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UNM discontinues Lynda.com services

Amy Byres | January 24

The University of New Mexico’s subscription to Lynda.com, a tutorial website for Adobe programs, Microsoft programs and more, was officially discontinued on Dec. 20, 2017, according to an email sent out to Lynda.unm.edu users by the Information Technologies Center for Student Success at UNM. “Increasing licensing costs, ongoing budget reductions and low overall utilization of Lynda.unm.edu all contributed to the difficult decision to discontinue this service in favor of competing priorities,” said IT Chief Information Officer Duane Ej Arruti.

A protester holds an anti-ART sign during the anti-panhandling ordinance protest on the afternoon of Jan. 24, 2017.

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Burqueños protest anti-panhandling ordinance

Madison Spratto and Rebecca Brusseau | January 24

Two months ago, former Mayor of Albuquerque Richard Berry passed an ordinance regulating interactions between panhandlers and motorists — Wednesday evening residents took to the streets in protest. On Jan. 24, the intersection of San Mateo Boulevard SE and Central Avenue was the site of a demonstration led by Act Now to Stop War & End Racism Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union Albuquerque Chapter condemning the city’s anti-panhandling ordinance. The ordinance, called the “Pedestrian Safety Ordinance,” restricts panhandling within Albuquerque metro areas — it was passed unanimously by City Council in early November 2017.

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Rolling Stone reporter to present at Kiva

Madison Spratto | January 23

In today’s information-saturated world, it can be challenging to separate which reporting is legitimate or “fake.” Matt Taibbi plans on tackling this topic in a presentation Wednesday evening at the Kiva Auditorium. Taibbi is an award-winning investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine and the author of several books, such as “I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street.” His talk, “The Problems of Reporting in the Internet Age (and How to Counter Them),” will address issues directly relevant to journalism students, said David Weiss, department chair and associate professor for the Department of Communication & Journalism, who will facilitate the event. However, the information will also be of interest to the Albuquerque and University of New Mexico community.

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Lottery Foundation to lobby decrease in Lottery Scholarship funds

Madison Spratto | January 22

The Lottery Scholarship could be facing more defunding this week. The Lottery Foundation is lobbying to decrease funding Tuesday, according to a press release from the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Director of Communication Noah Michelsohn. In 2017 the Lottery Scholarship, which benefits around 26,000 students a year statewide, decreased from covering 90 percent of tuition to 60 percent.

President Stokes discusses her ideas on Jan. 19, 2018, as she prepares to start her position as the president of The University of New Mexico. She will begin her position on March 1, 2018.

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Q&A: The Daily Lobo sits down with future UNM president

Kyle Land | January 21

Starting March 1, Garnett S. Stokes will begin her five-year contract as the next president of the University of New Mexico — the first female president in UNM history. She has held the position of provost, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and interim chancellor at the University of Missouri, according to the UNM Newsroom. Stokes also held the positions of interim president, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Florida State University. Her positions at the University of Georgia also included: dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and head of psychology. The Daily Lobo sat down with Stokes to discuss her experience, where she thinks the University stands and her plans for the road ahead.

A woman?s rights supporter holds a sign while wearing a cat costume during the women?s march at the Civic Plaza. Hundreds of women, children and men attended the event in support of gender rights and other causes.

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2018 Women's March focuses on elections

Rebecca Brusseau | January 21

Hundreds gathered in Albuquerque’s Downtown Civic Plaza for the 2018 Women’s March Sunday morning. Marches like this one were held this weekend across the globe, from London to Washington D.C. to Albuquerque. The temperature dipped below 40 degrees, but participants bundled up and headed to the intersection of Fifth Street and Marquette Avenue to start their walk, which ended at Civic Plaza. Participants gathered at 10 a.m., and the first speakers at Civic Plaza began around 11 a.m. The event’s theme this year was geared toward inspiring young women to vote in the upcoming local elections.

News

SUB taproom funding secured

Austin Tyra | January 18

Students at the University of New Mexico will soon be able to enjoy a new addition to the Student Union Building — a taproom. The concept for an on-campus taproom first came about in 2016 and was originally headed by Associated Students of the University of New Mexico Student Court Chief Justice Sara Collins and former mayoral hopeful Gus Pedrotty. The duos’ original proposal was presented to a number of UNM officials including ASUNM, the Dean of Students, the provost and the Board of Regents.

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Student org supports women in STEM fields

Ariel Lutnesky | January 18

Discrimination can be difficult to overcome. This can be especially true for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related fields. Ph.D. student Stephanie Fox, who studies evolutionary anthropology, is the president of the University of New Mexico’s Advancing Women in Science club, which is dedicated to fighting obstacles that women in science face. “Ultimately, we’d like a world where women are unequivocally treated equally to men in STEM fields,” Fox said. “We will keep fighting for that, but until then, we will try to equip women with the skills necessary to persist in STEM.”

Courtesy Photo from Karla Molinar Arvizo

News

Gov. Martinez delivers address despite disruptions

Austin Tyra | January 17

Gov. Susana Martinez opened the 30-day New Mexico legislative session Tuesday with her last State of the State address before her second term comes to an end — but she was interrupted by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals activists who unrolled banners and chanted, “Undocumented, unafraid.” New Mexican Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, recently voted against the congressional DREAM Act, despite both men previously speaking in support of the resolution.

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Int'l student enrollment waxes and wanes

Rebecca Brusseau | January 17

International student enrollment rates at the University of New Mexico have experienced an ebb and flow over the past several years. According to the Global Education Office’s enrollment statistics, from 2012 to 2016 the amount of international students admitted to UNM increased from 1,060 students to 1,340 students. The percentage of increase in 2016 from previous years was only 0.64 percent, compared to 5.99 percent in 2015 and 19.85 percent in 2014. “Over the past three to five years, we have seen an increase in international student enrollment,” said Pablo Torres, director of International Recruitment and Admissions.

