The University of New Mexico is working toward becoming a greener campus. The University has been increasing its renewable energy resource every year by adding solar panels. UNM has also been reducing the amount of water used in campus upkeep, according to Mary Clark, the sustainability manager for the Sustainability Studies Program at UNM.
In celebration of National Arbor Day, the grounds and landscaping department will be planting different kinds of trees around campus the week of April 23 through 27. Alan Billau, the arboriculture supervisor for the department, said these plantings, which are open to everyone, are a good way to connect with the community.
There are 70 plots in the two gardens at Student Family Housing at the University of New Mexico. And for Denise Mitchell, “since their opening in late 80s, early 90s, the gardens have been one of the beautiful spots of their kind at the housing complex.” Mitchell, the area coordinator for the SFH, said the idea began when wives of two students planted in kimchi pots.
Albuquerque decriminalized marijuana this past month, but even before that, cannabis-related businesses were thriving in the Duke City. Cheba Hut — a marijuana-themed sandwich shop located on Harvard — has been open since 2008 and is a close campus option. It serves local beer on tap and makes sandwiches until midnight. Isaac Montoya, the owner of Cheba Hut since 2012, said business is good primarily due to quality sandwiches, but also the growing number of states and cities legalizing marijuana across the country.
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22 the University of New Mexico Sustainability Program is hosting the 10th Annual Sustainability Expo on Thursday from 10:30 a.m until 2:30 p.m. at Cornell Mall outside of the Student Union Building. Every year UNM’s Sustainability Studies Program hosts an expo to educate students, staff, faculty and the wider community about recycling, composting, conservation and other forms of sustainability, said Jessica Rowland, a professor of sustainability and one of the faculty organizers of the expo.
The Lobo has been the University of New Mexico’s mascot for almost 100 years, but the Lobo, also known as the Mexican gray wolf, is making a slow comeback from the endangered species list. The wolf’s habitat used to stretch as far south as central Mexico, as north as central New Mexico, as west as Arizona and as east as Texas, but now its habitat is confined to reintroduction zones along the Arizona-New Mexico border, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.
The University of New Mexico men’s soccer program is being "very seriously" looked at as a sport to cut, according to an email sent out this afternoon by head coach Jeremy Fishbein. In a meeting Monday morning, athletic director Eddie Nuñez told Fishbein that men’s soccer was one of the sports being seriously considered to be discontinued in order to save money for a department that has failed to balance its budget in eight of the last 10 years.
The Jim and Mary Lois Hulsman Undergraduate Library Research Awards recognized the six winners of their inaugural competition Wednesday afternoon in Zimmerman Library. The awards recognize students who produce outstanding research using library resources and sophisticated information literacy skills. “The idea for this program came from our library faculty and staff,” said Associate Dean of Public Services Mark Emmons. “They lobbied to create a recognition program that would celebrate outstanding research done by our (University of New Mexico) undergraduate students.”
The University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning is working in collaboration with Central New Mexico Community College on a paid internship for students to create sustainable and affordable housing through a project called ecoMOD. According to John Quale, chair and professor at the School of Architecture and Planning, this program originally began at the University of Virginia in 2004. When Quale began working at UNM in 2014, he brought the project with him.
Students at the University of New Mexico received free haircuts and signed a pledge to end sexual assault on campus Friday as part of a sexual assault awareness campaign in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Associated Students of UNM hosted seven barbers and hair stylists at Shear Empowerment, an event held in the Student Union Building, which was the first of its kind at UNM. According to a press release by ASUNM, bringing hair stylists was meant to reflect the increasing recognition that sexual assault and domestic violence survivors often confide in their hair stylist or barber.
In response to a tweet from President Trump threatening to launch a missile strike against Syria, the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism Coalition, or the ANSWER Coalition, held a protest Thursday against the potential renewal of military action in Syria — the United States launched an airstrike the next day. On Wednesday, President Trump said on Twitter he was considering the launch of an airstrike on Syria. The President proclaimed outrage over the Assad regime’s suspected use of chemical weapons on its own people.
The University of New Mexico is in the process of collecting data for the 2018 College Climate Survey on Sexual Misconduct. UNM has been conducting the survey annually since 2015 — it aims to help college campuses understand how many students are experiencing things like sexual harassment and gender discrimination, as well as how effective the school’s resources and reporting policies are, said Heather Cowan, UNM’s Title IX coordinator.
The University Advisement Center changed its name to the Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center, which went into effect on April 1. Manager of Academic Advisement Marlene Sanchez said the name change was appropriate to better describe the mission of the center.
“There’s a lot of struggle with imposter syndrome and feeling like you’re not up to par with your peers, even though you are and that can be difficult,” said the Society of Women Engineers President Maria Kelly. Kelly pushes past “imposter syndrome” and utilizes her position to help give other girls in the science technology engineering and mathematics program a sense of confidence.
The next Daily Lobo editor-in-chief was selected by the Student Publications Board Friday. Kyle Land is a current news editor for the Lobo and will officially take office as the editor-in-chief for the 2018-2019 school year on April 30. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Land came to the University of New Mexico to pursue international studies, but switched his major to history with a minor in English.
President Garnett Stokes opened the doors of University House to students Thursday afternoon, serving up root beer floats and fun times for all. “I’m really happy with the turnout, and I think everyone else is happy,” Stokes said. “A lot of these people have never seen the house before, so I’m glad we could open it up to them.” Many students poured through the doors throughout the afternoon. Some brought housewarming gifts, such as plants and flamingo lawn ornaments, while other students asked to take Snapchat selfies with her.
Michael Brasher was selected as the new member of the University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents less than a month ago and already faces criticism for what some consider a conflict of interest. The criticisms surround Brasher’s seat on the State Board of Finance as well as the Board of Regents. Brasher was appointed as a regent by Gov. Susana Martinez on March 21, according to the UNM Newsroom. Prior to his appointment, he served for three terms as a member on the State Board of Finance, where he still serves today.
Undergraduate students will have the chance to make their voices heard during the Associated Students of University of New Mexico senatorial elections this week. Online voting will take place starting Monday at 9 a.m. and will close Wednesday at 5 p.m. Students can access the online ballot by logging into their myUNM accounts, according to the ASUNM Elections Commission website.
The University of New Mexico’s Athletic Director Eddie Nuñez answered questions from the Associated Students of UNM during their April 11 full Senate meeting. Nuñez apologized for not visiting the senators earlier and said, “Things have been a little bit crazy,” but added that he wants to work with them as much as possible continuing forward. To solidify his point, Nuñez referenced previous conversations he had with outgoing ASUNM President Noah Brooks and said he wanted to be certain ASUNM voices were being heard.
Ethnic departments across the University of New Mexico are advocating for change, with strong support from all departments. Chicana and Chicano Studies and Native American Studies are looking to add a master’s and doctorate degree to their programs. Africana Studies is currently looking to earn departmental status, but hopes to add a master’s and doctorate degree to their program in the future as well.
Solutions by The State News
