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ASUNM: Senate approves constitutional amendment

Alex Hiett | September 30

For the first time in two years, the undergraduate student government passed a constitutional amendment. The unanimous vote cleared the first of three hurdles for the change to take effect. The amendment, passed on Wednesday, Sept. 25 by the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Senate, would hamper the Vice President’s ability to appoint Senators in the event of a vacancy. “It was a smart idea to think about what would happen if we needed to reach outside of the Spring 2019 election to potentially appoint new senators,” Current ASUNM Vice President Madelyn Lucas, noting that these types of appointments are rare. Every candidate who ran for Senate in spring 2019, became a senator, nearly triggering the process in question.

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Where to get your flu shot

Megan Holmen | September 30

The University of New Mexico Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) will be holding a flu shot clinic on Tuesday Oct. 1 and Wednesday Oct. 2 in memory of UNM student Raymond Plotkin who passed away after contracting the H1N1 virus in 2009. The event is called #takeoneforRaymond. The event is open to students, staff and faculty who are 18 years old and up, but will only continue while supplies last, according to SHAC's website. SHAC holds free flu shot days because college students are at risk of contracting the virus — and a simple flu shot can prevent this. Students can get their free flu shots in the Student Union Building Atrium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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CIA funds professor at UNM

Alex Heitt | September 26

The University of New Mexico is building upon its relationship with the Central Intelligence Agency through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The memorandum allows the agency to station an active-duty CIA operative on campus. UNM alumnus and CIA agent David Berg arrived on campus earlier this fall. Berg will be stationed at the University for two years, teaching classes and serving as a resource for students seeking career opportunities within the CIA. His classes will begin next semester and include Ethics in Cyber Intelligence, Technology, and Social Media for National Security, and Introduction to Global and National Security.

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Crime Briefs: September 26, 2019

Makayla Grijalva | September 26

The weekly crime briefs are to give the students, faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico a quick look into the crimes reported on campus. They do not provide all perspectives of the incident. All of the information is retrieved through UNM Police Department incident reports. UNM student banned from campus for possession of firearms University of New Mexico senior Steven Do, 21, was banned from campus after police found two handguns and a rifle in his dorm room. The UNM Police Department went to his room in Alvarado hall earlier this month after they received reports that Do was receiving suspicious packages from gun sellers. He consented to a search of his dorm, in which the guns were found along with several other gun parts.

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UNM sees another decline in enrollment

Justin Garcia | September 26

For the seventh consecutive year, student enrollment at the University of New Mexico has dropped — certain to cause a ripple of effects in funding throughout the University. Undergraduate enrollment fell 6.5% (16,170) for the fall 2019 semester, while combined graduate and professional enrollment fell 6% (6,130), contributing to a five-year decline of 16.67% (22,792). The Albuquerque Journal reported that UNM expects a $4 million budget shortfall as a result of the enrollment decline. In 2018, UNM saw a $10 million shortfall from a 7% decline.

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Global climate strike rallies Albuquerque environmentalists

Megan Holmen | September 23

Burqueños gathered in downtown Albuquerque on Sept. 20 for the 2019 Climate Strike, which was also held concurrently in cities across the world. Climate change, drawing attention from millions across the world, was the driving force behind Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller’s public announcement in a meeting earlier this week that the City of Albuquerque passed a motion “Endorsing The Declaration Of A Climate Emergency, Creating A Climate Action Plan For The City Of Albuquerque.” “We have a plan to get to 100% renewable energy within the next 6 years... This emergency is about action,” Keller said. Keller said while other governments continue to use non-renewable resources, Albuquerque will be a leader and innovator in reducing its carbon footprint.

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Outpost Ice Arena remodeled for new team

Alanie Rael | September 23

Outpost Ice Arena, home of the Albuquerque Ice Wolves junior hockey team, is getting a facelift. The brand new junior hockey team has begun their season on the road with an unfortunate 0-6 starting record. The highly anticipated team is using the local ice skating and hockey rink in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque for practices and games. The rink is currently undergoing renovations, costing team owner and broadcast mogul Stan Hubbard a total of $2 million. The renovations are seeking to upgrade the classic look of the original Outpost. However, according to Alyssa Loroach, the Ice Wolves’ director of communications and marketing, Hubbard is wanting to keep the integrity of the arena despite the new changes.

