By Jonathan Baca, Copy Editor
The Student Allocation Board has now been combined with the Executive Council of Students this semester, and some participants are having mixed feelings about how this occurred, especially since a new Event Coordinator administrative position has been created that will be paid for with student organization funding.
James Roach, Liberal Arts major and former head of the Student Allocations Board said he has resigned as SAB President, in protest of the creation of a new Events Coordinator position that will be paid for using funds set aside for student clubs and organizations.
The new position was approved for 5 years, and will cost between $235,000 and $305,900 total, after benefits are added, according to the official request for the position.
This could drain the entire surplus that has accumulated in the Student Allocations fund, which was created by the Governing Board in order to pay for trips, events and other expenses of student clubs and organizations, Roach said.
“This was a very big decision and we were given absolutely no time whatsoever to really discuss it and go over the full details of it,” Roach said.
Criminal Justice major and new ECOS President, Carrie Ratkevich said that in her judgment, approving the position was the best thing for the student body, and she believes that the way the vote to create this events coordinator position was conducted in a completely valid way.
“It was not pushed through, it was not overly fast. It was time sensitive and we needed to get this done and submitted before these timelines. We were not coaxed into making a decision, we were each told to make our own decision. We are adults, we are not children,” Ratkevich said.
On March 20, during spring break, Kristofer Gaussoin, Director of Student Conduct and Responsibilities as well as advisor to ECOS and the Allocation Board, sent everyone in both groups an email describing the proposal, telling them that they had 48 hours to make up their minds and vote yes or no on the proposal, according to email exchanges provided by ECOS.
ECOS’ three members voted yes and Roach voted no, and the position was approved for five years, but both Roach and Ratkevich were under the impression that the new position was going to be for three years, they said.
Gaussoin said that everyone involved was given enough time and information to make an informed decision, and that the reason the vote needed to be done so quickly was that the Office of the Dean of Students wanted to begin advertising the position over the summer and have someone hired by the fall.
“It was a ‘strike while the iron was hot’ moment. There was an opportunity to do something great, and it’s unfortunate that it was spring break, but everybody responded to their emails. It’s unfortunate that it had to be quick, but I don’t think the quality of the decision making was harmed by that,” Gaussoin said.
The primary duties of the new event coordinator position would be to “design and implement community engagement projects through which students at CNM can participate to improve their academic learning, job skill development, leadership and civic engagement,” with a primary focus on student clubs and organizations, according to the request.
The request was made by the Office of the Dean of Students, and the employee hired to fill the position will report directly to them, according to the official request for the position.
The Allocation Board was created to oversee and distribute student funds, which come from fees that every CNM student pays as part of tuition. Roach has been the only member of the Board for some time, despite efforts to recruit new members, he said.
Normally, Roach would have been the only person with the power to approve or reject the proposal, but because the Allocation Board was so short-staffed, he had agreed to fuse the Board with student government, the ECOS, he said.
“I was against it, mainly because I don’t feel that student funds should be used to hire faculty or administration,” Roach said.
Roach said he suggested postponing the vote until April 4, when ECOS and the Allocation Board would be officially combined, giving him time to bring the ECOS members up to speed on the details of how the Allocation Board operated.
Roach said he feels that the groups should have had much more time, so they could meet in person and discuss the details of the proposal without the pressure to make a quick decision.
He said that he was never told why this particular vote had to be done so fast, or why it could not wait until after spring break, when the groups could have an official quorum.
“I was told we only have 48 hours to make a decision, which seems really fishy to me because in the past there have been provisions that took months upon months to get done,” Roach said.
According to the official proposal, the Event Coordinator will report directly to the Dean of Students, even though the salary is paid out of the Allocation fund.
This greatly limits the amount of oversight the student government would have over that student money, Roach said.
The Allocation Board will now be run by ECOS, as a separate process of their regular meetings, and to avoid a conflict of interest, ECOS will not be in charge of allocating their own funds, Ratkevich said.
