero's welcome

Fox's commencement speech canceled

Vicente Fox will not deliver this year's commencement address at UNM. In a statement issued over the weekend, President David Schmidly said logistics problems and concerns about providing security for the former Mexican president led to the University canceling the event.

Web site tracks budget process

The UNM community can now keep up with developments in the state budgeting process through a Web site launched by the University. UNM's Budget Impact committee created the site Unm.edu/budgetimpact last week. The site features messages from President David Schmidly about UNM finances and will publish communications from the Roundhouse as information on allocations becomes available.

Auditor gathers information on UNM's finances

State Auditor Hector Balderas was on campus Thursday to speak to faculty, staff and administrators, taking the first step toward re-auditing the University. Balderas came in response to a motion passed at the Feb. 25 faculty meeting that requested an "immediate, independent, external audit to be conducted by a firm chosen by the State Auditor" to investigate how educational funds have been handled.

Faculty wants larger stake in governance of University

In light of their Feb. 25 no-confidence vote, faculty members are calling for a re-examination of the shared-governance model UNM uses for crucial policy decisions. Richard Wood, president of the Faculty Governance Committee, said his constituents would like to see faculty members play a greater role in decision-making in every aspect of UNM's governance.

Star of 'Rome' makes surprise visit to Classics class

Professor Monica Cyrino said it was a gift from the gods when she saw actor Ray Stevenson, from HBO's "Rome," in the security line at Albuquerque Sunport Airport on Tuesday. "I really want my students to think that I have deep Hollywood connections, but really it was fortune that my plane was late and I saw him and I said to myself that I had to approach him," Cyrino said.

Student vets react to Afghanistan surge

Andy Lilienthal was at ease as he sat near the Duck Pond on Wednesday afternoon. He even cracked a few jokes about his smile. But Lilienthal's tone quickly changed once the former U.S. Army sergeant began telling his story about his time in Iraq, where he spent just less than a year.

Question of the Week

What do you think about President Obama's plan to move troops from Iraq to Afghanistan? Ismael Pereira Junior Pre-Med "I don't think it's a good plan. I believe that they should bring them home. I wish they would stop the war and invest the money in the country instead of going to other countries and try to fix them.

Correction

Contrary to what was printed on Tuesday, the ASUNM bill proposed increasing the limit on campaigning funds by $100 for each office, not just for senators.

Increasing the odds for marrow matches

More than 6,000 people search for a bone marrow match every day, and the likelihood of success is low. "The chance of someone being a match is about 1 in 100,000," said Nawid Farhad, president of the UNM Afghan Student Association. Farhad said that inspired the ASA to host a marrow donor drive, in collaboration with the National Marrow Donor Program, on Tuesday and Wednesday in the SUB.

Boyar convicted of carrying firearm

Kevin Boyar, a student accused of bringing weapons into the dorms last year, was convicted earlier this week on one count of carrying a firearm on campus. Boyar and his attorney plan to appeal the decision on the grounds that Boyar did not know guns were not allowed on campus.

GPSA backs faculty's motions to improve admin accountability

GPSA has chosen to side with the faculty by voting to support the five motions passed at last week's meeting. In a council meeting Tuesday, GPSA members resolved to support the faculty's initiatives. "We want to support this and put strength behind it," said Becky Ellis, UNM graduate student.

Feature Photo: Putting it all together

Giving context to the paranormal

If you've seen ghosts, apparitions or UFOs, Ph.D. candidate Bill Dewan wants to know about it. Dewan is surveying UNM students about their experiences with the paranormal in an attempt to understand the cultural context behind such experiences. "Different people conceptualize the supernatural or the abnormal or the paranormal differently - individually, culturally, historically," he said.

Advising forum sees low student turnout

Students and administrators agree that UNM's academic advisement system is flawed, but few students showed up to Tuesday's advisement forum in the SUB. Sophomore Alison Gaik, one of about 35 students at the forum, said she wished more students were willing to express their opinions.

Question & Answer

Miguel Gandert has an exhibition titled "Sacred and Secular: Photographs by Miguel Gandert" on display at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center. Daily Lobo: What got you interested in photography and photojournalism? Miguel Gandert: Well, I started working on the yearbooks when I was in the seventh grade.

Audit request could be rejected

Construction of UNM's Rio Rancho campus began more than a week ago, and officials say work will proceed despite the recent revelation that state law requires off-campus facilities to be authorized by the Legislature. The University is backing House Bill 354, which asks the Legislature to authorize construction of the campus, an expansion of the existing West Side campus.

Rio Rancho project forges on

Construction of UNM's Rio Rancho campus began more than a week ago, and officials say work will proceed despite the recent revelation that state law requires off-campus facilities to be authorized by the Legislature. The University is backing House Bill 354, which asks the Legislature to authorize construction of the campus, an expansion of the existing West Side campus.

Lobos beat Utes for share of first place

On a night of lasts, the possibility of a first was born. For the first time ever, the UNM men's basketball team will have at least a share of the Mountain West Conference regular-season title. The Lobos have never won a MWC regular-season title, but they captured one in the WAC in 1994.

Danridge cleans up in last night at The Pit

In what was the game of the year for the UNM men's basketball team, senior Tony Danridge ended his Pit career on top. The senior finished the night with a career-high 29 points. "(It's) just a great way to go out," Danridge said. Danridge capped his scoring at the Pit with a final free throw with 6.