News - The Daily Lobo

Juan Melendez, an exonerated death row inmate who was wrongly convicted shares his story in the Student Union Building Theatre on Sept. 19.

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Death row exoneree Juan Melendez speaks at UNM

Anthony Jackson | September 24

A death row exoneree and speaker from Witness to Innocence, a nonprofit organization against capital punishment, was hosted by the University of New Mexico Lobo Reading Experience in the Student Union Building Theatre on Sept. 19. Scores of UNM students listened to Juan Melendez — an exonerated Florida death row inmate who was wrongfully convicted — share his experience. “When they put me in death row for 17 years, eight months and one day, the world stopped,” Melendez said.

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UNM makes strides in bone health research

Isaiah Garcia | September 24

The University of New Mexico School of Medicine is helping make medical professionals in the state, and all around the country, more knowledgeable with diagnosing and effectively treating osteoporosis through a learning program for medical professionals called Bone Health TeleECHO. According to the UNM Bone Health website, there are available treatments for osteoporosis that can help prolong life. Only about 20 percent of patients with hip fractures are treated to help prevent the risk of future fractures.

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UNM changes IPRA policy due to transparency issues

Danielle Prokop | September 24

Full disclosure: Reporter Danielle Prokop is now also employed at NM Political Report, however was not employed at the time the report was released. A serious concern for the University of New Mexico for the past few weeks has been transparency, and UNM says it’s making changes. Earlier this month, the Attorney General's office sent a letter admonishing UNM’s “pattern and practice of neglecting their responsibility to allow access to public information.”

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Dion's and UNM Innovation Academy team up for "Keep It Cool" Challenge

Mikhaela Smith | September 20

The University of New Mexico’s Innovation Academy has partnered with Dion’s to kick off the “Keep It Cool” Challenge. The challenge will provide possible ways to ship Dion’s ranch across the country — it starts Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Lobo Rainforest Collaboration Space.

The Kappa Kappa Gamma house off of University Boulevard stays busy on the afternoon of Sept. 19, 2018. Kappa Kappa Gamma is in the midst of allegations that members of the sorority used "racial remarks" during an anxiety workshop.

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Black Student Alliance condemns sorority for racial remarks

Kyle Land | September 19

The Black Student Alliance (BSA) of the University of New Mexico released a statement Wednesday condemning members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority for using “racial remarks” during a workshop for incoming Greek Life members. The workshop was part of Monday’s 2018 Greek New Member Summit, an event that educates incoming Greek Life members on various topics, with the incident occurring during a portion of the event covering mental health. According to the statement, the comments were made when Dr. Stephanie McIver, director of counseling at Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), was making a presentation about the services available at SHAC.

The weekly ASUNM meeting gets underway in the Student Union Building on Sept. 19, 2018.

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ASUNM discuss finances, compliance at latest committee meetings

Madison Spratto and Justin Garcia | September 19

The Associated Students of New Mexico Senate Finance and Steering & Rules committees met yesterday evening to discuss an investigation into Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE, appropriations and four resolutions. Finance Committee Among the nearly $25,000 in appropriations discussed, Vice President Emily Wilks announced the Finance Committee was investigating Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE who received about $20,000 in appropriations last year. Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE is a student organization, partly funded by student fees, that builds and races formula one vehicles against other universities.

The Rio Grande River flows as storm settles over Albuquerque on the afternoon of Sept. 19, 2018.

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Temporary waterways may lose environmental protections

Megan Holmen | September 19

Temporary waterways in the United States could potentially lose protection under the Clean Water Act through the Environmental Protection Agency — 90 percent of New Mexico’s water comes from temporary waterways according to Cliff Dahm, a University of New Mexico biology professor. Dahm said temporary waterways can be defined as any waterway that does not flow all year long. Some temporary waterways flow most of the year, but some only flow a few days out of the year.

