News - The Daily Lobo

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.

News

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.

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes, right, addresses the university community during a town hall hosted by the Daily Lobo in the SUB Atrium March 27, 2018. Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Sanchez, center, and News Editor Kyle Land asked her their own questions as well as questions from the public.

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UNM President Stokes breaks the ice at town hall

Noah Vigil | March 28

The Daily Lobo hosted a town hall Tuesday with the University of New Mexico President, Garnett S. Stokes, in an effort to help the UNM community get to know her a bit better. Daily Lobo Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Sanchez and News Editor Kyle Land asked her questions throughout the event — some of their own, some from the public. The public’s questions were submitted through email, social media and on index cards during the event. The town hall began with introductions and Stokes telling the audience about her life experiences.

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Innovation Academy promotes entrepreneurship

Catherine Stringam | March 28

The University of New Mexico Innovation Academy hosted a Create Your Own Job Fair for young entrepreneurs on Tuesday. Setting it aside from a traditional job fair, the event was structured to support young people interested in starting their own business — essentially creating their own jobs. Companies from across Albuquerque — like Nusenda, WESST, Sandia Labs, Air Force Research Labs, ABQid, SCORE Business Mentoring and many more — set up booths and talked to students at Lobo Rainforest.

Photo of Doris Careaga, Ph.D. Photo courtesy of Chicana and Chicano Studies

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UNM prof teaches Afro-Mexican culture

Megan Holmen | March 28

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of five profiles on women associated with the University of New Mexico, who have been recognized by Albuquerque Business First as women of influence in New Mexico. Doris Careaga, Ph.D. is a professor in the Chicano and Chicana Studies Department, where she teaches classes that focus on Afro-Mexican culture and heritage. “Afro-Mexican studies is not only my subject in a professional way, but it is a huge part of my life,” she said.

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Sustainability Studies Program had humble beginnings

Gabriela Garcia-Huff , Brianna Mortensen and Jaden Torres | March 26

Editor's Note: The Sustainability Studies program was conceived in 2002 during an Earth Systems Engineering Convention held in Boulder, CO.

From left to right, Rob Robinson, Eddie Nuñez and Brad Hutchins stand in front of the Board of Regents on March 22, 2018 at the Budget Summit.

News

Athletics dept. pressured on deficit

Danielle Prokop | March 26

Students urged the University of New Mexico Board of Regents to not forgive the athletics department’s accumulated $7.5 million deficit at the Budget Summit Thursday. And the regents delivered. Board of Regents president Robert Doughty made the move to table the issue of UNM athletics’ deficit until the department can provide a balanced budget for 2019. “I need to be convinced now more than anything that we will not have a deficit next year,” Doughty said. “We table any discussion on dealing with the past deficit until we get a financially sound transparent budget for 2019.”

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Women's Resource Center hosts panel on midwifery

Megan Holmen | March 26

The Women’s Resource Center hosted a panel on pursuing a career as a midwife, including the significance and cultural relevance of the history of midwifery in New Mexico. The panel included Kristen Ostrem, who has been working as a midwife since 1996. She is also currently teaching at the University of New Mexico through the College of Nursing. She graduated from UNM’s midwifery program, the same six-semester-long program she teaches at now. There were two other panel members — Donyelle Miller, who is currently working at Dar a Luz birthing center and graduated from UNM last year, and Brittany Simplicio, who has been practicing for five years. She currently works at UNMH as a midwife and graduated from UNM’s program several years ago.

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UNM professor earns engineering research award

Mikhaela Smith | March 26

An assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of New Mexico was awarded the 2018 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award for his work, titled “Next Generation Electrical Wires for Navy Applications.” This year, Mehran Tehrani was one of 31 recipients selected amongst 340 qualified applicants to receive this award. According to the Office of Naval Research, his prize includes a three-year grant totaling $510,000. The Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program, or ONR YIP, is one of oldest and most selective technology basic research programs in the nation. The program was introduced in 1985 and aims to solve some of the toughest naval warfighting challenges by funding the research of early-career academic researchers, known as investigators, whose scientific pursuits exhibit strong potential for supporting the Department of Defense, according to the Office of Naval Research.

Centennial Engineering Center on UNM’s Main Campus on March 25, 2018

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School of Engineering receives $3 million donation

Anthony Jackson | March 25

A University of New Mexico alum posthumously gifted the School of Engineering with the largest lump sum cash gift in the school’s history — $3 million. Dana C. Wood, a former civil engineering major, died in 2013 after battling cancer. The gift was received this March from his estate and will be used to benefit students at the School of Engineering. Wood graduated from the University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree and completed his master’s degree in 1990. He created a software that predated “the cloud,” called PowerMerge.