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Regents meeting focuses on finances

Austin Tyra | January 17

All Regents were in attendance during the Jan. 16 Board of Regents meeting, which began with a heavy focus on finances. The approval of the meeting minutes quickly passed, and University of New Mexico Interim President Chaouki Abdallah started his Administrative Report. The report began by addressing that the 30-day New Mexico state legislative session has commenced, and that financial expectations and allotments from the legislature are appearing better than expected. Abdallah said he is “hopeful that our financial situation will improve.”

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The LoboAlerts system explained

Kyle Land | January 17

If you have been either a student or faculty member at the University of New Mexico long enough, there is no doubt that you have received more than a fair share of LoboAlerts. Whether it concerns groping, robbery, assault or a myriad of other issues that require notification, LoboAlerts provide the information needed to keep the UNM campus safe and aware. But how does this system actually function? What is the process from the time an incident occurs to the moment students and faculty receive the text?

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What to expect at NM’s legislative session

Aaron Cowan | January 16

New Mexico’s legislative session begins Jan. 16 — to preview the legislative priorities for this session, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce invited leaders from the New Mexico State Senate and House of Representatives to provide a public briefing Jan. 11 at the Santa Fe Hilton. Sen. Peter Wirth, the Democratic Majority Floor Leader, described a number of items expected to be on the special session agenda. He said that, due to fluctuations in the price of oil and gas, New Mexico’s budget has experienced a $500 million swing in revenues. This has taken them from a deficit situation to a projected surplus that is expected to be somewhere in the range of $200 to $250 million in new money, meaning that spending is now possible.

After marching from Dr. MLK Jr. Ave., participants stand strong as speakers address a large audience in Civic Plaza on Jan. 13, 2018.

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MLK Day march celebrates King's heritage

Rebecca Brusseau | January 15

Albuquerque commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in a parade on Jan. 13 held by the Dr. MLK Jr. New Mexico Commission in honor of the 50th year anniversary of his passing. The parade began around 11 a.m. at the end of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue near the University of New Mexico and ended at Civic Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque. Throughout the walk, participants and groups held signs in solidarity with the cause. Some of the signs read, “Challenge Systemic Racism, Poverty, War Economy, Ecological Devastation,” “Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By,” or other phrases. Some signs featured visuals of the late King.

On the evening of Jan. 5, 2018, a for-sale sign hangs outside one of the recently closed FIJI houses.

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UNM Greek life comes under scrutiny

Madison Spratto | January 15

The party is over for Greek life at the University of New Mexico — at least for now. UNM Greek life is on “social restriction” as of Dec. 13, 2017 until Feb. 19, 2018, due to alleged activities that occurred during the Fall 2017 semester that were not in accordance with Greek life values, Matthew Lumpp, the UNM Greek life advisor, said.

This data was provided in an information packet on SFRB during a BOR meeting.

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Program assisting students of color receives substantial cuts

Ludella Awad | January 10

The Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color seeks to assist students of color on their path to graduating. Recently, the organization’s funding has been nearly cut in half, based on the University of New Mexico Student Fee Review Board’s decision on Dec. 12, 2017. From the 2017-2018 fiscal year, PNMGC was granted $9,907 — for the upcoming fiscal year, the organization will be granted $5,000, according to information distributed during a Board of Regents meeting in December. PNMGC is no stranger to budget cuts, as the group has faced major funding decreases since the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

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Researchers study relationship between stress and pregnancy

Tom Hanlon | January 7

A researcher at the University of New Mexico has found that offspring during and after gestation are physically affected by stress the mother experiences. Researchers tested their predictions using 719 studies across 21 mammal species ranging from rodents to ungulates to primates, according to research documents provided by UNM evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Andres Berghänel. The results were used to compare the effects of prenatal stress in the mammals.

Fences line the perimeter of Smith Plaza in preparation for the soon-to-come reconstruction on Jan. 5, 2018.

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Smith plaza renovation is underway

Madison Spratto | January 7

With the beginning of a new semester brings new courses and this time, new construction. Dec. 18, 2017 marked the start of construction on Smith Plaza on the University of New Mexico’s Main Campus. Smith Plaza sits between Zimmerman Library and the Student Union Building — the plaza experiences heavy foot traffic during the school week, which has been rerouted in light of the construction.

Hodgin Hall stands tall on the evening of Jan. 5, 2018.

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Hodgin Hall — a monument to UNM's history

Rebecca Brusseau | January 7

2018 marks the 126th anniversary of Hodgin Hall, the oldest building on the University of New Mexico’s Main Campus. Hodgin Hall has a vast history with deep ties throughout UNM and is now the home of the UNM Alumni Association. “(Hodgin Hall) keeps alive the history of the University and New Mexico,” said Alumni Association Special Events Coordinator Kathie Scott. “This building tells a story.”

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UNM mourns esteemed professor

Nichole Harwood and Madison Spratto | January 7

The Lobo community is mourning the loss of an esteemed professor, author and family man. Mario Rivera passed away Dec. 22, 2017. He was born in Havana, Cuba in 1947 and emigrated to the United States in 1958 where he received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and held a doctorate and master’s degree in political science and public policy from the University of Notre Dame. He worked as a regents’ professor at the School of Public Administration at the University of New Mexico since 1993 and was the interim director of SPA from 2014 to 2015. Recently, he was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration for “sustained and outstanding contribution to the field of public administration through public service and scholarship,” his wife Ana Rivera said.