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UNM Prof uses new technology to conduct wildfire risk assessment

Alex Hiett | September 3

University of New Mexico professor of Economics Richard Bernknopf is embarking on research in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Forest Service that aims to use remote imaging and satellite photography in risk-assessment and response to wildfires. This project is focusing on the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, but if proven useful it is expected to expand to other states. Researchers are currently looking into working with Yosemite National Forest to prevent forest fires that ravage the west. According to a May 2019 press release by the California Department of Insurance, there was over $13 billion worth of insurance losses in California in 2018 alone. These numbers continue to climb, as people comb through the destruction these fires wrought on the state. This is the area that served as the study focus for Bernknopf and other UNM researchers.

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UNM to host fourth annual Campus Safety Week

Makayla Grijalva | September 3

This week, the University of New Mexico will host the 4th Annual Campus Safety Week from Sept. 3 through Sept. 5. Campus Safety Week is a collaboration between the President's office, the Women's Resource Center, the Dean of Students office, the LGBTQ Resource Center, the Office of Equal Opportunity, the UNM Police and the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention. “Safety Week provides our UNM community with resources, trainings, and workshops promoting a safer campus,” the UNM Dean of Students website said. Events for this year include coffee with a cop, storm spotter training, a self-defense workshop, and a hands-only CPR training.

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GPSA: First fall meeting confirms 20 grads

Justin Garcia | September 3

The graduate student government meeting hit the ground running. In the first council meeting of the fall 2019 semester, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) confirmed seven chairs, ten committee members, a vice chair, a council recorder and a chief justice for the Court of Review all on Aug. 31. The council, GPSA’s legislative body, also confirmed members for their Legislative and Steering Committee (LSC) to form the committee, a hurdle that councilors in the Spring 2019 semester were unable to overcome. In addition to providing graduate and professional students with grant money, GPSA appropriates money to student clubs and represents the interests of graduate and professional students to the University of New Mexico’s administration and to the New Mexico State Legislature.

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SHAC holds open house

Amy Coleman | September 2

The University of New Mexico Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) held an open house for the UNM community on Aug. 23. This open house was held to allow the UNM community see what services are available through SHAC and covered by student fees. According to SHAC Program Specialist Tiffany Martinez-Durant, the open house was a success. “We ordered food for 200-300 people which was gone halfway through the event” she said. SHAC has a combined 4,000 followers on social media with their focus being on Instagram, SnapChat and Facebook.

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Failing chemistry pipes affect research

Alyssa Martinez and Colin Peña | August 29

University of New Mexico chemistry building Clark Hall has been experiencing plumbing and drainage issues for years which prevent the department from using some laboratories and is slowing down research said Karen Ann Smith, the director of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facilities and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry. “Many of the pipes in the Reibsomer wing of Clark Hall are deteriorating and forming cracks due to construction from a plastic that breaks down when in contact with many common waste products,” Smith said. The deterioration is exacerbated by CPVC drain pipes. According to Plastic Pipe Experts, CPVC “is not resistant to most water-insoluble hydrocarbon-based chemicals.” Their website also said that waste products like hand lotion can cause CPVC failure.

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ASUNM Senate approves seven appointments

Alyssa Martinez | August 29

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico’s full senate meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28 ushered in seven new ASUNM appointees selected by ASUNM President Adam Biederwolf. Among the night’s events, the president pro-tempore was elected, UNM Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez discussed systemic reforms to athletics, Biederwolf provided updates on the solar panel installation on the Student Union Building (SUB) and an Open Meetings Act resolution was adopted to be compliant with New Mexico state law. Kaylee Maxon was confirmed as executive director of Lobo Spirit. Maxon served as Biederwolf’s assistant when he held the executive director position last year. According to Biederwolf, the executive director of Lobo Spirit cultivates a sense of campus morale by programming University wide events, such as Red Rally.

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2020 Democratic primary candidate Cory Booker talks to burqueños at Marble

Amanda Britt | August 29

Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker covered a variety of topics concerning New Mexicans at a campaign fundraiser. The event held at Marble Brewery in Downtown Albuquerque on Monday evening. According to Damian Lara, 16A ward chair for Democratic Party of New Mexico, general admission tickets to attend the event started at $15 but were sold out within days of Booker announcing he was coming to Albuquerque. This limited the number of college students and millennials that we're able to join the event. Lara said college students may not have been able to come because of the time of day and the cost to get into the fundraiser, which ranged from 15 to 500 dollars that evening. “The economic cost for millennials and college students really prohibits their interaction and activity in the political system,” Lara said.

