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UNM hosts slam poet for recital and workshop

Megan Holmen | April 5

The University of New Mexico Women’s Resource Center hosted poet Olivia Gatwood for an evening of spoken word poetry and for a writing workshop. Gatwood is an Albuquerque native and is known across the country for her slam poetry. The Women’s Resource Center invited Gatwood to perform as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, said Sarah East, a communications assistant at the Women’s Resource Center. Gatwood frequently participates in lectures to educate students about Title IX, East said.

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National holiday encourages cardiovascular health

Catherine Stringam | April 5

The American Heart Association declared the first Wednesday of April National Walking Day. In recognition of this, the University of New Mexico encouraged its employees to participate by hosting Walk Out on Work Day. The goal of Walk Out on Work Day is for employees to spend their lunch time or breaks outside exercising. “In today’s busy world, making fitness a priority is always a challenge,” said Tracey Briggs, supervisor of UNM Employee Wellness. “This event proves that it can be attained during the workday by simply going for a walk.”

UNM President Stokes walks with faculty and other attendees for the vigil commemorating the 50-year anniversary of the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 2018.

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UNM commemorates Dr. MLK, Jr.'s legacy

Catherine Stringam | April 5

While it has been 50 years since his passing, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on today with students and faculty at the University of New Mexico. On the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination, UNM’s Africana, Chicana and Chicano and Native American Studies came together to hold a vigil honoring King. Students and community members of all ages gathered outside Mesa Vista Hall Wednesday afternoon to share stories and inspiration. “The dream is still alive,” Rev. Charles Becknell, Sr. said to the crowd.

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Brief: ASUNM allocates extra money to student orgs

Austin Tyra | April 5

The Finance Committee of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico has developed an updated proposal regarding the Spring Budget Bill that will be in effect for the upcoming fiscal year. At the beginning of last week's full Senate meeting Financial Chair Satchel Ben confirmed that nearly $4,000 of unallocated funds remained in the budget. In response to this, senators voted down the proposed bill, so that the Finance Committee could craft a budget that would include this extra money.

Larry Plumlee packs books before they are exported across the country.

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UNM moves to sustain its press

Madison Spratto | April 5

The next step in saving the University of New Mexico’s publishing house, UNM Press, was approved by the Board of Regents on March 12. The press will outsource their warehouse and distribution functions to Longleaf Service Inc., which works with several other academic presses, according to Richard Schuetz, the interim director of UNM Press.

Photos at the University Archives are splayed across a table. The images were taken in 1930, just after the completion of the UNM president’s house on campus.

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The cost and history of University House

Danielle Prokop | April 5

A new president means a new resident on the University of New Mexico’s campus. President Garnett Stokes is moving in to 1901 Roma Ave. SE soon — and with that comes the scrutiny of how much funding is being spent on the residence. The president’s house has been making headlines for the past 89 years. The two-story adobe house was built in 1929, according to University Archives.

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Brief: How student evaluations affect instructors

Danielle Prokop | April 5

The end of the semester is near, which means it’s time for student evaluations at the University of New Mexico. Student evaluation averages are a factor in determining promotion and tenure for faculty or rehiring lecturers, according to the College for Arts and Sciences handbook. Professors who are on track for tenure have their performance assessed based on their teaching evaluations, service on committees and their research, the handbook said.

After making religious statements, Sebastian Bryan (left) of In Christ Is Life debates hotly with Karo Johnson.

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UNM upholds commitment to free speech

Anthony Jackson | April 5

Controversial speakers have come and gone from the University of New Mexico, but this March, something near the Student Union Building may have left some passersby perplexed. Throughout the year, a black and white sign hangs from a red bar on UNM’s camps, reading: “Free speech zone ahead. Topics discussed may be uncomfortable and controversial. The topics and opinions discussed are those of private individuals and not the University of New Mexico.” That sign appeared again in March in the area just before entering Cornell Mall, near the “Modern Art” piece by Betty Sabo.

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Brief: Researchers study brain differences in murderers

Megan Holmen | April 4

The University of New Mexico Mind Institute recently completed extensive research on why teens commit murder. This research has been published in NeuroImage, a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research on neuroimaging. Kent Kiehl, one of the researchers from the New Mexico Mind Institute, said research examining brain differences in teens who murder began after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Kiehl collaborated with the parents of Avielle Richman, a six-year-old who died in the shooting. Jennifer and Jeremy Richman, Avielle’s parents, created a foundation in her name. Kiehl is a scientific advisor on the foundation’s board. It was the conversations with Avielle’s parents that sparked the research, Kiehl said.

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Former Black Panther Party captain discusses crack cocaine epidemic

Donald Amble | April 4

A former captain of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party spoke to students at the University of New Mexico Tuesday about what lead to the crack cocaine epidemic. Aaron Dixon gave a lecture on where his book, “My People Are Rising” left off as part of Africana Studies’ annual speaker series — this year’s focus was on the African-American experience in the Southwest. Dixon said the crack cocaine epidemic had international origins and was deeply connected to the geopolitics of the Cold War.

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Group to host week of recognition for farmworkers

Tasawar Shah | April 2

CAMPrinos, a student organization that is part of the College Assistance Migrant Program at the University of New Mexico, is hosting the sixth Annual Farmworker Awareness Week from April 2 to 7 at the Student Union Building. Several departments as well as student and community organizations including CAMP, Student Action with Farmworkers, Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color, El Centro De la Raza, Lobo Respect and others, are sponsoring the week. The awareness campaign will kick off Monday at SUB and will conclude on Saturday at the National Hispanic Cultural Center with the 25th Annual César Chávez Day Fiesta.

