Day: October 9, 2012

Censor This!

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By: Jyllian Roach, Editor-In-Chief | Graphic By: Jonathan Gamboa, Production Manager

Internet Censorship Raises Concerns About Academic Freedom

The school’s use of a web­site blocker is inappro­priate in an academic environment, said full-time CHSS instructor Felecia Caton-Garcia.

The blocker, known as IronPort, is an important part of internet security on campus, said Director of Customer Support Services for the IT depart­ment Michael Schalip. But Caton- Garcia said that it creates many prob­lems for students and faculty.

The blocker interferes with her ability to teach a few times a month, she said. It has stopped her from access­ing legitimate web­sites, such as that of performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña and any number of sites which refer to comic books as graphic novels by labeling these sites as adult/ sexually explicit content, she said.

“Adult content is such a broad term. It’s tagged by users. If a site has been com­plained about, it becomes an adult site,” said Caton-Garcia. “With regards to academic freedom, it seems to me cru­cial that an institution of higher education would allow faculty unfettered access to material.”

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Ted Chavez Hall Dirty, Plagued by Maintenance and Custodial Concerns

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By: Stefany Olivas, Business Manager | Photo By: Stefany Olivas, Business Manager

The CNM Chronicle is still investigating claims of poorly maintained facilities around CNM. Send your concerns to stefanychronicle@gmail.com.

Claims of unsafe, faulty and unclean facili­ties in the Ted Chavez building on Main campus have been made by stu­dents, staff and faculty to the CNM Chronicle.

The CNM Chronicle investigated some of the issues and found evidence, then pre­sented them to the appro­priate staff.

Nursing major Veronica Hernandez said she has attended CNM part time for four years and has taken a fitness class nearly every term and has not seen the workout labs consistently in good condition.

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Special Series: Transportation

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By: Stefany Olivas, Managing Editor | Graphic By: Jonathan Gamboa, Production Manager

The Good, the Bad and the Sustainable

Look for the Chronicles next special series “The Deal with Drugs” beginning in issue eight.

When a population uses alternative transportation, it adds diversity to the area and can give indi­viduals a sense of commu­nity with those around them, said full-time Sociology instructor Adam Bailey.

People go to bike or skate shops to hang out, and those who commute on the train or bus often end up seeing the same individuals every day, said Bailey.

“That gives people a sense of belonging to a subculture. That kind of a belonging can be a really important source of meaning in a person’s life. You don’t get that kind of interac­tion driving by yourself in a car all the time,” said Bailey.

He said he used to live in New York City and rode the subway for a total of two hours every day for five years.

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Up in Smoke

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By: Christopher Pope, Staff Reporter

Continued Complaints May Cause Campus to Pursue Non-Smoking Policy

Complaints of smokers not adhering to campus policies are on the rise and secu­rity will consider a non-smoking policy if this does not change, said campus security Lieutenant Bernard Rogers.

Smokers are not adhering to the policy that smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of an entryway or thoroughfare, said Rogers. This policy comes from the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act, said Rogers.

“I’m constantly on campus ushering people to the proper place to smoke,” said Rogers.

Culinary Arts major Martha Baldisan said that the problem is that campus smokers are left without protection from the sun.

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Sister City Librarians Tour Main Campus Library

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By: Adriana Avila, Staff Reporter | Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist

Librarians from the National Library of Turkmenistan visited CNM’s library and other libraries around the state on a Sister Libraries tour, said Sister Cities and Sister Libraries representative and Rio Rancho campus Reference Librarian Alana McGrattan.

The Sister Cities is an international program which promotes peace, friend­ship and economic develop­ment, said McGrattan. Sister Libraries is an offshoot of the program with the goal of teaching different aspects about how libraries in various countries function, she said.

“We’ve been to New Mexico State Library and Archives in Santa Fe, Santa Fe and Albuquerque public libraries, tribal libraries at Acoma, Laguna and Jemez Pueblos, Zimmerman Library at the University of New Mexico and Cleveland High School and Georgia O’Keefe Elementary libraries,” said McGrattan. “This is our first community college visit.”