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Haaland comes to UNM

Makayla Grijalva | August 29

US Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District spoke to University of New Mexico students on Tuesday, Aug. 27 in the Student Union Building (SUB) Atrium. Students, faculty and others in attendance were encouraged to ask Haaland questions on topics of their choice. Topics that were covered included who Haaland endorsed in the 2020 Democratic Primary — Elizabeth Warren — gerrymandering, the importance of voting in elections and more. “I am not one of those pessimists who say ‘everyone is corrupt.’” Haaland said. “No, I don’t believe that. There are so many good people who are serving our community in elected office, we just need to elect more of them

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Crime Briefs: UNM basketball player found with suspected drug paraphernalia

Makayla Grijalva | August 28

University of New Mexico Basketball player Corey Manigault was found to be in possession of alcohol and suspected drug paraphernalia by UNM police. UNMPD was called to Lobo Village on Aug. 18 after several loud party complaints. Manigault answered the door, did not comply with the resident advisors instruction and continued to close the door on her even with police officers present at the property, according to the police report. The report stated that the RA identified seeing open containers of alcohol and suspected drug paraphernalia in “plain view” within the apartment.

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The man behind the SUB retires

Justin Garcia | August 26

You might not know his name, but chances are Walter Miller’s career, and the decisions he’s made throughout that career, affected your life at the University of New Mexico. Now, the vice president of Student Life and 25-year UNM administrator for is set to retire. For Miller, that means sticking around UNM, finishing one last looming project and hitting a few shows a Popejoy from time-to-time. It’s difficult to quantify a person’s accomplishments, but one place to start is money. In his time at UNM, Miller oversaw a massive overhaul of the Student Union Building that priced out at $25 million. Unlike similar buildings across the country, UNM’s SUB was funded with student fees, according to Miller.

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Mercado, one of few exemptions to state law

Andrew Gunn | August 26

Thanks to a 2004 law repealing a longstanding tax on food in New Mexico, residents and visitors have been able to buy most of their food tax-free at the vast majority of retail stores around the state. This is not the case at most bodega-style markets at the University of New Mexico. On any given day, UNM students, faculty, staff and visitors can be seen filtering in and out of six convenience stores on campus. For a quick bite to eat in between classes, the proximity and ease of access can make these options for quick calories appealing in a high-stress academic environment. Likely unbeknownst to some of those consumers is the New Mexico gross receipts tax they pay on top of the price of their bag of chips or bottle of water.

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Student Organization Day features wide range of campus clubs

Beatrice Nisoli | August 26

The University of New Mexico’s student clubs and organizations set up their tents and perfected their elevator pitches for Student Organization Day, on Thursday, Aug. 22,. The event occurs annually on campus during “Welcome Back” week. Student Organization Day features countless opportunities for incoming and current Lobos to become involved in a plethora of academic and social extracurriculars. This year, the Daily Lobo interviewed various groups facilitating their outreach towards interested and prospective club members. Emily Ganley, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, was representing the Society of Women Engineers, of which she is the current president. The club aims to encourage science, technology, engineering and math fields as potential career options for women, and to further the progress of women in these occupations.

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Brief: Quantum sensor technology used for medical research

Amy Coleman | August 26

A team of researchers from The University of New Mexico and the Center for High Technology Materials (CHTM) recently published research about developing a quantum sensor to determine the chemical composition of trace quantities in samples. This technology will be used to examine how medicine enters the cell. The sensor is comprised of nitrogen-vacancy defects in a diamond that detects the magnetic fields produced by the nuclei in molecules. Victor Acosta, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and Joshua Damron, CHTM post-doctoral student said the research is done by shining a light through a solid object (diamond) into a liquid object (cells). This process is done with red light and is photographed with a special device. These images can then be viewed, showing the variety of shades of red.