Lobo Village residents relax at the on-site pool on March 31, 2018.

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Lobo Village prepares to expand its amenities

Anthony Jackson | April 2

Lobo Village is announcing two freshman Living Learning Communities in preparation for the University of New Mexico’s implementation of new freshman housing requirements, starting the Fall 2018 semester. One of the new communities, Lobo Fit, focuses on fitness goals and how students can utilize recreational campus resources. A flyer released by Lobo Village about the communities said that the other freshman Living Learning Community, Lobo Focus, emphasizes academic success for students and the development of peer-to-peer social skills.

Helen Baca responds to a question during a Women in STEM panel that took place in the SUB Ballrooms on Thursday, March 29, 2018.

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Women's Resource Center holds panel on women in STEM

Megan Holmen | April 1

The University of New Mexico Women’s Resource Center celebrated Women’s History Month on Thursday by hosting a panel discussion, featuring five women in science, technology, engineering and math fields. The center worked with UNM’s STEM Collaborative Center to plan and host the event. Anna Reser, the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of Lady Science Magazine, gave the welcome address for the event. She explained the importance of history of women in STEM and how that impacts the challenges women face today.

Adrian Schmitt, the programs coordinator for ASUNM governmental affairs, sits in one of the student government offices on the lower level of the Student Union Building on March 1, 2018. He visited the Roundhouse during this year’s legislative session to advocate for students to have more scholarship funding.

News

The history and future of the Lottery Scholarship

Elizabeth Sanchez and Alea White | April 1

A college education could mean everything. For some, the only way to have a college education is with the help of financial aid, and for many New Mexico residents, a large chunk of that financial aid has been slipping away. After the recent legislative session, the stability of the Lottery Scholarship — which helps some 26,000 students statewide — has been threatened again.

Photo courtesy of Dipped By Dee Facebook page

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Students hope treats business will win competition

Mikhaela Smith | April 1

Editor's Note: This is the first profile in a series on students and recent alumni who are part of the UNM Business Plan Competition. Continue to stay updated with the Daily Lobo for more information. Over 20 teams from the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College and New Mexico State University will compete in the 2018 UNM Business Plan Competition on April 20. The competition has roots dating back to 2005 and aims to help teams of college students and recent alumni test their startup business ideas by writing a business plan and presenting it to judges, said Alberto Solis, the interim director for the UNM Business Plan Competition Program, in an email to the Daily Lobo.

Gary LaFree gives a speech about the future of domestic Terrorism on April 3, 2018 during the Symposium on Global National and Human security, a two-day event at UNM.

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Security symposium covers next decade of national security

Tom Hanlon | April 1

On Monday and Tuesday the University of New Mexico’s Global and National Security Policy Institute and National Security Studies Program will host the ninth Annual National Security Symposium. The event, titled “Global, National and Human Security: Reflections on the Next Decade,” will include a number of speakers from security and government agencies, as well as faculty and student presenters from UNM. The event will open on Monday at 9:30 a.m. with a welcome from Provost Chaouki Abdallah — panels and speakers are scheduled throughout the day until 4 p.m. Tuesday’s schedule begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes at 3:30 p.m.

New UNM President Garnett S. Stokes sits with ASUNM President Noah Brooks after receiving a gift basket during her “listening tour” at the ASUNM meeting on the evening of March 28, 2018.

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ASUNM talks taproom updates, delays budget bill, speaks with Stokes

Austin Tyra | March 30

The Associated Students of the University of New Mexico full Senate meeting on Wednesday featured a conversation between senators and President Garnett S. Stokes, an update on the incoming UNM taproom and a delay of the Spring Budget Bill, which, at the time of the meeting, featured cuts to almost all student organizations. Questions for Stokes Stokes assured all those present at the meeting that she is “(here) to listen to what’s on the mind from our various constituents.”

Jordon McConnell, a master’s student studying French, takes questions from audience members on March, 23, 2018 during a panel discussion for the 10th Annual Cultural Studies Graduate Student Conference.

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Grad student conference focuses on diaspora, identity

Tasawar Shah | March 29

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of New Mexico hosted its 10th Annual Cultural Studies Graduate Student Conference on March 23 and 24 in Ortega Hall. This year’s theme was “Identities in Motion: Communities of Belonging and Exclusion in Diasporic Spaces.” The event was also sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Student Affairs, the Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Office of Graduate Studies. The conference featured national and international participants including the University of New Mexico, the University of Arizona, the University of California at Irvine, the University of Southern California, Fort Hays State University, North Carolina Central University and François Rabelais University.

Students study in the Math Learning Lab on the evening of Wednesday, March 28 2018.

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Program improves passing rates in math classes

Donald Amble | March 29

Remedial math at the University of New Mexico looked starkly different five years ago than it does now after the 2013 implementation of the Math Learning Lab, or MaLL. The MaLL’s mission is to increase the passing rate for UNM’s lower-division math courses, according to their website. Srini Vasan, Ph.D., the program’s director, said the intermediate algebra course, Math 120, had been giving the math department headaches well up to 2013. He said Math 120 was a remedial course that had been trapping students due to its inefficient teaching model.

Becka Myers, left, and Emily Wilks celebrate being elected as the ASUNM president and vice president, respectively, on the evening of March 28, 2018. The two ran unopposed.

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Students elect next ASUNM president and VP

Catherine Stringam | March 29

The president and vice president of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico for the 2018-2019 school year were announced Wednesday evening. Unopposed candidates Becka Myers, president elect, and Emily Wilks, vice president elect, were met with applause, as they were officially selected for their positions. Voting started Monday and closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Shortly after polls closed, students gathered at the Student Union Building Atrium to see the results and hear from their new leaders.