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State high school basketball tournament continues without fans

Spencer Butler | March 13

THE PIT — The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) announced on Wednesday, March 11 that the state basketball tournaments would continue as scheduled, but without any fans in attendance at Dreamstyle Arena. The update comes in response to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's public health emergency declaration issued the same day due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. Although many sporting events across the country have either been postponed or canceled entirely, the NMAA concluded after consultation with Lujan Grisham and recommendations from both the Departments of Health and Public Education that the tournament could continue at the Pit with only players and essential staff present. 

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UNM advises caution to students traveling over spring break

Joe Rull | March 13

With the extended break looming, UNM’s dedicated coronavirus webpage has updated its travel recommendations for students who plan to leave the state, stressing that students should “avoid spring break travel to areas with active community transmission of COVID-19”.  Following a New Mexico State University (NMSU) announcement Friday morning that its spring break would be extended to two weeks and the three-week closure of public primary and secondary schools throughout the state, UNM President Garnett Stokes followed suit, announcing Friday that UNM’s spring break would be extended through April 5. 

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UNM extends Spring Break to April 5 amid outbreak

Justin Garcia | March 13

The University of New Mexico will close for three weeks to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to UNM officials.  Friday's announcement coincides with the tenth confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Mexico and national emergencies. While no cases have been confirmed on Main campus, UNM said the preventive measure was essential for preventing further spread of the disease. 

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COVID-19 pandemic may impact US census count in New Mexico

Lissa Knudsen and Alex McCausland | March 13

The COVID-19 pandemic may mean an even lower census count in New Mexico this year — which could lead to the loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding over a decade. In 2010, New Mexico was the second most undercounted state in the nation, according to outreach campaign NM Counts 2020. In a statement released on March 12, the Census Bureau said depending on future COVID-19 recommendations from public health officials, they may need to delay or discontinue nonresponse follow-up visits in particular communities but will attempt to adapt their operations to ensure they get a complete and accurate count.

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Faculty prepare as expectations rise to move classes online

Makayla Grijalva | March 13

As the number of COVID-19 cases increase in the state, University of New Mexico faculty have quickly adjusted and are beginning to move many classes to an online format.  On the morning of March 12, an All-Faculty message solidified that classes would not be canceled after spring break as of yet, but encouraged faculty to decrease in-person interactions. 

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ASUNM: Fiestas canceled

Justin Garcia | March 12

Fiestas, one of the largest and most expensive events on campus, has been canceled for 2020.   The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) announced the event’s cancellation over a press release Thursday. Student Special Events (SSE), the ASUNM entity that hosts the densely-populated event, canceled Fiestas because of the growing spread of the novel coronavirus.   According to the New Mexico Department of Health, there are six cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico as of March 12. Shortly before the fifth case was announced, the New Mexico Secretary of Health banned large gatherings over 100 people. 

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ASUNM approves fee raise after students reject first attempt

March 12

SUB — The undergraduate student government pushed through a $5 fee raise Wednesday that was identical to the proposal students failed at the ballot box just hours before. The fee raise, which would increase the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico $20 fee by $5, will appear on the April ballot for the senatorial elections. While a majority of undergraduates (56%) supported a 25% undergraduate government fee increase, the referendum did not clear the two-thirds majority required to raise the fee in the three-day election.

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MyUNM gets a facelift

Amanda Britt | March 12

Freshmen will be greeted by a new online landscape when they log onto their MyUNM account next fall. The MyUNM Student Experience Suite is projected to replace MyUNM for incoming freshmen students starting in the fall 2020 semester. The project will incorporate help from various student groups and resources on campus, including the Office of the Provost, the Division for Equity and Inclusion and UNM Information Technologies (IT).

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UNM launches First-Year Promise scholarship

Amanda Britt and Cameron Ward | March 11

Freshmen coming to the University of New Mexico may receive free tuition and have their first-year college fees covered through the "Lobo First-Year Promise" program. The incoming freshman fall class at UNM's main campus must earn a minimum 2.5 GPA for the 2020-21 academic year, enroll in a minimum of 15 credit hours for the fall and spring, be a New Mexico resident, be a graduate of a New Mexico high school within the past 16 months, submit a 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a family income of $50,000 a year or less to qualify. Vice President for Enrollment Management Dan García said New Mexico residents with financial needs will have the resources available to cover tuition and fees through the scholarship. He also said the scholarship will give greater assurance to students who may not believe they can afford a four-year university by showing the University wants them here.

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Mia Amin, Ana Milan take ASUNM election

Justin Garcia | March 11

SUB ATRIUM — Mia Amin will serve as the next president of the undergraduate student body. Amin garnered 870 votes — about 57.8% of the total undergraduates that participated in the election. The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico president essentially acts as the main representative to UNM's administration when it comes to tuition and fee raises and advocating for what students want. Amin ran on a platform of increased inclusivity, accountability and a mentality shift within ASUNM.

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APD investigates shooting west of campus

Justin Garcia | March 11

The Albuquerque Police Department is investigating an area west of the University after they said a man was shot near the FreeRange coworking space on Central Avenue Wednesday afternoon. APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said in a statement provided to the Daily Lobo that officers were dispatched to 1710 Central Avenue SE shortly after noon in response to a shooting call. APD officers found a victim, later identified as Carlos Nolasco, half a block away on the corner of Central and Pine with at least one gunshot wound "near his upper torso." The shooting preceded a campus-wide Lobo alert warning "APD out at shooting at 7-11. Central/University. Avoid the area."

