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News

New Mexico to enact straight-party voting next election

Madison Spratto | August 29

The Secretary of State (SOS) Maggie Toulouse Oliver announced Wednesday that straight-party voting will be an option on the 2018 election ballot, a decision that has already received backlash from both sides. Toulouse Oliver said she promised to implement straight-party, also called straight ticket, voting during her run for Secretary of State, and being on the verge of ballot printing deadline, she said there was no other time to announce the decision, because the office needed time to test sample ballots.

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Everything you need to know for Zozobra 2018

Danielle Prokop | August 29

It’s the end of the summer, meaning it’s time for New Mexico’s own “burning man” tradition, this Friday, Aug. 31 at Marcy Park in Santa Fe. For anyone from out of state — the burning of Zozobra (the 50-foot tall figure is affectionately named “Old Man Gloom”) is a Santa Fe tradition, stretching back for 94 years.

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ASUNM grants $14,000 to Women's Rugby

Justin Garcia | August 29

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico voted to appropriate just over $14,000 to Women’s Rugby on Wednesday night on its first full-senate meeting of the semester. With 19 votes for and 1 absentee-abstention, ASUNM voted to continue funding the team for the duration of the fall semester. Women’s rugby is currently a club sport and does not fall under the athletics department. The women’s rugby team competed in the elite eight round of the National Championship last spring.

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UNM Press gift hundreds of books to tribal libraries

Tasawar Shah | August 29

The Center for Regional Studies (CRS) and UNM Press at the University of New Mexico have gifted 850 books to 25 underfunded public and tribal libraries in New Mexico, with each library receiving 34 books. The books focus on the history, landscape and the communities of the region. This collaborative project began in 2009 in an effort to promote the relationship between the community and UNM.

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Honors College teaches class on archaeology of trails

Luisa Pennington | August 29

The University of New Mexico Honors College reintroduced Archeology of Trails and Anthropology of Place this semester. According to Troy Lovata, the chair of the Honors College and professor of the class, he has taught this class off and on since it was introduced in 2015. With a background in archeology that is grounded in anthropology, Lovata has extensive knowledge in human history. He has taught courses on landscape, culture and place for more than a dozen years.

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UNMH offers world's smallest pacemaker

Mikhaela Smith | August 29

The University of New Mexico Hospital is now offering the world’s smallest pacemaker. This new pacemaker, called the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS), is about the size of a vitamin pill and uses single chamber technology to treat patients with bradycardia.

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National Science Foundation Day held today in SUB

Mikhaela Smith | August 29

The University of New Mexico will be hosting National Science Foundation Day in New Mexico from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. today in the Student Union Building. According to the NSF Day in NM website, the event is intended to help early career and tenure track faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers learn more about the NSF’s proposal process in order to make themselves more competitive when applying for funding.

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Protestors call for abolishment of ICE

Megan Holmen | August 28

A rally organized by Black Live Matter LGBTQAI+ Migrant Project drew a crowd of about 100 to the intersection of Lomas Boulevard and 4th Street on Monday Aug. 28 to call for the end of ICE. The Abolish Ice rally was the groups day of action, and the first project to demonstrate solidarity between diverse groups, said Tiara Gendi, one of the organizers. “We are calling out the inhumane conditions that queer people are being exposed to when they are in detention centers,” Gendi said. “We are standing in memory of queer immigrants that died in the hands of ice.”

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J.C. Penney offers discounts on business clothes for students

Derek Olsen | August 28

On Sunday, J.C. Penney partnered up with the University of New Mexico’s Career Services department to host their third communal “Suit Up!” event at Coronado Mall. The event is designed to provide discounts on business and professional attire for UNM’s students, alumni, faculty and staff. The event began in the fall of 2017 with Jenna Crabb, director of career services, who has held the position since 2006. Crabb was approached by executives from the department store with the idea and she agreed to it.

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La Posada introduces to-go boxes

Madison Spratto | August 26

It’s sustainable, it’s to-go and it’s thanks to one student. La Posada’s newest program, LaPo To-Go, gives students the ability to take their favorite dining hall food anywhere they please, using reusable containers. Coleen Geraghty, a civil engineering major and sustainability minor, came up with the idea for reusable to-go boxes in the La Posada dining hall last spring during her time as a sustainability intern for UNM Food.

