by Caleb Fort Daily Lobo If the Fair Trade Initiative gets its way, UNM will join other schools around the country that sell only Fair Trade coffee by the end of the fall semester. Fair Trade coffee makes up 25 percent of the selection at the University.
by Karina Guzzi Daily Lobo Andre Picard has been attending the Gathering of Nations powwow since 1996. This year he came with nine of his family members, including 15-month-old William. "We came down in two cars," he said. As dancers from all over the United States and Canada filled the court during the Grand Entry, one proudly held up the red eagle staff. "It represents all our tribes and nations," said Picard, who belongs to the Nez Perce tribe from Idaho. "Red is a powerful color for many tribes." The Gathering of Nations is an annual event featuring a powwow, a Miss Indian World pageant and a trader's market. Thousands of people attended this year's gathering. Picard said some people make a living competing in powwows, but his family participates for fun. He said a lot of politics are involved when it comes to choosing the winner for the dance competitions. "Sometimes they'll win because everybody knows him or because he's a nice guy," Picard said. "That lady is dancing really well. She has nice clothes, but this one has a bigger name, so the judges will pick her."
NM tuition increases 30 percent in 4 years (AP) - Tuition rates at most of New Mexico's colleges have risen at least 30 percent since 2001, but they are still lower than the national average. "If we don't raise tuition, we've got a problem," said Jamie Koch, University of New Mexico regents president.
The Bread for the World organization set up a table in the SUB on Thursday to encourage passersby to do their part to end world hunger. The organization did not ask for cash donations. Instead it asked students to write letters asking Congress to support legislation that deals with hunger issues around the world. Sister MaryAnn Barrett, director of the Campus Ministry at the Newman Center, said handwritten letters are more personal than typed letters.
"Good idea, I think it should be stricter, since they're not really enforcing what we have right now. I think we need more support programs, like Safe Ride, to get people home safer." Vince Welke freshman "I think it's terrible. Even a drunk needs to get to work.
Desks, chairs, an immeasurable amount of beer bottles and a concession trailer have all been removed from the Duck Pond. "Everything that comes on campus has an opportunity to end up in the Duck Pond," said Gary Smith, who is the associate director of UNM's Environmental Services. Smith said one person is assigned to clean the pond daily. "We get a lot of debris," he said. Nicole Howlingcrane, an Albuquerque resident, said she brings her daughter AlizÇ to the Duck Pond almost every day. "She likes the ducks," she said, while watching AlizÇ play by the water. "I think it's kind of rude people throw things in there. Those ducks don't know (people) are contaminating their water."
by Katy Knapp Daily Lobo Mayor Martin Ch†vez is making it harder for people to drink and drive in Albuquerque. He signed a bill into law Wednesday that will require Albuquerque police officers to temporarily seize vehicles of drunk drivers on their first offense. Ch†vez stood in front of a display of dozens of photographs of victims of drunk driving in the Mothers Against Drunk Driving office. "Behind me in the black frames are Albuquerqueans and New Mexicans who are dead because of driving," he said. "White frames are people who were severely injured." He said until drinking and driving is no longer an issue, he doesn't foresee backing down. A lot of people ask Terry Huertaz if she wanted to be State Executive Director of MADD because she lost a loved one to drunk driving, she said. "I was a school teacher, and I had a student that was killed in a crash," she said. "So that's about as personal as it got for me, but that was enough."
by Phil Parker Daily Lobo Rivkela Brodsky is a junkie for journalism. She started writing when she was three and now - 18 years later - she's set to assume the editor in chief post at the Daily Lobo. The junior has been scheming for this position since she first came to UNM.
by Rivkela Brodsky Daily Lobo Student Family Housing rent is going up 4 percent starting July 1. But some residents say if rent is going up, they want repairs and renovations made to the building. "I don't mind them raising rent," resident Henry Jauregui said.
UCLA group develops treatment for cat allergies AMES, Iowa (U-WIRE) - A new treatment for cat allergy sufferers may be available in a few years. A team of six doctors at the University of California at Los Angeles has created a molecule, GFD, which combines the cat protein that triggers allergies with a human protein that stops the reaction, according to their research report published in medical journal Nature Medicine.
by Felicia Fonseca Daily Lobo UNM students in elementary and secondary education programs will be hit with changes in the fall. Supervisors will lose their jobs, and first-year and student teachers might be supervised by graduate assistants, many of whom have never taught in a classroom.
No, it's not Las Vegas. It's Casino Night at the SUB. "I think the whole casino thing is cool," student Jessica Gallegos said. She was playing roulette, adding she was at the table because she thought she could win the most there. "I'm about even," Gallegos said. "I'm looking to win." She said she likes to play games, but she isn't old enough to get into the casinos. "It's nice to have something to practice at," she said. She put a purple chip on black 14. The dealer at the table spun the roulette wheel. Red 32. "I lost," she said. "That's OK."
Saundra Brown-Savoy wants everyone to know she passed the New Mexico Bar exam. The highly paid lawyer resigned from her position as deputy counsel at the UNM Health Sciences Center on March 18. Brown-Savoy hired a public relations firm to send out a news release stating she took the exam.
April 19 UNM Police were contacted when roofing materials were stolen from the Child Psychiatric Center, according to a police report. A man at the work site told the officer a heavy "roofing roll" had been stolen. The man said it usually takes two or three strong individuals to lift a roll.
Six college students presented education reform policies to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish on Tuesday. The presentation was part of an Experiential Learning Community course that focuses on education policy training. Denish was invited to the class by the course instructor, Heather Balas, who is also a policy consultant for the government and nonprofit organizations.
by Paula Bowker Daily lobo Jackie Walker accepted the crown of Miss Indian UNM 2005-2006 with shaky hands and tears. "I'm was nervous," she said. "I didn't think I would cry." She said now that she has the title, she wants to travel to reservations to speak about education opportunities in New Mexico.
by Katy Knapp Daily Lobo Juan Guerra never went to school with white kids before eighth grade. He was raised in South Texas near the Mexican border. "Those kinds of experiences have led me to the idea that we lose a lot when we don't interact with different kinds of folks," he said.
U.S. says alleged Afghan drug kingpin arrested NEW YORK (AP) - A reputed Afghan drug lord who authorities say operated with the protection of the Taliban has been captured and faces charges that he tried to smuggle more than $50 million worth of heroin into the United States, authorities said.
by Caleb Fort Flowers with the message "God does indeed love you" were handed out to people attending a love fair at the Duck Pond on Saturday. Students from various Christian groups in Albuquerque handed out the flowers at the Love is Love is Love Fair.
Gov. Bill Richardson celebrated Earth Day by announcing a lawsuit against the federal government. "Today, the State of New Mexico is going to court to protect Otero Mesa," Richardson said. Richardson, with Attorney General Patricia Madrid, filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday to prevent the Bureau of Land Management from drilling in Otero Mesa in southern New Mexico.
Solutions by The State News