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Q&A with UNM women's basketball players

Angelina Pompeo | September 23

University of New Mexico women’s basketball players Aisia Robertson and Bride Kennedy-Hopoate are busy preparing for their 2019-2020 campaign. Robertson is originally from San Francisco and beginning her third year with the team. Kennedy-Hopoate transferred to UNM from Queensland, Australia last year. Although this is her second year on the team, it will be her first year garnering playing time for the Lobos. Both players are majoring in Liberal Arts. After college, both said they hope to play basketball professionally overseas, with Kennedy-Hopoate adding that she wants to eventually coach collegiate basketball. The two players recently spoke with the Daily Lobo about their college experience and playing for the UNM women’s basketball team.

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Campus Crime Briefs 9-19-19

Makayla Grijalva | September 19

The weekly crime briefs are to give the students, faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico a quick look into the crimes reported on campus. They do not provide all perspectives of the incident. All of the information is retrieved through UNM Police Department incident reports. False Imprisonment and Domestic Violence Two women, who identified themselves as a romantic couple, engaged in a physical fight in the pediatric emergency room at the University of New Mexico Hospital on Sept. 6. According to the police report, woman one reported that she was choked, bit and punched in the head by her partner “for no reason”. Woman two accused woman one of cheating, which was the cause of the fight according to woman one.

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UNM football prepares to renew Aggie rivalry

Robert Maler | September 19

“It all probably starts this Saturday, right — for both teams. That is why it is such a big game.” That was the question and answer the University of New Mexico head football coach Bob Davie set up for himself during Tuesday’s press conference regarding the Lobo’s weekend matchup against the New Mexico State Aggies. Both schools have played their toughest opponents of the season already — with each facing a participant from last year’s College Football Playoff and losing by the same 52-point margin. UNM collected a $1.1M paycheck but suffered a 66-14 defeat at the hands of No. 7 Notre Dame. The Aggies got routed by No. 2 Alabama the previous weekend to the tune of 62-10.

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Governor's office to propose free tuition

Justin Garcia and Lissa Knudsen | September 18

She described it as a "moon shot." Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday her administration will request the state legislature to make 2-year and 4-year college free for New Mexico residents. If approved by the legislature, it is expected that this would go into effect July 1, 2020, said Kate O’Neill New Mexico Secretary of Higher Education. "Everything we want to do in New Mexico begins with higher education," Lujan Grisham told the crowd gathered at Central New Mexico Community College for the Higher Education Summit. The “New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship” would be available to students “with a maintained minimum GPA,” and after “enrolling in a public, post-secondary institution,” according to a press release from the governor's office.

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NM Dems hold Trump counter rally

Andrew Gunn and Beatrice Nisoli | September 17

Thousands of supporters and opponents of President Donald Trump descended upon the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Monday night in anticipation of his first visit to New Mexico since the 2016 election. But, nearly 20 miles away, the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) responded to Trump’s campaign speech with an event of their own. The counter-rally, deemed a “New Mexico for All Community Event” by party organizers, featured a roster of New Mexico Democrats and drew a crowd of several hundred to Tiguex Park near Old Town. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (who is also running for U.S. Senate) and U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland and Ben Ray Luján (who is running against Toulouse Oliver) outlined their differences with the Trump administration and visions for the future of the country over the course of the evening.

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Trump comes to New Mexico

Megan Holmen , Justin Garcia , Andrew Gunn and Amanda Britt | September 16

RIO RANCHO — President Donald Trump held a campaign rally Monday in support of his 2020 presidential reelection bid, drawing a crowd of over 8,000, including protesters. It was ultimately a peaceful affair, although words flew between protesters and Trump supporters outside the Santa Ana Star Center on Sept. 16, 2019. Outside, around 200 protesters gathered in a designated “peaceful assembly” area with signs reading “Dump Trump,” “Trump Hates Green Chile and the Constitution” and “stop pretending your racism is patriotic,” among others.

