News - The Daily Lobo

News

Universities warned on censorship

September 3

The U.S. Department of Education issued a letter late last month to universities across the nation reminding them that campus speech regulations should not infringe upon First Amendments rights. The letter, written by Gerald Reynolds, Office of Civil rights assistant secretary, outlines how universities should act during on-campus protests or any other time members of the university community are expressing their freedom of speech.

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Officials welcome SUB

Clay Holtzman | September 3

Although the new Student Union Building first opened its doors on campus in July, UNM observed the building's official opening yesterday at a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring comments from the University and student leaders. "We finally have our building back," ASUNM President Jennifer Onuska told a crowd gathered outside the SUB's north entrance.

News

Grad student struck by car dies

Ryan Floersheim | September 3

A graduate student in the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department was killed Monday night after being hit by a car while walking through a campus-area neighborhood. Elodie Brenas, 21, was a French transfer student who was preparing for her first semester as a teaching assistant for the French program.

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Albuquerque listed as bad for asthma

September 2

Staff Report More than 79,000 New Mexicans suffer from asthma, and the recent ranking of Albuquerque as the seventh most challenging city in the country for people stricken with the disease has UNM researchers looking for answers. The ranking, by the Microsoft Network's Web site, cites years of lenient smoking laws and a high asthma mortality rate as reasons for the high ranking.

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UNM researchers create virus device

Jessica Bennett | September 2

Researchers at the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering have developed a portable device to aid rural areas of the state in the early detection of viruses, specifically the hantavirus. The device, an electrochemical immunosensor, has the potential to save lives by allowing infected persons to seek treatment quickly and an infectious outbreak to be instantly located and isolated, said Ebtisam Wilkins, a chemical and nuclear engineering professor who headed the development of the handheld device.

News

Soldiers return home

Ryan Floersheim | September 2

Thirteen members of the New Mexico Air National Guard, including several UNM students and alumni, returned to Albuquerque Saturday after serving more than four months in the Middle East supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers, part of the 150th Services Flight stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, were sent to Kuwait to serve in a supporting role for the unit's two other divisions in the region, said guard spokeswoman Maj.

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News in brief

September 2

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Border agents apprehended three people carrying two homemade explosive devices along with a gun and ammunition in a car near the U.S.-Mexico border. The purpose of the explosives and the gun was not immediately known. Agents identified the trio as the driver, Judy L.

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Med schools now have access to all MCATs

August 29

Staff Report Admissions officials at UNM's School of Medicine say a new policy that allows medical colleges to see all of an applicant's Medical College Admission Test scores will be a "non-issue" at the University. In the past, students who take the MCAT multiple times have been able to choose which scores a school has access to.

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Students juggle classes, work

Rivkela Brodsky | August 29

The majority of students at UNM not only manage their school loads, but they have jobs as well. Joseph Gonzales, the University's financial aid manager, said that currently 6,500 UNM students have on-campus jobs, including work-study qualified students, and 140 more were placed in off-campus jobs through UNM's student employment office.

News

UNM Basketball player found dead

Clay Holtzman | August 29

A UNM men's basketball player was found dead early yesterday morning after apparently killing himself. Patrick "Billy" Feeney, a transfer player from Portland State University, would have played his first game for the Lobos this season after sitting out the 2002-03 campaign due to NCAA regulations.

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UNM TAs teach too many classes

Ryan Floersheim | August 29

For the first time ever UNM has made the Princeton Review's college rankings of the best and worst colleges nationwide. It was, however, in the negative column - the University ranks sixth out of 351 for allowing teaching assistants to teach too many upper-division courses.

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Sales steady despite competition

Andrea Martinez | August 29

Officials from the University Bookstore said that despite an increase in competitors, both online and in the campus area, sales show that the store is holding its own. "Despite a growing nationwide interest in online textbook sales, the Bookstore has not experienced a decline in sales for this school year so far," said Melanie Sparks, director of UNM's Bookstore.

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Credit card companies target students: pt. 2

Ryan Floersheim | August 28

Many students do not understand the risks associated with establishing a line of credit and they are often unaware that UNM could be making a profit by selling their information to credit card companies after they graduate. MBNA, the world's largest independent credit card issuer, has come under fire from public interest groups nationwide for contracting with universities to purchase student information intended to be used for solicitation for their credit cards.

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Credit card making more profit than ever

August 28

Staff Report The average household receives eight credit card offers a month. In 1999, the average college freshman had a credit card debt of $1,700. In recent years, that number has grown to nearly $3,000. The average credit card debt of all Americans who carry balances reached an all-time high of $5,610 in 2002, an increase of one-third since 1995.

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News in brief

August 28

UNMPD Police arrest disorderly man at dean's office UNM police were called to the Dean of Students Office Aug. 22 to remove a disorderly man. When police arrived, they identified the man as 37-year-old Michael Repichowski who has been banrred from coming to campus by UNM police and University officials.

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Professors advised to avoid student dating

Amber Dilley | August 28

Though UNM has no formal policy regarding teachers dating students, a University attorney says campus officials are addressing the issue. Melanie Baise, assistant university counsel, said UNM recognizes the power differential between the student and teacher and that because students look up to teachers, they can be vulnerable.

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High enrollment no burden

August 28

by A. John Garcia Daily Lobo With near record enrollment at universities nationwide, many schools are facing the problem of overcrowding in their core courses. UNM officials insist, however, that congestion is not an issue at the University. "There are a lot of universities around the country facing this problem," said Reed Dasenbrock, dean of UNM's College of Arts and Sciences.

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Human Resources gets new home

August 28

Staff Report In an attempt to streamline services for UNM employees and job applicants, the Department of Human Resources is set to open a new "one-stop shop" at the beginning of next week. The Human Resource Service Center, at the corner of Lomas and University Boulevards, will be a big step forward for the department, said Susan Carkeek, director of Human Resources.

News

Credit card companies target students, pt. 1

Michael Carlson | August 28

As UNM students return to class this fall, they can expect to be greeted by the familiar sights, sounds and temptations of credit card solicitors, a growing trend at colleges and universities throughout the nation. Kelly Rote, a communications manager for Consumer Credit Counseling, said her national credit counseling agency continues to see an increase in the number of recent college graduates seeking help with out-of-control debt.

News

Program provides mentorship

August 28

by Anita Ward Daily Lobo Wise, a local school-based mentoring program, is looking for UNM students who are willing to give an hour a week to help underprivileged children. The nonprofit program, organized by Youth Development, Inc., provides an opportunity for the children, grades K-12, to spend time with people of all ages and experience things that they otherwise wouldn't, said Sally Sosa, the program's coordinator.