He also pointed out that this was the first time the ECOS members had ever been involved in the Allocation Board process, and that the amount of money being considered was enormous compared to most proposals.
Roach resigned shortly after the vote, because he felt that the way in which the decision was reached was unethical, he said.
Another concern is that part of the job of the Allocation Board is to make sure that the money they give out is being spent in the appropriate manner, Roach said.
Now that ECOS has full control over the Allocation process, there could be concerns about possible conflicts of interest when deciding how much funding other student organizations will receive, but Gaussoin said there are measures in place to keep the group accountable.
If any member has a possible conflict of interest when dealing with a certain group or proposal, they are expected to let the other members know, and to remove themselves from the vote in question, he said.
Gaussoin said he will also be working with ECOS over the summer to revise the rules and guidelines of the Allocation process, to better address the specifics of how ECOS does business.
Gaussoin said he is confident that the new Event Coordinator will help to increase student involvement outside the classroom, which has been shown to improve GPAs and graduation rates.
Gaussoin said that after the five years is up, the administration will see how valuable the position is, and will decide to continue paying for it with general funds, he said.
“I would hope at that point it would never go away again, because I think it will only do great things for CNM,” Gaussoin said.
Day: April 22, 2014
Big plans for L Building Renovations
By Nick Stern, Senior Reporter
Main Campus’ L Building is looking at major renovations that are meant to create a cutting-edge place of learning for students, Director of Communications and Media Relations Director, Brad Moore said.
The renovation is a huge project and is planned to create better learning opportunities for everyone, especially science students and instructors, by creating a bigger and better learning environment, he said.
“This is an exciting project because it is going to greatly enhance the teaching and learning experience for faculty and students in the science fields,” Moore said.
All of the science labs that are currently located in the L Building are intended to be improved by adding new “state-of-the-art technology” in order to create the best learning environment for students, he said. The building houses an array of different labs in diverse scientific fields like chemistry, biology, geology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, geography, physics, and astronomy, which will all be updated with the newest technology, he said.
There is also a plan to implement more biology and chemistry labs in order to be on par with the high demand of those particular classes, Moore said.
Moore said that New Mexico is actually in need of an increasing number of careers in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, which makes the future of the L building important to the students and the community as a whole, he said.
“Our state’s economy is also in serious need of many more college graduates in the STEM fields. CNM is doing its best to produce more STEM graduates and this L Building renovation is an important step in supporting those efforts,” Moore said.
The building is not only meant to be an amazing place for anyone in the science fields, but the plans also include areas meant for any and all students to hang out and study, or just rest between classes, he said.
These areas for students would be a first in and around the L Building along with new solar panels intended to be mounted outside and will serve as a means to make hot water and will include information on energy used, Moore said.
“The building has not had areas where students can meet or study together. Once the building is renovated, it will have ‘agility’ spaces where students can meet, study or relax. These areas will be decorated with scientific displays and artwork of science topics,” he said.
The L Building is considered to be the main laboratory building for the sciences on Main campus and the CNM community is very enthusiastic about the fact that it is being improved upon and will ultimately serve as a way to improve how teachers can teach and how students can learn, Moore said.
“CNM is very excited to be upgrading the primary science laboratory building on Main Campus. This renovation is going to provide faculty and students with an exceptional teaching and learning environment. This building is going to generate more excitement and interest beyond the sciences at CNM,” Moore said.
The building has already been vacated and is currently being prepared for demolition, Moore said.
The renovation was designed by SMPC Architects and Flintco, LLC is the general contractor of the project which will see the building increased from 33,000 square feet to 43,000 square feet, Moore said.
The budget for the project is estimated at $15 million, and will be planned to have the building reopened to the community in the 2015 fall term, Moore said.
Watch out for people out there on the roads
By the Chronicle Editorial Board
Now that spring is finally upon us, there are definitely more people out and most importantly there are more people walking, or on bikes, scooters and motorcycles as the temperature rises toward summer, and it is up to all of us to make sure that these people are seen on the road, by putting down the phones or other distractions and paying attention ourselves when driving, especially around populated campuses.