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El Centro celebrates its 50th anniversary

Makayla Grijalva | September 19

El Centro de la Raza kicked off their year-long 50th year celebration on Sept.17. The student services center was opened at the University of New Mexico in 1969 under the name Chicano Student Services and is a part of the Division of Student Affairs. The kickoff event included speakers from every decade since El Centro’s founding. Speakers talked about El Centro de la Raza’s evolution, and a special anniversary logo for the center was also revealed.

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New Mexico may be facing another Democratic "trifecta"

Makayla Grijalva | September 19

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Sept. 19 in the New Mexico News Port. This is part of our project to help connect the Daily Lobo audience to more members of our community New Mexico may be on track to have another Democratic “trifecta” after the 2018 election cycle. A state government trifecta is when a single political party has control of the governor’s seat and the majority in both chambers of the state legislature, in this case, the New Mexico House of Representatives and New Mexico Senate.

President Stokes addresses an audience during a State of the University speech in UNM SUB September 17, 2018.

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Stokes unpacks first 200 days as president at State of University address

Danielle Prokop | September 18

After 200 days, the University of New Mexico no longer has a “new” President. UNM President Garnett Stokes gave her first State of the University address Monday to a crowd of 200 people. She was introduced by Faculty President Pamela Pyle, and spoke for nearly half an hour. Framed on each side by arrangements of red and white gladiolas, Stokes touted University success in healthcare programs, teaching educators, research initiatives, and student entrepreneurs and startups.

A UNMPD officer stands behind a police cruiser on Sept. 23, 2015.

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Crime Briefs for Sept. 16, 2018

Elizabeth Sanchez | September 16

Misdemeanor warrant arrest, battery, escape from custody of a peace officer On the afternoon of Aug. 30, an officer was sent to Zimmerman Library, according to a UNMPD report. The officer met with a female student who said a male followed her from the Student Union Building to the library. The male sat at the same table as her and stared at her. She ignored him. The male started to eat part of the student’s lunch. She asked him not to do that, and another person at the table told him to leave, stating that he was bothering them. The male began to caress the student’s arm from her shoulder to her elbow. She said that “she was creeped out and told him to stop,” according to the report.

The USS New Mexico bell in front of Zimmerman Library after its rededication ceremony on Thursday, Sep 13. The bell is one of two that were aboard the ship. The bell would sound alarms or be used to bury at sea those killed in action by the kamikaze attacks.

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UNM rededicates naval bell to Smith Plaza

Tom Hanlon | September 16

University of New Mexico students may notice something new in front of Zimmerman Library next time they are walking through Smith Plaza — if they are looking carefully enough. Last Thursday, the ship bell of the World War II era USS New Mexico battleship was rededicated during its rehanging in front of Zimmerman Library. The bell previously hung from a turquoise metal frame above Smith Plaza before the plaza’s renovation over the summer. The rededication ceremony detailed the history of the bell and included speeches from UNM President Garnett Stokes, Rear Admiral Mark Bipes, Greg Trapp of the New Mexico Council of the Navy League and the commanding officer of the current USS New Mexico nuclear powered fast attack submarine, Commander James Morrow.

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NM Supreme Court rejects straight-party voting

Makayla Grijalva | September 16

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Sept. 14 in the New Mexico News Port, under the headline, “New Mexico Supreme Court Rejects Newly Reinstated Straight Party Ballot Option.” This is part of our project to help connect the Daily Lobo audience to more members of our community A unanimous decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court Wednesday, Sept. 12, blocked the option for using straight-party voting in the November 2018 general election. Straight-party voting, also known as straight-ticket voting, is an option on a ballot to fill in one bubble to select all candidates of a single party.

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Get a clue: Centennial Library launches Mystery Room

Ahmad Yar Ranjha | September 16

The University of New Mexico Centennial Library has created the Mystery Room series to invoke interest and educate library users about its resources and services. The purpose of the two-event series is to educate new students on how to find information and locate library resources on specific topics, time periods and important scholars. There will be one on Sept. 20 and Oct. 4. “In the Mystery Room, students find out what happened to a missing scholar by solving puzzles and finding clues. During the game they’ll learn about the way information is presented as well as get to know some of UNM’s librarians and meet other students,” said the event organizer Glenn Koelling, who is an assistant professor and learning service librarian.

