April 10, 2012 – The CNM Chronicle

Going for the gold

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By: Jyllian Roach, Managing Editor

Photo courtesy MCO, CNM

Skills USA members to represent state in national competition

Twenty-three CNM students will be representing the state of New Mexico in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference this summer, said SkillsUSA Director Sharon Gordon-Moffett.

The 23 students brought home a total of 24 gold medals in various trades and leadership competitions.

“I’m so happy that so many of our students stepped up. They did great,” said Gordon-Moffett.

A total of 67 CNM students competed in the three-day event, and 52 of those students brought home a total of 56 gold, silver and bronze medals, said Gordon-Moffett. A total of 640 secondary and post-secondary students from throughout the state competed for the right to go to the national event, said Gordon-Moffett.

The 23 gold-medalists and an additional four student delegates will attend the 2012 national competition on June 23-27 in Kansas City, Mo., said Gordon-Moffett.

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More work, less pay

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By: Carrie Ratkevich, Staff Reporter

Part-time faculty speak out against wage disparities

Part-time instructors have to work more for less money, said part-time CHSS instructor Robert Anderson.

The amount a part-time instructor is paid is set by the Course Compensation Schedule, according to the part-time instructor’s contract. The schedule puts a dollar amount to every class. As an example: English 1101 pays $2201 per term at entry level for an instructor with a bachelor’s degree.

To earn the average income of a full-time instructor, a part-time instructor must teach eight English 1101 courses per term. A full-time teacher is required to teach five courses a term, said full-time Anthropology instructor Shepard Jenks.

“The Institution needs to be sensitive to part-timers trying to make a living teaching,” said Jenks.

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Student government raises funds for campus unity

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By: Steph Muha, Staff Reporter

Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist

The Executive Council of Students is selling raffle tickets throughout the month of April to raise money for student events during the 2012-13 school year, said ECOS president and Electrical Engineering major Cesar Silva.

The proceeds from the raffle will help ECOS to host events geared toward creating unity among students and student organizations, said ECOS Vice President Stephen Martos. “We’ve discussed a lot of possibilities for the 2012 school year. In the past, ECOS has hosted banquets and free pizza days, which we would love to do again. We’ve also talked about possibly offering a small scholarship,” said Martos.

Silva said the $1 raffle tickets can be purchased in the cafeteria Monday through Thursday during the lunch hour. On Fridays, students, staff and faculty can also buy tickets in the ECOS office located in portable ST12-A. The winners will be announced on May 3.

There are several possible prizes, including a one night stay at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort and dinner for two; a one-night stay at Hotel Albuquerque with dinner and a movie for two; a fun pack that includes food, miniature golf and go-kart racing; as well as several more prizes, said Silva.

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Letter to the editor

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Dear Editor,

It’s almost bookstore season again. This term, I learned the hard way that digital textbooks are not yet ready for prime time. I bought the digital version of the book for Interpersonal Communications because I wanted to save a tree and a buck or two. However, entire sections of the text are “not available due to copyright restrictions.” Most of the missing material is graphics and sidebars, but the professor does quiz us on this material. If the digital textbooks are not identical in content to their paper counterparts, CNM and CafeScribe should not be claiming or implying that they are a reasonable substitute.

Jennifer Wheelock, Student

Opinion: The strength to move forward

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By: Carrie Ratkevich, Staff Reporter

Surviving an abusive relationship is hard, and even though it is possible to move on, scars will remain. Perhaps one of the worst parts is living with a victim mentality; always being afraid of facing the same hurt and the stigma that is attached to victims. It is not until these people stop and realize that they are worth more than the one crappy hand they were dealt that they can begin to heal.

Many people think leaving an abusive relationship begins with the step out the door, but for me at least, it began before that. I am not sure people who have never been in that kind of situation can truly understand the isolation and degradation a victim goes through on a regular basis. My abuser shattered my confidence and almost all of my emotional supports. I felt like the only person I had left was my abuser.

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Editorial: The Chronicle Salutes Student Employees

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The CNM Chronicle would like to congratulate the students honored at Friday’s Student Employee appreciation day. Being a student-run organization, we understand the important role that student employees play in CNM’s daily operations.