Time and time again one hears about the rise of pedestrian and bicyclist related car accidents every spring, because there are more people out and about versus the winter months.
So drivers need to take these people into consideration while commuting and anticipate congested areas or leave early to ensure that someone slowly riding their bike in front of the car for a few miles will not make someone late to where they are going.
Distracted driving has become a prevalent and sustaining reality of the times, and it is crucial to be a defensive driver in order to anticipate the people who just do not pay attention on the road, because in 2012 alone, 3,328 were killed in distracted driving crashes, according to distraction.gov.
Also, Central Avenue and Yale Boulevard had the highest number of bicycle related crash rates from 2006 to 2010, while Central Avenue and San Mateo Boulevard hard the highest pedestrian related crash rates, according to mrcog-nm.gov, which shows that the congestion from commuters and campuses in these areas really should make people pay more attention.
Since February the Chronicle has heard about a handful of pedestrian and bike accidents at Main campus, so when you drive, make sure you are paying attention to EVERYONE on the road including bikes in blind spots and on foot commuters, instead of just paying attention the text you got or the facebook status you just had to like at that moment, because it is not worth dying for, or hurting someone else while driving.
Everyone be safe out there and have a great summer with many adventures and life experiences to write home about this season.
Editorial Cartoon, Issue 41 Volume 19
How to file a financial aid appeal
By Angela Le Quieu, Staff Reporter | Photo by Angela Le Quieu
For students who are on Financial Aid suspension, but who are close to graduation may have a few options to complete their degree program, which includes the Graduation Incentive Scholarship or an appeal to Financial Aid.
The Graduation Incentive Scholarship is available through the Academic Advisers Office and students who are within one semester of completing their degree and have no other financial aid or grants may qualify.
Students who are on financial aid suspension due to the satisfactory academic progress guidelines, which include reaching the maximum time frame, issues with their completion rate, or low grade point average, can fill out an appeal form explaining what extenuating circumstances have caused them issues through the Financial Aid office.
Student who fill out an appeal before the end of the spring term should know that the appeal will not go through until at least 10 days after the grades from this term have been posted, and it is recommended that students who are in the appeals process set up a payment plan through the Cashier’s Office in order to hold their registered classes.
If a financial aid appeal is not an option, students without any funding can seek a Graduation Incentive Scholarship which covers tuition and fees, but not books or other expenses.
In order to see if a student is qualified for the scholarship they must make an appointment with an Academic Adviser, who will be able to sign a student up for the scholarship, but money is limited, so the school cannot give the scholarship to everyone and acting fast is key to qualifying.
Senior Director for Financial Aid, Lee Carrillo said that colleges are not required by the Department of Education to provide an appeal opportunity, which handles the guidelines for satisfactory academic progress on which the financial suspensions are based.
“We choose to, because we want to give students an opportunity to succeed,” Carrillo said.
For more information on appeals call financial aid at 224-3090, or to inquire about the Graduation Incentive Scholarship call Academic Advisement at 224-4321.
8 steps students can take to make an appeal:
Step one: Pick up an Appeal Form and Financial Aid and Scholarship Services located in the Student Services Center on Main campus, Tom Wiley Hall on Montoya campus, or Student Services on Westside in WS II, room 106.
Step two: Students must have their FAFSA submitted for the current award year, be enrolled in an eligible major for the term, and enrolled by the first day of the term being appealed.
Step three: Fill out the information on the form.
Step four: Students need to complete the SAP Web Presentation which can be found at cnm.edu/ depts./fass/requirements/sappres.php. After going through the information, there is a short assessment that must be printed and attached to the Appeal Form. Each time a student makes an appeal they must complete this step.
Step five: Students need a typed letter that is a personal statement and it must also be attached to the Appeal Form.