The 25-foot tall Aggie Cowboy effigy burns at the 2018 Red Rally on Johnson Field on Sept. 13, 2018.

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UNM students get ready for rivalry game at Red Rally

Anthony Jackson | September 14

Students at the University of New Mexico did not start the fire. Red Rally, UNM’s 15-year tradition of burning an effigy of New Mexico State University’s Pistol Pete mascot days before the UNM-NMSU football game, continued to burn bright on Thursday. Crowds of students covered Johnson Field just to watch the pinata-like effigy go up in flames.

UNMPD Officer Patricia Young speaks to the ASUNM Senate about the Lobo Guardian app on September 12, 2018.

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ASUNM approve budget request, reject McCain condolence

Justin Garcia | September 13

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Senate met Wednesday night to vote on balance forward requests, a condolence for Senator John McCain, and receive an update about the Johnson Center renovation and the UNM Police Department’s media presence. President Becka Myers requested that $37,788 of almost $50,000 in unspent money from last year’s budget be sent to cover costs of ASUNM’s eight student service agencies not previously covered in their budgets. This is the first time the balance forward requests have gone through the Finance Committee, said Madelyn Lucas, the Finance Committee chair.

Greg Williams speaks during public comment at Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting at the Student Union Building. Williams’ comments were regarding athletics.

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Tempers flare between Regents and Faculty at latest meeting

Cameron Goeldner | September 13

The latest Board of Regents meeting ended with a heated exchange between Regent Tom Clifford and Faculty Senate President Pamela Pyle Tuesday afternoon. Clifford accused Pyle and the rest of the faculty leadership of being “cowardly” on their behalf following the Regents vote to cut sports and not forgive the athletic department debt, which was something that the faculty had requested last winter. When asked if the faculty had taken a position on the Board’s handling of the athletics budget, Pyle said the faculty had weighed in behind the scenes because much of the faculty was gone during the summer when the decision was being made.

University of New Mexico students continue their day leaving, or arriving to Dane Smith Hall. Of the almost 24,000 students at UNM, less than six percent use the Lobo Guardian app.

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UNM promotes app to protect students

Anthony Jackson | September 9

Smartphones have tremendous pocket-sized power — sometimes they are used for finding memes and other times they can be used to save a life. Since 2015, the University of New Mexico has promoted a service called LoboGuardian — which runs off the RaveGuardian network — to increase campus safety. Users can send pictures and text anonymous tips to the UNM Police Department through the app. There is also a panic button for emergencies. The panic button will quickly send a distress signal to UNMPD and turn your smartphone into a tracking beacon, allowing law enforcement to respond accordingly.

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Crime briefs for September 10

Elizabeth Sanchez | September 9

Possession of Stolen Property On the evening of Aug. 23, an officer was sent to Popejoy Hall after stuffed teddy bears were stolen, according to a police report. The officer spoke with the male who reported the incident. He said someone took the bears from a cabinet inside Popejoy Hall. There were no witnesses. Another officer detained a male who was holding three stuffed bears at the bookstore and said he found them on the ground. The male is not a student and has been involved in many campus calls. Requesting that the male in possession of the bears be banned from campus, the police report will be sent to the UNM Dean of Students.

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UNM receives substantial grant from Google

Mikhaela Smith | September 9

The University of New Mexico recently received a grant from Google to help attract more undergraduate women to the fields of robotics and computer science. According to a Google press release, UNM was one of 15 schools to receive an exploreCSR (Computer Science Research) grant. The press release said Google wants to use these grants to reach about 1,200 undergraduate women between 2018 and 2019. This $35,000 grant will help implement a program called Becoming a Robot Guru Workshop, led by associate computer science professor Lydia Tapia.