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UNM launches new printing system

Megan Holmen | August 26

The printing system at the University of New Mexico’s Main Campus got a reboot this semester. Printing across campus is now operated by Wēpa, a cloud based printing solution, said Elisha Allen, the director of academic technology at UNM IT. This system allows students to print their documents remotely from the cloud. According to Allen, the system takes LoboCa$h and any debit or credit card.

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UNM's Spirit Marching Band prepares for new season

Tom Hanlon | August 26

With a new football season comes new performances from the University of New Mexico’s Spirit Marching Band (SMB). This year the band’s halftime show will incorporate music from icons such as Maynard Ferguson and Aretha Franklin. “Each year, we strive to bring different music to the field,” said Dr. Chad Simons, associate director of bands at UNM. “We look forward to presenting entertaining and tuneful charts that our audience will recognize and enjoy.” Since the start of band camp on Aug. 10, the band has been training new members and incorporating them into the band’s ensemble. Simons said one of the first challenges is training new members from diverse backgrounds to perform according to UNM SMB customs.

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Four UNM architects earn leadership roles

Luisa Pennington | August 26

University of New Mexico architecture students Elizabeth Wilson, Nicholas Romero and Diana Duran were elected to leadership positions for the UNM chapter of the American Institute of Architecture Students for the 2018-2019 school year. The three students have been appointed to national architecture boards for the current school year, as well. Within UNM AIAS, Wilson is the president, Romero is the vice president and Duran is the graduate student liaison. Originally modeled after the American Institute of Architects (AIA), AIAS students are represented in the AIA, in addition to the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

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C&J building now requires ID swipe for entrance

Anthony Jackson | August 26

University of New Mexico students must now use their LoboCard to enter the Communication and Journalism building. The announcement was made via email from Jessica Chavez, the C&J program coordinator, on Tuesday, Aug. 21. The email explained how students have to swipe their card to gain entry: make sure your photo is facing Redondo Drive Northeast as you swipe from top to bottom. If done correctly, a green light will appear — students are advised to enter through the left door.

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New Mexico's birds and trees are dying

Kyle Land | August 22

Bird populations in New Mexico are failing to take off — in fact, they’re nosediving. A study conducted by scientists at the Los Alamos National Labs (LANL) found that piñon pine trees are dying in growing numbers, which is having adverse effects on wildlife in the area — especially birds. Researchers believe climate change is one of the reasons. The study, conducted by Jeanne Fair and Charles Hathcock, concluded that “piñon mortality may be a significant threat to bird communities in the southwestern U.S.” It also stated that piñon-juniper woodlands, in which piñon trees thrive, may disappear completely by the year 2100, according to a LANL press release.

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UNM holds convocation to greet freshmen

Hazel Simmons | August 22

Starting college can be a difficult transition. As an attempt to make students feel more comfortable on campus, the University of New Mexico holds an annual freshman convocation the day before classes begin. With an assortment of speeches and performances, they give the diverse freshman class a taste of the variety of programs and communities that are within UNM.

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UNM selects Interim Title IX Coordinator

Megan Holmen | August 22

The University of New Mexico has selected Sara Cliffe as the Interim Title IX Coordinator at the Office of Equal Opportunity. Cliffe began working at UNM June 2018 as the OEO Compliance Manager. According to Francie Cordova, the director of OEO, Cliffe is well versed in Title IX, which was why she was selected for the position.

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Chief of Staff Elizabeth Washburn leaves UNM

Anthony Jackson | August 22

Throughout 2018 the University of New Mexico has seen the retirement, transfer and resignation of staff from many different positions. A recent resignee includes Elizabeth Washburn, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President at the University of New Mexico and as Chief Compliance Officer. Washburn said she is leaving the University to be with her husband, Kevin, as he begins his tenure as Dean of College Law at the University of Iowa, adding that her departure “has nothing to do with athletics.”

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Answers to common questions from incoming students

Megan Holmen | August 22

A new school year brings new students — and new questions. The Daily Lobo asked new students what daunting questions they had prior to starting the semester, and did our best to answer them.

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UNM researcher receives grant to treat cancer survivors

Mikhaela Smith | August 22

A University of New Mexico researcher recently received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to help improve the lives of cancer survivors across New Mexico. The grant, which will last for five years, will total $772,000. Cindy Blair, assistant professor at UNM’s School of Medicine, said she hopes this grant will help older cancer survivors live an active lifestyle by decreasing the amount of time they spend sitting for long periods of time. She said this will be done remotely, which will reduce a survivor’s need to travel.