Tips for step five: 1. Include college history and explanations for circumstances in which the student had issues. 2. Make sure to include resolutions to any extenuating conditions. 3. The people who review the appeals are looking for patterns, if there are multiple terms in which a student has had issues they must each be explained.
Step six: Gather supporting documents and attach those to the form, which can include statements from a physician, a death notice from a close relative, letters of support from a third party, or confirmation of circumstances.
Step seven: Visit the Academic Advisors Office and get a print out of a unofficial transcript, and also have a CAPP report run.
A signed copy with the students remaining credit hours must be attached to the form.
Step eight: The completed form with the entire attached document must be taken to the Financial Aid office.
Former student helps the disabled learn art
By Angela Le Quieu, Staff Reporter | Photos by Angela Le Quieu and Daniel Johnson
Artist Derick Smith shows off his Poison Ivy Paintings.
Desiree Smith Dresses as ‘Hellbabe, by Smith
Local Albuquerque artist and former student, Derick Smith works for the Very Special Arts (VSA) organization dedicated to arts, education and disability at the North Fourth Art Center, located at 4904 Fourth St. NW, where he helps people in the Day Arts Program who have developmental disabilities to realize their art potential and how to cope through creativity.
Smith teaches and mentors people who are in the Developmental Disability Waiver Program providing education and training, and who want to use their free time to produce art to become actual artists, he said.
“I love it, because all these guys with special needs are so much more interesting than normal people—they are awesome,” Smith said.
Smith said that some of the things that he had experienced from instructors at CNM have helped him with his abilities to teach the people that he works with now, and not only does he help others to improve their skills, but he also produces and sells his own art.
The VSA North Fourth Art Center is a contemporary art venue that has a specific mission to bring the arts to all people, no matter their ability, age, culture or income level, through the Day Arts Program.
According to vsartsnm.org, gives an array of artistic learning options; from visual and performing arts, to literary art instruction, and even gives participants the opportunity for exhibit showings and promotion of the artist’s finished works.
Smith said that he helps to set up supplies people will need in order to work on their projects, and to help students with anything else that they need, which includes instructing them to on how to be better artists.
“Basically being that it’s an entire art program for these guys, it’s really cool, it’s really awesome that they can go to, and express themselves artistically, and a hang out and socialize,” Smith said.
Smith attended CNM while it was TVI right after his high school graduation in 2000, and went on to finish his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at UNM, he said.
“The thing about degrees is that all it really does is help you get in and everything else just kind of happens,” Smith said.
However, from his time at TVI he picked up skills that he is able to impart to others like how a grey scale works, and how to apply that when painting something like the human eye, in which the whites of the eye are not really white but several shades of grey, Smith said.
For his own art work, Smith said he prefers to do things that are figurative, which means that his works are very close to how images would actually look in real life, but he also likes to include some aspects of impressionism, in which things are made more abstract.
He also enjoys doing work based on comic books, which he often sells at comic book conventions, such as a current series of paintings that feature the Batman character Poison Ivy, Smith said.
“I really like comics and I like art, so if I can do things for conventions then that’s awesome,” Smith said.
One of his subjects for his comic book themed art pieces is his girlfriend, Nursing major, Desiree Smith, who has a persona called ‘Hellbabe,’ which is based on the comic character Hellboy.
He said that she has modeled for her boyfriend many times in the past, and has been captured by the Chronicle in her full Hellbabe motif created by Smith at the 2013 Albuquerque Comic Expo.
“I don’t really like him, but the art work is good enough that I keep him around,” she said jokingly about Smith.
The next comic book convention that Smith’s artwork is intended to be shown at is the Albuquerque Comic Expo, which is scheduled for Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29, he said.
Smith’s art can also be found periodically at the Metropolis Art Gallery at 1102 Mountain Rd. NW, Smith said.
Smith said that there are also opportunities at VSA North Fourth Street Art center for people who have both an interest in art and a desire to help others.
For more information on programs or how to help out, go to the VSA North Fourth Street Art website at vsartsnm.org, or call 345-2872.