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Column: The Fine Art of Misery

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By: Kristin L. Roush, Ph. D., Psychology, Guest Columnist

The first five installments of “The Fine Art of Misery,” appeared on Dr. Roush’s blog movedandshaken.com. Topics five through ten will appear on her blog following publication in the CNM Chronicle.

This series is intended to be a spoof, a lighthearted invitation to look at how we sometimes create our own misery. It is by no means intended to be disrespectful or mini­mizing of anyone’s true pain, par­ticularly regarding depression and anxiety.

Stinking Thinking: The Sweet Smell of Success

Any serious discussion of the fine art of misery must begin with the importance of “getting your head in the game.” In other words, much of your mood and even your personality traits can be impacted by how you think and believe.

Your thoughts, beliefs, atti­tudes, and interpretations form the foundation for how you will feel and then behave in life. It is essential to sprinkle negativity and cynicism throughout your core beliefs in order to sustain a miserable life.

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Students, Faculty, Staff Invited to Inaugural Open Mic Event

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By: Adriana Avila, Staff Reporter | Photo By: Stefany Olivas, Managing Editor

CNM will host its first monthly open mic and poetry event this month, said part time SAGE instructor Catherine Arellano.

The event will be held in the Main campus library on Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. and will feature Albuquerque’s first poet laure­ate, Hakim Bellamy, and local poet, musical artist and author Andrea Serrano, said Arellano.

Arellano said she was inspired to start CNM Speaks because her students would write rap lyrics and stories out­side of class, but had no outlet to share their work.

“I see that my students are creative,” said Arellano, “This will hopefully provide them with more of an outlet — and not just my students, but any CNM student.”

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Health Center Offers Low Cost Care

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By: Daniel Johnson, Staff Reporter | Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist

The Student Health Center is available to students who require basic medical attention, psychiatric assistants or medi­cal advice, said Director of the Student Health Center Marti Brittenham.

The center functions like a primary care office and can assist people who have colds, sore throats, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis or simple injures, she said.

“The health center is a great place for students and staff to be seen by someone other than their primary care physician for basic things while they are on campus,” said Brittenham.

The health center offers birth control, STD testing and other sexual health services, she said. Students also have access to multiple vaccinations.

“I can write simple pre­scriptions and assist with splints and dressings.” said Brittenham. “I also have a physician who comes in on Tuesday afternoon from one till he is finished.”

The center has private offices for psychiatric sessions. A clinical counselor is available for crisis intervention, diagnosis, anxiety, counseling and other mental health needs, she said.

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Radio Host Graduate Co-Hosts Food Drive

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By: Jonathan Baca, Senior Reporter | Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist

Business Administration gradu­ate Aaron “Buck” Burnett and Joe “Dex” Toth, well known for the Buck and Dex Morning Show on 104.1 The Edge radio, will host the seventh annual Take the Edge Off Hunger event next month, said Burnett.

The Nov. 13 event will be held at The Sunshine Theatre and will ben­efit The Storehouse, said Burnett. The concert will feature the LA- based band, GROUPLOVE, said Toth.

“We try to help out as much as we can,” said Toth. “It’s amazing to just give someone hope, and let them know that they’re not alone and that we do care. We’re not just a couple of radio monkeys,” he said.

Tickets for the event cannot be purchased, said Burnett. Instead, event-goers must donate a case of food to The Storehouse to receive a ticket, he said.

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Editorial: CNM Needs a Priority Override in Spending

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The administration needs to get it together and keep the school better maintained, whether the barrier is money, staffing or some other issue.

The article “Ted Chavez Hall Plagued by Maintenanwce, Custodial Concerns” was ini­tially supposed to be a single article that encapsulated all of the issues on Main campus, but will instead be broken into installments by building because our reporter found so many health, safety and main­tenance issues.

A used condoms that sits in a shower stall for more than two weeks, shower stalls that have been broken for more than two weeks and only four maintenance employees for seven campus locations are unacceptable.

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