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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.  

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ASUNM passes $44,000 balance forward

Justin Garcia | September 11

The University of New Mexico undergraduate student government rolled about $44,000 into the budgets of the student service agencies and the student government on Wednesday night. The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) sent $29,476 to the eight student service agencies' budgets, including the Arts and Crafts Studio, Student Special Events (SSE) and $15,000 to the government’s budget. Money from balance forwards is supplemental to the government and the agency’s budgets. A balance forward is unspent money in ASUNM's budget from the previous fiscal year that rolls over into the current fiscal year. The biggest beneficiary was SSE, who was awarded $15,500. SSE puts on events including Fiestas and last fall’s JID concert in the Student Union Building. SSE had originally requested $20,000 through balance forwards, but the request was cut in committee.

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Student groups work through recovery

Beatrice Nisoli | September 9

In spring 2019, the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) gathered data on drug use and drug prevalence among undergraduate students at the University of New Mexico.  According to this data, “students who had reported using alcohol in the past 30 days (276 cases) consumed an average (mean) of 2.67 drinks each week.” Furthermore, “26.5% of all students reported having had five or more drinks in a sitting on one or more occasions over the past two weeks.”  The study also reported that 14.5% of students used unprescribed painkillers. 

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Food pantry open bi-weekly

Megan Holmen | September 9

The University of New Mexico’s main campus opened an on-site food pantry Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the University Advisement and Enrichment Center (UAEC).  The food pantry, which is now a permanent facility, will provide consistent healthy foods to students who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Students who would like to visit and utilize the pantry are required to bring a valid UNM identification and a bag. In addition to offering healthy shelf-stable foods, the pantry will have other essential living staples such as detergent, toiletries and personal care products. Though the original food pantry was a collaborative project between the Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Affairs and the Roadrunner Food Bank, the decision to expand this operation was driven by the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center.

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UNM meal plans explained

Beatrice Nisoli | September 9

With the advent of another school year at the University of New Mexico a stream of questions are sure to follow —  a lot of these surrounding food on campus. The Daily Lobo has consolidated a list of  on-campus eateries, their opening and closing times, and what meal plan components they accept. 

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Campus Crime Briefs: Sept. 5, 2019

Makayla Grijalva | September 5

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.  

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Exhibit raises questions about how to address drug crisis

Lissa Knudsen | September 5

Juan Peralta, a 26-year-old DEA educator and Albuquerque native, walked the Daily Lobo through the traveling Drug Enforcement Administration Museum exhibit at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science on Thursday, Aug. 29. The DEA Drugs: Costs and Consequences exhibit runs through December 8, depicting graphic dioramas of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit drugs around the world. Scenes were featuring make-your-own meth labs, showing a tiny bedroom with a bassinet, soiled diapers strewn on the floor, a handgun on a bedside table, used needles and discarded works throughout the space. “Some of these scenes look fairly familiar (to children who are touring the exhibit) and that also plays into the effect too,” Peralta said. “I have seen twelve-year-old little girls cry because their auntie’s house looks like this,” Peralta said.

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ASUNM: Club Sports pull in over $31,000

Justin Garcia | September 4

It was a pricey night for the University of New Mexico undergraduate-student government. Five appropriations, totaling $33,662, rolled through the Finance Committee of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico (ASUNM) on Wednesday night. Of that, nearly 32,000 or just under 95% went to three club sports: UNM Women’s Rugby, UNM Men’s Rugby and UNM Women’s Ultimate Frisbee.  The Women’s Rugby president and the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee president said they had met with Micheal Turner, the club sports coordinator at the Department of Recreation Services. The President of Men’s Rugby declined to comment. 

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New proposals for controversial murals considered

Megan Holmen | September 4

The University of New Mexico community has a long and complicated history with the “Three People’s Mural” located in the west wing of Zimmerman Library. However, two solutions have been proposed to address the “Three People’s Mural” racial controversy. According to the Office of the President, two solutions are in the process of being reviewed for feasibility, primarily financial, before a complete recommendation is sent to the Historical Preservation Committee (HPC). The report was prepared by Taudy Miller from the Office of Design, Planning and Construction on Aug. 27. The proposal provided by the company Ideum, the vendor who would be contracted should the proposed solutions be approved, is “a system in which the murals are masked by easily removable wooden panels coated with a projection-optimal paint; or a system in which the murals are masked by semi-permanently installed controllable smart glass panels.” 

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SPA blood drive draws big crowd

Alanie Rael | September 4

Every spring and fall, the University of New Mexico’s Student Pathology Association (SPA) holds a blood drive on campus that provides blood to thousands of people in need of the vital resource.  On Wednesday, SPA brought the Vitalant, a non-profit organization —  previously known as United Blood Services — to conduct a blood drive in the parking lot of Domenici Center in their on-the-go donation bus.  For SPA, the importance of a blood drive comes from the club’s direct interest in blood. It gives medical students and other students from UNM insight to what kind of jobs are associated with pathology and hematology (blood studies). 

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Traveling exhibit to raise awareness on opioid deaths comes to NM

Lissa Knudsen | September 3

When people think of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science they typically think about dinosaurs and fossils — not drug-overdose deaths. The “Lost Talent Memorial” is a break away from the museum’s traditional exhibits.  On Thursday Aug. 29, about 100 community members, elected officials, law enforcement officers and museum staff convened at the Natural History Museum in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. The museum hosted the memorial to recognize the people who are grieving the loss of loved ones and to honor those who have died because of a drug overdose.