Chill Out! Finals week relaxation guide
By Carol Woodland, Staff Reporter
According to the CNM website, final exams are just around the corner for students in Math, Science and Engineering or Communications, Humanities and Social Sciences classes.
Kevin Macken, Biology major said this year he is going to try some new ways to keep from getting over stressed so he can maximize his potential including taking time to mediate and exercise more to “clear the head and create room for all the knowledge.”
Macken said “I am super stressed about one of them— I have to do well to pass the class.”
Yoga instructor and Nutrition major, Jamie Duncan said that one great way to relax is to exercise with a yoga class.
Practicing yoga helps calm the mind and releases endorphins that relax the body and make people happy, and practicing yoga also helps to suppress the stress hormone cortisol, she said.
“When you’re stressed it’s harder for you to remember things, so by doing yoga, you’re going to ace that test, you’re going to ace it with flying colors,” Duncan said.
Here are some local venues compiled by the Chronicle that can help melt the stress away at decently priced sessions of relaxation and unwinding to be prepared for when the days finals come around.
Laura Pacevitch-Johnston, Massage Therapist said she thinks stressed out students should check out Albuquerque Baths, located at 1218 Broadway NE.
Albuquerque Baths also offers a reduced student rate of $12 for two hours access to the hot tub, cold plunge pool, and sauna which are
all co-ed, “so you can bring your friends,” Pacevitch-Johnston said.
Towels, robes, lockers and sandals are provided, so all people have to do is bring a swimsuit, and said that Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. are ladies only hours.
More information about Albuquerque Baths can be found at their website abqbaths.com, she said.
“I think that when people are really stressed out during finals, you
really perform better if you just give yourself a little time to relax and clear
your head, you’ll be happier and more productive,” she said.
Photo courtesy of abqbaths.com
Sarah Wilson, owner and Yoga instructor at Enlighten Others, recommends
students come try her hot yoga classes and flotation in their sensory deprivation tank as a great way for students to center themselves during stressful times.
Enlighten Others is located at 127 Bryn Mawr Dr. SE, and offers a 15 percent discount to students for all services offered by the studio, as well a first yoga class by donation, she said.
Wilson said that the tank solution has a high density, so the body is able to float on the surface totally free from gravity in a lightproof, sound-proof environment
that provides “a safe oasis where the stress and tensions of everyday life can be left behind.”
Floats regularly cost $45 for one hour or $60 for two one hour sessions,
as well as frequent groupon coupons on groupon.com, she said.
People interested in floating need to make an appointment beforehand
by calling Enlighten Others at 270-6876 for the schedule and pricing of yoga classes.
All other services can be found at enlightenothers.com.
Photo courtesy of enlightenothers.com
Joanna Dunn, Massage Therapist at Blue Sky Massage located at 3419 Silver Ave. SE, who said that she gives a major discount to new clients at only $32.50 for an hour long Swedish massage, versus the usual $65.00 she charges per hour.
Dunn said her technique includes aromatherapy and salt or sugar scrubs for an
extra charge, and can include Swedish, deep tissue, or stone massage for those that want to relax and take away the stress that finals week has on many students. For more information go to skybluemassage.com or call 907-4819.
Photo courtesy of blueskymassage.com
Duncan teaches yoga at Cloud 9 located at 6910 Montgomery Ave. NE and at 3808 Central Avenue SE in Nob Hill, she said.
Both studios offer classes during the days and on weekends, and the Nob Hill location has classes at 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on weeknights for students who are up late studying and need to chill out, Duncan said.
Daytime classes are $5 and evening classes are $7 to drop in with no reservations necessary, but through the end of May the Nob Hill location is offering a two for one deal for anyone who mentions “2 for 1”, she said.
More information can be found by visiting either studio location, or calling Cloud 9 at 717-7344, she said.
SWOP raises APD awareness
By Jonathan Baca, Copy Editor | Photo by Moises Gonzales
On April 9, the Department of Justice released their report on the use of excessive force by officers of the Albuquerque Police Department from 2009 to 2013, finding that APD has shown a pattern of regularly violating citizen’s Constitutional rights due to “insufficient oversight, inadequate training, and ineffective policies.”
