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Community meets to talk about plans for streetcar

Representatives from HDR Engineering discussed at a meeting Tuesday plans for a streetcar transportation system that would be operational by the end of 2009. Greg Payne, director of the city's transit department, said fares have not been determined. The streetcars would probably operate between 5:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., he said. The project would cost $28 million per mile, a total of $224 million and $6 million less than the Big-I, said Michael Riordan, a representative from the city's department of municipal development.

Daily Lobo spotlight

Rachelle Carreras Senior Secondary education major

UNM bombs test on sexual health

UNM is ranked 86th out of 100 colleges and universities for sexual health in a report by condom manufacturer Trojan. The schools were graded in seven categories, including the quality of the student-health Web site and the availability of condoms, contraception and STI testing. UNM received an F for condom availability. The UNM Student Health Center does not offer condoms for free. Students can buy condoms from the center's pharmacy. "We don't have unlimited condoms available at no cost, just because we don't have the resources to make that happen," said Dr. Beverly Kloeppel, director of the center. Student Kristi Achatz said condoms should be available for free. "A lot of college students are so broke that they might be stupid and still have sex without using a condom," she said.

Musician knows the score

Student Mark Oates said he had to do a lot of promoting to get his company, MarkMusic Production, off the ground. Now that it's up and running, he no longer has to work at Walgreens. He supports himself by composing scores for movies through the company, he said. The score is the background music in a movie that builds and fades, he said. A score is different from a soundtrack, which is a series of songs by featured artists, he said.

Prospective students visit UNM

Amanda Ridgeway, a senior from Los Lunas High School, visited UNM on Saturday to get information about attending the University and to learn more about its nursing program. "I really want to come here now," Ridgeway said. UNM Recruitment Services hosted more than 1,000 prospective students and their families on Senior Day to introduce them to life at the University. Student Shayla Armstrong, a recruitment specialist, said recruitment services has been on the phone taking RSVPs from prospective students and preparing for Senior Day over the last few weeks. "We had to make a whole bunch of those packets with lots of information for the students," she said. Each department had its own booth that provided information about UNM's programs, Armstrong said.

Regents announce search committee

UNM Regent Raymond Sanchez announced the members of the presidential search committee Friday. The 22-member committee includes nine faculty members, two students and one staff member. "I'm very relieved to have the committee put together," said Sanchez, chairman of the committee. "I'm very excited to begin looking for qualified candidates." Brittany Jaeger, ASUNM president, said she had mixed feelings about the composition of the committee. "I think that based on how many faculty people will be on the committee, they could have given another seat to a student," she said. Sanchez said he didn't know students wanted more than two seats. However, students' concerns will be given all the consideration they deserve, he said.

Student artwork shows off Hispanic heritage

Art exhibits give people a chance to understand artists' ideas, said Sonia Archuleta. Archuleta helped organize a student art exhibit for Noche de Extravaganza on Friday, the kickoff for the 2006 Hispanic Culture Festival. "You see the artwork, and you always have your own interpretation of what it is," she said. "But when you really get a chance to speak to the artists and see what the actual soul of the artwork is, it's very inspiring." Student Felix Hernandez displayed a collage of Hispanic culture called "Col¢r de mi Piel." Hernandez said his art will help people understand his culture.

Men's basketball free for students

UNM students will be able to go to Lobo men's basketball games for free this year. Tim Cass, senior associate athletics director, announced the free tickets on Thursday in the SUB.

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WebCT clickers met with mixed reviews

Faculty and staff discussed the benefits and drawbacks of using technology in lecture-formatted classes on Wednesday in the SUB. The discussion featured instructors from various disciplines, including accounting, physics, English and chemistry.

Site allows note sharing

UNM student Hung Truong said note-sharing Web sites can make college rewarding. "It helps the learning process to share your notes with your classmates and collaborate more easily," he said. "I think it makes for a better learning experience."

Life in the carnival

After Sunday, Joy Johnson will leave Albuquerque for Oklahoma. Four days later, she'll be in Dallas. A week later, it's Louisiana. By December, she will have traveled to seven states in four months. As a carnival worker, she's had the same routine for 21 years, but she wouldn't want an office job.

Project threatens local businesses

Some businesses in the Harvard Mall may be torn down to make room for housing and commercial development, said John Gates, who started a petition against the renovation. The historic spot of the city will be ruined and will only serve to bring fancy restaurants and rich kids into the neighborhood, said Keith Williams, a local resident and employee of Green Light Bistro. "It's a horrible thing - build more space for Nob Hill-style businesses to make more money," he said. "This spot is the heart of Albuquerque." Gates, a former UNM professor who lives on Harvard Street, said 478 people signed the petition. Megan Strom, a manager at the bistro, agreed. "Both the owner and myself are disappointed. It damages the business climate," she said.

Sigma Chi begins building bridges

John Dicks, associate director of expansion for the Sigma Chi fraternity, met with representatives from UNM's African-American community on Wednesday to discuss concerns about the fraternity returning to campus. "We had a good, healthy dialogue that will continue," said Scott Carreathers, director of African-American Student Services. The meeting was closed to media. Members of the Black Student Union, Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, African-American Student Services and African-American Studies participated in the discussion. Dicks agreed that it was a good meeting. Michelle Touson, president of Black Graduate and Professional Student Association, moderated the meeting. "People put out their concerns and the issues at hand," she said.

Q & A

This week, Time magazine ran a cover story called "What war with Iran would look like (and how to avoid it)." Noel Pugach, a professor at UNM who teaches a course about the United States' foreign relations, said Iran poses a threat to the rest of the world, but war is unlikely.

Faculty voices requirements for president

About 130 faculty members approved a resolution on Tuesday expressing their desires for University presidential candidates. The resolution will be sent to the Board of Regents.

Police trained for UNM shooting

UNM Police spokesman Lt. Pat Davis said the University is prepared to handle a school shooting. "Our officers are trained as first responders to any crimes of violence," he said.

Frat's return stirs controversy

Student Jay Tillman said he is not happy that UNM is allowing the Sigma Chi fraternity to return to campus.

Police investigate suspicious packages at Redondo Village

The Albuquerque Police Department's bomb squad investigated two suspicious packages under a vehicle Monday in the E parking lot near Redondo Village Apartments.

Supporters rally to defend lecturer

Chao Sio, a Kenyan lecturer at UNM, did not think she was doing anything wrong until Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents arrested her on Sept. 14, said her friend and co-worker Ann Githinji.