News

Burqueños march for gun regulation

Megan Holmen | March 25

Five and a half weeks after the Parkland, Florida shooting took the lives of 17 individuals, “March for Our Lives” rallied in cities across the world to protest school shootings and gun violence on March 24. Here, in Albuquerque, the “March for Our Lives” march began at 10 a.m. in Old Town Plaza. The march went from the Plaza to Tiguex Park, where the rally began at 11 a.m. Albuquerque's “March for Our Lives” was organized and ran by local youth. Blair Dixon, Jessica Stanton and Zoey Craft were the head organizers for the march. According to Dixon, a freshman at the University of New Mexico, youth organizers and volunteers met every day for the past three weeks to plan the march.

UNM students spend time outside the dorms on March 25, 2018.

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Freshmen required to live on campus starting Fall 2018

Anthony Jackson | March 25

Beginning in the Fall 2018 semester, incoming freshman living more than 30 miles from campus will be required to live on campus, with some exceptions. Students are exempt if they: Live with a parent, guardian or family member less than 30 miles from campus. Are at least 20 years old at the beginning of their freshman year. Are domestically partnered, married or have children. Have a medical disability. A cultural sensitivity or associated concern. Have an undue hardship interfering ability to attend.

The Nob Hill ART stop on the afternoon of March 25, 2018

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ART delayed due to regulatory problems

Michele Arbogast | March 25

David Harper, inspector general for the City of Albuquerque, said in November of 2017 he discovered the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project had numerous non-compliance issues, regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act. Harper said an independent auditor provided a 30-page report that confirmed the Build Your Dreams company, who manufactured the buses, met the federal guidelines for at least 60 percent of bus guidelines. Harper said he contacted the mayor’s office and the city council in January, stating he would be initiating a formal review focused on “funding and quality oversight.”

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes tells reporters about her future plans for the University on March 5, 2018 at Popejoy Hall.

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President Stokes' many "firsts"

Shayla Cunico | March 25

After being unanimously selected last November, the University of New Mexico’s first female President Garnett S. Stokes had her historic moment during the 31st anniversary of Women’s History Month, as she began her term on March 1. Stokes has been a “first” several times, she said. A: I’m happy to be in that role. It’s such a great message to say to women that these opportunities are available. It’s not the first time that I’ve been “the first.” I was the first woman head of psychology at the University of Georgia and the first woman dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia, the first woman provost at Florida State University (and) the first interim president at Florida State.

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Nob Hill merchants still awaiting ART's benefits

Nichole Harwood | March 24

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Feb. 19 in the New Mexico News Port, under the headline, "Nob Hill merchants still awaiting ART's benefits," written by Nichole Harwood. This is part of our project to help connect the Daily Lobo audience to more members of our community. With the arrival of ART — Albuquerque Rapid Transit’s dedicated bus line — many longtime businesses find themselves still waiting for the project to deliver on its promises while enduring more than a year of disruption. The Nob Hill Business Community has emerged as one of Albuquerque’s most popular districts for restaurants, entertainment and boutique shopping. Home to many locally owned businesses, Nob Hill is located just east of the University of New Mexico, spanning a mile-long stretch of Central Avenue.

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Online exhibit showcases achievements of women at UNM

Megan Holmen | March 24

The University of New Mexico Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communications Program, or DISC, created an online exhibit entitled “And Yet She Persisted: Documenting Women’s Lives in New Mexico.” This exhibit is in celebration of Women’s History Month and seeks to recognize the achievements of women who have graduated from UNM, said Mary Wise, digital humanities librarian and assistant professor. Wise collaborated with Amy Winter, DISC program specialist, to create the online exhibit. According to Wise, “And Yet She Persisted” will be an ongoing project and will be available even after Women’s History Month ends.

ASUNM President Noah Brooks addresses the Board of Regents at the Budget Summit on March 22, 2018.

News

Regents approve tuition increase

Austin Tyra | March 23

The University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted to approve an increase in student tuition proposed by the Budget Leadership Team during Thursday's budget summit. There will be a 2.5 percent tuition increase, along with a $7 premium and 2.39 percent fee increase for each upper division course — this will be applied to all students. The charts supplied by the BLT reflect the following monetary increases after the increased tuition, increased fees and new premiums are applied:

Chart created by Daily Lobo design staff

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On-campus groups face cuts across the board

Madison Spratto | March 22

Rising fees, shrinking budgets and a spike in tuition — these will all be discussed at the University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents Annual Budget Summit on March 22 starting at 9 a.m. The regents will have the opportunity to decide on tuition, fees and recommendations from the Student Fee Review Board during the summit for the next fiscal year, according to their agenda. SFRB consists of five undergraduate and two graduate students who make recommendations for how student fees should be distributed to departments and resource centers across campus.