By David Lynch In an ongoing effort to improve engagement with the undergraduate students they represent, the Associated Students of UNM launched an e-magazine this week, the first of its kind for the student government body. The first edition of the publication was emailed to all UNM undergraduates on Thursday.
After a dramatic home win against Mountain West foe UNLV, New Mexico will play host to a strong-shooting Wyoming team on Saturday. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said UNM’s defense will not have as gritty of a physical battle as it did in the 63-60 victory over the Rebels (6-11, 3-3 MW). However, Sanchez said the Lobos will need to cover the Cowgirls’ shooters in order to be successful. “It’s hard to play Wyoming zone because they have such good shooters,” Sanchez said. “They can shoot from deep, so we will have to guard them deep.”
The law firm of Pilgrim and Associates released their findings Thursday on how the UNM community is reporting and responding to allegations of sexual violence. According to a 71-page UNM Climate Assessment Report, the key findings suggest UNM students, staff and administration are unfamiliar, unclear and confused about the University’s policies and procedures in addressing sexual violence.
New Mexico’s toughness and solid bench play carried the Lobos to a thrilling 63-60 victory over UNLV at WisePies Arena Wednesday night. UNM was forced to play with a thin lineup after three starters and a key reserve had early exits, but head coach Yvonne Sanchez said she never experienced an uneasy feeling filling vacant spots with her reserves. “I just had a boat load of confidence in whoever I put in,” Sanchez said. “It was one of those games I thought our defense just did a nice job.”
A program studying the effects of concussions on student athletes is trying to get a three-year approval of funds from the legislative assembly to continue its work and eventually extend the program to other schools. UNM’s Brain Safe team is now waiting on the New Mexico Legislature to decide whether the project will be funded further, allowing them to expand their research to other campuses, said project director Kent Kiehl.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez focused on education, economy and improving the lives of New Mexico’s children in her fifth State of the State Address on Tuesday. “I ask that, in every decision, we will choose courage over comfort, change over stagnation, reform over the status quo,” Martinez said, opening this year’s 60-day legislative session.“Choose the courageous route, paved with policies that will outlast each of us and fundamentally improve New Mexico.”
Recently the U.S. National Weather Service, one of the agencies that each year looks at global surface temperatures from weather stations around the world and averages them, reported that 2014 was the hottest year on Earth since they began compiling data in the late 19th century. The Daily Lobo recently talked with David Gutzler, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences specializing in large-scale climate change, about the state of climate change today and what the future looks like for New Mexico.
On Thursday, activist group ActionNM held a legislative forum to educate the community about political issues that would arise during the upcoming legislative session, but none of the event’s coordinators expected the amount of interest from the citizens of Albuquerque. About 75 chairs were set up for the event, which was held at Albuquerque Mennonite Church and featured a panel of state senators and representatives. Once the event got underway, about 115 people had come, and some of them had to stand.
Brianne Frias, a sophomore nursing major, hoped she could retain her Lottery Scholarship by taking an intersession course over winter break, a period when most UNM students relax and recharge before spring classes. The time she spent in the classroom, however, may not have been worth it financially, as Frias and other UNM students taking intersession courses discovered.
The deadline to buy health insurance is fast approaching for all students, but international students are faced with a difficult choice — buy the cheapest plan and hope they stay healthy, or pay a lot more for good coverage. The Global Education Office is trying to convince international students to buy the UNM Student Insurance Plan, to avoid heavy medical bills in case of any emergency or serious accidents. But the more expensive plan has been a hard sell, according to GEO officials.
New Mexico head coach Craig Neal said San Diego State and Utah State may be the two toughest environments in the conference. After that challenging back-to-back road slate, the Lobos will be back in their home venue tonight to face the Air Force Falcons.
The University deals in some pretty big money – the projected budget for 2014-2015 is just shy of $2.6 billion, for only one year. So where does all of this money come from, and more importantly, how does UNM spend it? “We have state money, we have federal money, we have private money, and we generate our own money,” said Bruce Cherrin, chief procurement Officer in the purchasing department.
The nationally recognized Quilt Week is coming to Albuquerque with some foreign visitors. The Quilt Week is put on by the American Quilter’s Society, the largest quilting society in the world. For the second year in a row, two tentmakers from Cairo will be presenting their work, Bonnie Browning, executive director of the American Quilter’s Society said.
The recent drop in international oil prices is threatening to limit the funding UNM receives from the state, University officials warned during Friday’s Board of Regents meeting. When President Bob Frank gave his administrative report to the Regents, he noted that the price of oil per barrel dropped from $92 in August to $49. This is significantly lower than prices were in December at $66 per barrel, when Frank projected a $2.8 million budget deficit for UNM, he said.
Harold Bailey is the consultant and community outreach representative trying to create a productive dialogue between the Albuquerque Police Department and the community at large in the wake of the settlement between the APD and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Associated Students of UNM announced Friday that it will focus on better connecting to the student body during the spring semester.
The three-day Albuquerque Comic-Con brought thousands of comic book, film, television and anime fans together with celebrities and artists at the Albuquerque Convention Center this past weekend.
The New Mexico men’s basketball team finished off a two-game Mountain West road trip with a win behind a pair of seniors who carried the young Lobo squad. Senior guard Hugh Greenwood scored a team-high 22 points and hit a career high six 3-pointers to lead the Lobos in a win at Utah State 66-60 on Saturday. That win followed a 56-42 loss at San Diego State last Tuesday.
UNM has turned over information requested by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of an investigation into the school’s handling of reported sexual assaults and harassment on campus. According to a press release, UNM handed over the information just in time for the Jan. 9 deadline set by the Justice Department back in December.
At the start of this new semester, two University officials have compiled a list of facts and tips that can help new and returning students protect themselves from crime while on campus. The UNM Police Department and the Global Education Office have advised students to follow the guidelines issued by the university to avoid thefts and other scams.
Solutions by The State News