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UNM approves cost hike

Justin Garcia | March 10

SUB BALLROOM — Unanimously and without debate, the University of New Mexico greenlit a tuition and fee raise on Monday, March 9. The decision continued a multi-year trend of increasing the cost of attendance at New Mexico's flagship public institution. The total cost bump is $125.08 per semester for an undergraduate taking 12 credit hours, which is considered full-time. For graduate students, the increase is $156.72 per semester for those taking 12 credit hours. The Board of Regents — UNM's ultimate decision-making body — also reduced the undergraduate block discount, from essentially three free credit hours when taking at least 15 credit hours to one-and-a-half free credit hours.

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UNM prepares amid coronavirus scare

Makayla Grijalva | March 10

As universities across the country cancel in-person classes amid escalating numbers of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths, the University of New Mexico is preparing its own contingency plans amid revelations of the first presumptive cases of the virus in the state. UNM officials said the school hadn't identified any novel coronavirus cases among the campus community. Student Health and Counseling reported on the evening of March 11 that they tested two people for the virus and are waiting on results. "At present, there is no evidence of any COVID-19 coronavirus cases in the UNM faculty, staff, and student community, and UNM does not need to close or establish quarantines," the University said in a release on its dedicated coronavirus website. "However, the potential impact on our community is evolving, so we all need to remain informed, wise, and supportive."

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Historic ASUNM elections approaching

Alyssa Martinez | March 8

Voting for a $5 fee raise and on student body presidential and vice-presidential candidates is just over a week away. Beginning at 8 a.m. on March 9, undergraduate students can log onto their my.unm.edu account or make their way to the Student Union Building to vote on the constitutional amendment (Bill 5S) and for one of the two presidents and vice presidents vying for the positions. The constitutional amendment would upcharge all undergraduate students $5, bringing the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico-mandated student fee to $25 per semester. The bill was touted by many senators as a more transparent option when it passed on Feb. 13 because it would clearly label the $25 amount as a government fee on the Bursar's website.

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Spruce Park condemns homeless shelter placement near the neighborhood

Beatrice Nisoli | March 8

The Spruce Park Neighborhood Association met at the Central United Methodist Church to protest on March 4 the potential installation of a homeless shelter on University of New Mexico property.  The meeting showcased an hour of public comment, culminating in the Neighborhood Association board approving a statement condemning the use of University land for the Gateway Center. The neighborhood residents’ primary apprehensions ranged from overarching safety concerns to questions of why the University would utilize its plot of land for a homeless shelter, rather than expanding the UNM Cancer Center. 

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Voting for ASUNM President and VP begins

Alyssa Martinez | March 8

Four candidates, two positions, one election.  Beginning March 9, undergraduate students can cast their votes for either of the two students vying to be student government president and vice president. The election ends March 11 at 5 p.m. Jacob Silva and Emma Hotz — #1 on the ballot for president and vice president, respectively — and Mia Amin and Ana Milan — #2 on the ballot — are running to assume the highest roles in the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico body. 

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New vaping bill raises legal age to purchase

Lissa Knudsen | March 8

The New Mexico Tobacco Regulation Act (Senate Bill 131) was signed into law on Wed. March 4.  The new law requires manufacturers, distributors and sellers of tobacco products — including e-cigarettes — to be licensed in New Mexico and to be subject to criminal penalties if they manufacture, distribute or sell tobacco products in the state without a license.  It also raised the legal age for purchases of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21, aligning New Mexico law with recently passed federal law. 

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Census looks to hire temporary workers in NM

Lissa Knudsen | March 8

The 2020 U.S. census count will happen on April 1, 2020, and the federal government is still looking to hire thousands of temporary workers. A census worker in Bernalillo County will receive a pay rate of $16 to $17.50 per hour with checks disbursed weekly, according to the Census 2020 website,  Jobs for the 2020 census include both field and office positions. A single application allows you to be considered for several positions, including census taker, census field supervisor, recruiting assistant, office clerk or office staff supervisor.

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Panel discusses NM prison system issues

Spencer Butler | March 5

ZIMMERMAN — A group of about 60 people gathered in the Willard Room in Zimmerman Library on March 2 for a panel discussion titled: "Who is Caught up in New Mexico's Criminal Justice System? Considering Race, Ethnicity, Class, Gender." Jeff Proctor, an investigative reporter for New Mexico In Depth, hosted the panel on the prison system in New Mexico and the flaws within it. New Mexico Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, University of New Mexico law professor Sonia M. Gipson Rankin, director and co-founder of the Institute for the Study of "Race" & Social Justice Nancy López and deputy director of the New Mexico Sentencing Commission Douglas Carter sat on the panel.

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Grad students protest for better wages and work schedules

Alyssa Martinez | March 5

SMITH PLAZA — Nearly a dozen graduate employees convened on March 2 in solidarity with the 74 University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) graduate employees that were effectively terminated over the weekend after a months-long strike. UCSC teaching assistants refused to submit final grades as leverage for a cost of living pay adjustment. After denying the university's ultimatum, the striking graduates were either fired or had contracts unrenewed for the spring leaving many undergraduate classes vacant, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. "It's ridiculous to expect graduate workers in California to live off of $18,000 per year," said Emma Mincks, a graduate student in the English department and employee at the University of New Mexico. "They just can't live off of that in California when your rent is $1,800 to $3,000 a month."