As Israeli troops marched farther into Gaza, about 300 people marched through the streets of Albuquerque's Old Town on Saturday, protesting Israel's advance. The protesters began at the plaza and walked to the Museum of Natural History and Science, where speakers called for Israel's immediate withdrawal from Gaza.
The federal investigation keeping Gov. Bill Richardson from Washington could affect administrative work at UNM as well. On Jan. 5, Richardson withdrew his name from the commerce secretary post in President-elect Barack Obama's administration. He cited the federal grand jury investigation of $1.
President David Schmidly denounced the escalation of what he called the "us-versus-them" politics that have developed between faculty, staff and administrators, during a regents' meeting on Dec. 18. The meeting was held six days after the forum where Schmidly was booed while trying to address faculty, staff and student concerns about the University's finances.
At Friday's forum, students, faculty and staff told President David Schmidly he needs to pay more attention to their needs. Communication and Journalism chairman John Oetzel presented statistics about the number of faculty and students at UNM and said the ratio is burdening both groups.
UNM's new course-evaluation forms are getting mixed reviews from students and faculty. The ICES evaluation forms have been replaced by Individual Development and Educational Assessment forms, which are used at universities across the country. Sophomore Kelsey Carrillo said she remembers the ICES as a more effective way to evaluate courses.
President David Schmidly defended his fiscal decisions amid jeers from about 750 students and employees during Friday's forum on the University's financial troubles. The sound system failed repeatedly during the meeting, requiring speakers to shout their questions.
At the forum Friday, students and employees voiced concerns about the wide salary gap between administrators and faculty. Some asked President David Schmidly if he would take a pay cut and have his vice presidents do the same. Schmidly earns a base salary of $387,600, and UNM's 14 vice presidents make an average of more than $250,000.
The Anderson School of Management is starting a new master's program aimed at students who have an undergraduate degree in business. The Accelerated Master of Business Administration program is a response to a significant increase in the number of MBA applications at universities across the country, according to a news release from the school.
President David Schmidly's smoke-free initiative is in the beginning stages of implementation. Pug Burge, co-chair of the Smoke-Free Environment committee, said the group is giving the UNM community an opportunity to be a part of the process. The committee has scheduled two forums for February, she said, where the group will introduce ideas for what the smoke-free policy could look like.
UNM announced Monday night that finals scheduled before 10 a.m. Tuesday will not be held. According to UNM's finals schedule, this applies only to classes that met Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and had finals scheduled for Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. Finals set for 10 a.
Are you going to the forum in the SUB at noon on Friday? Gary Ferrell Senior History and Languages "Yeah, I'm going to do my best. I have a class till noon, but I went to the last one, and I'm sort of upset about what's happening. I think that the way the money's being spent is completely irresponsible.
We sat down with Marc Saavedra, director of Government Relations, to find out how the Legislature's budget will affect UNM's. Daily Lobo: What is the definition of "rescission," and what does it mean on a state level? Marc Saavedra: A mid-year rescission means an appropriation reduction to the state budget.
Students have circulated a petition asking the Communications and Journalism Department to offer an additional class in the spring because they will not be able to graduate on time without it. Student Krystle Archibeque signed the petition saying students ought to have the chance to take the class.
For Wayne Longknife, the holiday season isn't a time for celebration. Rather, it is a time of dangerous sidewalks and freezing nights, the same as any other. "Sorrow is basically a street man's life," he said. "Sorrow and sadness. But still, all I can do is adapt and overcome.
Staff and faculty are concerned about layoffs, despite assurance from the administration that no one will lose his or her job due to the economic crisis. "I spoke with Regent (Jamie) Koch and told him we were concerned about layoffs," said Loyola Chastain, Staff Council president.
Head football coach Mike Locksley helped guide the Fighting Illini to the 2008 Rose Bowl against USC, not the 2006 Rose Bowl. The error was made in reporting.
Students in UNM's Relay for Life organization are raising money for the American Cancer Society, encouraging their peers to help cure a disease that affects all walks of life. The Relay for Life event takes place in communities and colleges across the country, and UNM's chapter is hosting the Celebration of Hope Week in the SUB this week.
UNM's hiring freeze is putting pressure on departments such as English, Psychology, and Communications and Journalism, where faculty must cope with empty administrative positions that won't be filled anytime soon. The English Department recently lost its department administrator, who was promoted to another position.
The Lobo Spirit Club has set out to rethink the way UNM is perceived. The group began as a homecoming committee, but it has developed over time and started activities such as Red Rally, where club members create and burn a giant papier-mache NMSU Aggie. Junior Cate Wisdom, director of Lobo Spirit, said the club has steadily gained momentum.
Solutions by The State News