The report also found that officers used non-lethal force too frequently, that poor training and reckless actions by police actually created the need for force in many instances, and that a significant number of incidents involved people with mental illnesses.
Former student Rodrigo Rodriguez, who works as an organizer for the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), said that his and many other community groups have been working to support efforts to raise awareness of the realities of police violence, and to hold the APD and the city accountable.
“Community organizations like SWOP recognize the passion and the energy around this issue, and are more willing and able to make themselves available as resources through the community,” Rodriguez said.
SWOP is a grassroots organization working to fight social injustice through different campaigns, and they have been helping to organize protests, support the families of victims, and encouraging members of the community to get involved in the issue of police brutality, Rodriguez said.
The DOJ report contained a lengthy list of recommendations, including major changes to APD’s policies regarding the use of force, dealing with mentally ill people, de-escalation training, less emphasis on weapons and tactical training and more focus on community outreach and building partnerships with outside groups.
George Lujan, Communications Organizer for SWOP, said that while the report’s recommendations are a step in the right direction, the real solutions have to come from the citizens of Albuquerque.
“We don’t expect any federal entity or anyone else to show up in Albuquerque and clean up our mess. I think we all have to figure out what those solutions are, and it starts with the community,” Lujan said.
SWOP has been hosting an ongoing storyteller series about different issues like food justice and women’s issues, and their next event is scheduled for April 25 at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, where they will be discussing the city’s history of police violence, and the legacy of activism and resistance against it, Rodriguez said.
Lujan said that the issue is about a lot more than an out of control police force— the problems extend to every part of our community, and the solution will require that everyone looks at how the community treats some of its most vulnerable members.
“It’s about the entire community: eradicating poverty and giving people proper healthcare, making sure that we have mental and behavioral health services, making sure people know their rights, and getting away from the culture of militarization that our police is so wrapped up in. It’s not just the DOJ and APD, it’s much more complex,” Lujan said.
Mayor Richard Berry said in a press release that he acknowledges the problems in the APD, and that he is willing to continue working with the DOJ in implementing the changes that they suggested in their report.
“I’m of the opinion that when the city is banging at your doorstep and you’re the highest elected official, you need to show up, even if it’s just to save face. It was really disappointing to see that he didn’t show up to what was probably the most important council meeting of his tenure,” Rodriguez said.
Whatever happens, Lujan said that SWOP will keep working with community members and other groups to make sure that changes are made, and that Albuquerque residents stay engaged and active.
No one can truly fix these problems but the people, he said, and the solutions will involve much more than Federal oversight and police reforms.
“I do believe that it’s going to be New Mexicans that are going to create the change here, not any outside groups. We need to really figure out how we’re taking care of people and at—risk communities in our society, and I think that when we start answering those questions we’re going to see positive outcomes,” Lujan said.
Suncat Chit Chat : What are your plans for this summer?
By Jonathan Baca, Copy Editor
“My plans for the summer is to spend a lot of time travelling the rodeo circuit, as well as do summer
curriculum. I’ve been bull riding since I was about six. Luckily my rodeos are all on the weekend.”
“Probably spend time with the family, go fishing, spend some time on the boat drinking
beer and catching trout. Just taking it easy, having a good time with the family.”
“I’m going to Sydney, Australia, for two weeks to be able to check out the facility where
I’m doing my residency in marine biolog y. I’m doing scuba diving to study the coral reefs.”
“I’m taking English 950, Math 750 and
an IT class. I’m also working for my dad,
he owns a restaurant and it’s very stressful.
It sucks because you should be out in
the sunshine instead of stuck in school.”
Criminal Justice major
“This summer I plan to go water skiing
with Nessie, maybe kick it around the campfire
with Bigfoot, and possibly ride a dragon out
to the East Coast with a bad ass sound system.”