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CESOSS hosts walk and talk about South Valley water rights

Amanda Britt | August 26

The Center for Social Sustainable Systems (CESOSS,) a non-profit group in the South Valley, welcomed New Mexicans to Sanchez Farms Open Space last Saturday to learn about the history of the Valley de Atrisco and the Armijo Acequia at their sixth Acequia Walk and Talk. An acequia is a traditional irrigation channel used heavily in New Mexican agricultural work. Jorge Garcia, the Mayordomo (the head of the acequia) of the Armijo Acequia and founder of CESOSS, led the talk by explaining the history of water rights in New Mexico since it became a state in 1912. In the 1920s, New Mexico created the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) to manage the flow of water and drain the valley in the Albuquerque area.

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Krebs Indicted

Justin Garcia and Andrew Gunn | August 22

Former University of New Mexico Athletics Director Paul Krebs was indicted on seven felony counts on Wednesday after he allegedly used University funds to finance a golf trip to Scotland. The two new charges are an embezzlement count for using $24,500 of University money to fund the Scotland jaunt and a lesser embezzlement charge to pay for his personal expenses to take the trip. The initial five complaints, leveled against Krebs this past February, include money laundering; tampering with evidence and fraud amounting to a total of $20,000; criminal solicitation and making or permitting a false public voucher. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of violation of ethical principles of public service.

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Crime Briefs: Two Aggravated Assaults on UNM main campus last week

Makayla Grijalva | August 22

Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon at 100 Yale Boulevard On Aug.12, near the construction site for the new PAIS building on the University of New Mexico main campus, a man in a black Ford Focus attempted to run over a construction worker and then threatened him with a knife. The altercation ...

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UNM Freshman Convocation welcomes new students to campus

Amanda Britt | August 22

The 24th annual University of New Mexico Freshman Family Day welcomed incoming students to the University and gave them the chance to relax and have fun while getting to know more about UNM, Sunday afternoon. Multiple groups including the College Enrichment and Outreach Program, the Student Activities Center, the Dean of Students and New Student Orientation helped to put together multiple events for the day. The director for the College Enrichment Program Andrew Gonzales said the event was for the University to welcome new students and let them know about the resources and people at UNM and the support they offer in their transition to college life. A formal convocation in Popejoy Hall started the events that afternoon. The convocation featured a welcome from Dr. James Paul Holloway, the University’s provost, along with performances and videos that gave students a look at what life is like at UNM.

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ASUNM: New chairs announced at committee meeting

Alyssa Martinez | August 21

The first Associated Students of the University of New Mexico senate committee meetings of the fall semester were held Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Student Union Building. With new chairs taking their seats and senators settling into their assigned committees, the night consisted of three vice-chair appointments, one commendation acknowledgement and a unanimous passage of a $300 appropriation. The three ASUNM committees are Steering and Rules, Outreach and Appointments, and Finance, with a minimum of five senators on each committee. ASUNM vice president, Madelyn Lucas, is tasked with choosing which senators go on what committees and with appointing chairs to each committee.

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Instructors create buzz on native bees

Makayla Grijalva and Alanie Rael | August 20

Environmental design instructor Danielle Bilot is creating a buzz about native bees in Albuquerque. Bilot spoke to Burqueños on Wednesday about how to increase the diversity of native bee species in urban environments. “It’s our responsibility to change it because we did it to them, whether honey bees or native bees,” Bilot said. “We did this to them, so now it’s our chance to fix it.” Bilot is an instructor at the University of Colorado Boulder and the founder of the Forgotten Hive, a course at the university focused on creating habitats for native bees in under-utilized urban areas.

Event staff watch the UNM Men's Lobo Soccer team play Old Dominion on Sept. 15, 2018.

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Men's soccer and other clubs receive UNM funding

Alanie Rael and Justin Garcia | August 18

After being cut from the University of New Mexico’s budget, the UNM Men’s Soccer team along with other UNM club sports are getting a financial and institutional upgrade, courtesy of the President’s discretionary funds. The “enhanced club-sport program” would include Men’s Soccer, Men and Women’s Rugby, Lobo Hockey and the yet-to-be established Men and Women’s Ski. The program, funded by the President and the Department of Recreational Services, would grant the clubs access to additional financial and institutional resources — such as practice facilities. Terry Babbitt, chief of staff for UNM President Garrnett Stokes, said there wasn’t a set budget for the program yet. However, sources close to the matter have told the Daily Lobo that Stokes may spend up to $300,000 to support the program.