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'Met with concern': UNM holds onto accreditation

Justin Garcia and Beatrice Nisoli | September 16

The University of New Mexico was reaccredited for ten years after the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reviewed and recertified the University. The HLC announced this decision back in August — however, the reaccreditation doesn’t come with a perfect score. Of the five components the HLC reviewed, two were “met with concern.” Accreditation validates the quality of an institution as a whole, according to HLC’s website. The reviewers evaluated “multiple aspects of an institution ranging from its academic offerings, governance and administration, mission, finances and resources.” Two of the criteria gave HLC reviewers cause for concern: The “fiscal mismanagement” of the Athletics Department and the shared governance issue with the Board of Regents (UNM’s governing committee appointed by the New Mexico governor.)

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Trump campaign rally in Rio Rancho tonight

Megan Holmen | September 16

President Donald Trump will travel to the Land of Enchantment this week to hold a rally in preparation for his 2020 presidential campaign. Trump will be at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho on Monday, Sept. 16, and both the City of Albuquerque and the City of Rio Rancho are preparing for the event. The rally is expected to draw thousands. All Rio Rancho city offices will be closed on Monday, and Rio Rancho public schools will similarly be shuttered for the day. The Rio Rancho Police headquarters and Municipal Court will also be closed — however, Bernalillo County offices in downtown Albuquerque will remain open until 2 p.m.

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Albuquerque Proud Boys demonstration generates resistance

Alex Heitt | September 16

On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 15, a far-right organization and protesters gathered on the corner of 1st Street and Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque, diversely dressed and loudly making their voices heard. Two different groups convened: the Proud Boys — a self-identified western chauvinist group — and counter-protesters. The event was organized by the Proud Boys and registered ahead of time with the city. The Southern Poverty Law Center has described the Proud Boys as an "alt-right fight club." At around noon on Saturday the first four right-wing protesters arrived, with one wearing full body armor. There was a minor kerfuffle when the two groups first confronted one another, but the Albuquerque police quickly separated the two sides on either side of 1st Street and maintained that separation for the entirety of the demonstration.

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Question answered about Zimmerman's hours

Andrew Gunn | September 16

University of New Mexico students who keep late hours and are looking for a safe place to study might find that Zimmerman Library doesn’t meet their needs. Since its founding in 1938, Zimmerman has been a focal point of academia at the UNM. It’s difficult to miss the behemoth Pueblo Revival structure at the core of main campus — designed by renowned architect John Gaw Meem, it remains the Sante Fean’s best-known work at the University where he popularized the architectural style. With a few exceptions throughout the fall 2019 semester, Zimmerman’s regular hours are 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. on Sunday. The hours vary during fall and Thanksgiving breaks and when the library is open 24 hours on certain days during midterms and finals weeks.

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Working group seeks new direction on recreational marijuana

Lissa Knudsen and Dan Goodwin | September 12

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, the New Mexico Governor’s Working Group on Cannabis Legalization convened in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers in the basement of Albuquerque City Hall. Members of the group discussed the licensing, workplace protections and cannabis manufacturing sections of House Bill 356, the Cannabis Regulation Act, in front of a group of about 20 people. HB 356 was introduced in the 2019 legislative session and sought to legalize the use of recreational marijuana in the state of New Mexico. The bill passed the House, stalled in the Senate and did not make it to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk by the end of the session, rendering it dead on arrival.

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Krebs surrenders to authorities, released

Makayla Grijalva | September 12

Former University of New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs turned himself into authorities at the Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday and was released immediately after booking. Krebs was indicted last month on seven felony charges including embezzlement, money laundering, tampering with evidence and fraud. A judge ordered him to turn himself in by Oct. 2. Krebs is scheduled to appear in the 2nd Judicial District Court for a hearing on Sept. 26 of this year. His two newest charges, issued in August, were two counts of embezzlement for using nearly $25,000 of University money on a golf trip to Scotland in 2015 — one charge was to fund the trip itself and one for his personal charges incurred during the trip. The initial five complaints came last February when Krebs was charged with money laundering, tampering with evidence, fraud amounting to $20,000, criminal solicitation and making or permitting a false public voucher. If he is found guilty, Krebs faces up to 16 and a half years in prison.

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Campus Crime Briefs: September 12, 2019

Makayla Grijalva | September 12

The weekly crime briefs are to give the students, faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico a quick look into the crimes reported on campus. They do not provide all perspectives of the incident. All of the information is retrieved through UNM police department incident reports.