Getting involved with one’s institution can be a very beneficial and fulfilling experience. Becoming a student employee is a great way to be a part of the inner workings of CNM. However, there are more ways that students can be active.

Volunteering, joining a student organization, attending public meetings or voicing opinions on matters involving CNM are all excellent ways for students to get involved with the school. Students who take the time to get involved get a better understanding of the way things work at CNM and in turn have a better understanding of who holds responsibility for the issues that students encounter every day.

The CNM Chronicle would like to encourage readers to voice opinions about CNM and address the issues or concerns that they may be facing. Students can write a letter to the editor or simply start a conversation with us on Facebook. We are here to serve the CNM community by providing truthful information and investigating concerns raised by students and faculty. Go to facebook.com/cnmchronicle to voice your opinion and take an active role in the CNM community.

Editorial: Speak out against abuse

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People silently live with abuse every day, because it is not openly discussed.

Often, it is treated as a private or even taboo subject.

In the Chronicle office, more than a few of the employees have survived some form of abuse, but even during the creation of this edition, we haven’t discussed the specifics of our situations.

Abuse is not a private affair. It is not something that can be left to the past. Even when we move beyond it, even after the wounds heal, it still had a hand in shaping who we are. It is still there with us.

In many ways, it is difficult to say what is and isn’t abuse. It was earlier this year that the federal government recognized the possibility of male rape. Spousal rape wasn’t a crime in the U.S. until the late 1990’s and in 30 states it is still considered a lesser crime.

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Chicago Dog: Simplicity done right

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By: Steve “Mo” Fye, Guest Food Critic

Photos By: Steve “Mo” Fye, Guest Food Critic

The new downtown hot dog joint, Chicago Dog, has a limited menu and only a handful of seats, but provides authentic hot dogs at a bargain price. The menu is by no means exciting, but quality ingredients and good recipes elevate it above many other Albuquerque hot dog purveyors.

The New York New York dog is simple and tasty, topped with spicy mustard and sauerkraut. Chicago Dog uses Vienna products exclusively for their dogs. The Chicago Dog is served authentically, with mustard, onions, a pickle spear and tomatoes and topped with celery salt.

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Overcoming stigma

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By: Jyllian Roach, Managing Editor

Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist

After being abducted and gang-raped, a former Liberal Arts major who asked only to be identified as “Mark” said that sharing even his first name scares him because his attackers have not been apprehended.

Seven years ago, Mark went for a walk in his neighborhood when a cargo van pulled up beside him, and two men forced him inside. Mark was forced to strip naked and stay on all fours, Mark said the driver parked the van after driving for some time, and then joined the three other abductors in the back.

“The one holding the gun sticks it to the side of my head and says that if I bite down, he’s going to pull the trigger,” said Mark.

Mark was orally and anally raped multiple times by his abductors, he said. The gun stayed at his temple the entire time, he said.

“When they finished, they pulled out their knives,” said Mark.

Mark had more than 50 knife wounds of varying length and depth, many in different symbols, on his back, chest, legs and arms, he said. Mark said he was thrown, naked and bleeding, out of the vehicle and into the dirt. One of the abductors told him to run and then fired the gun into the air.

Mark thinks he ran along the bank of the Rio Grande for 15 minutes before he saw houses, said Mark. He banged on the door of the nearest home, yelling for help.

The door was answered by Clarence Vigil, according to the statement Vigil gave to APD.

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Graduates create support group for homicide victims’ families

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By: Stefany Olivas, Staff Reporter

Photo Courtesy Lori Calkin

Graduates Lori Calkin and Nick Christian said they founded Remembering Victims of Homicide in November of 2011, after Calkin’s fiancé, former student Andrae Davis, was killed by a stray bullet one evening.

Calkin said that she could find no local support groups for herself and her son, Casey, after losing Davis, so she and Christian created the facebook group to provide an outlet for the families and friends of victims.

“There aren’t very many resources here to help the families of homicide victims deal with their situations. It’s nice hearing other people’s stories because it takes the focus off your own grief,” said Calkin. Being aware that there are people out there who do care and may be going through the same thing has been an important part of healing, said Calkin. Encouraging others not to give up has helped her to do the same, she said.

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