The Voice of Central New Mexico College
Photos by Mark Graven
Staff Writer
(slide show)
Daylight positively impacts the mental health and well-being of students according to CNM officials. This supposition is reflected in the myriad of windows incorporated in the newly renovated Max Salazar Hall, and incorporated in a hallway sign.
Welcome to our photographic tour of the wonderful world of windows from the third and fourth floors of MS, as the early July sunlight shines in.
Here comes the sun!
Story and Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
Two huge “CNM” block-letter signs and a large solar panel welcome visitors to the CNM Rio Rancho campus, located near the edge of the desert, at the end of a road that passes by Rio Ranch City Hall.
About a 30-minute drive due north of Main Campus, the Rio Rancho campus, at 2601 Campus Boulevard, Northeast, has won recognition for its energy-efficient design. It consists of one 62,000 square foot, mostly red-brick building, with many large windows that afford spectacular views of the desert.
Rio Rancho takes advantage of nature’s gifts. Solar panels are placed strategically around campus to provide power. A deep-well system brings up water from the earth at a temperature of 68 degrees, Fahrenheit. The water then heats the building in winter, and cools it in summer, according to a CNM website.
(slide show)
A concrete path by the north parking lot puts a person right at desert’s edge, and a sign explains what kind of flora an fauna one is likely to find in the area. Personnel at the front desk say they sometimes have to shoo rattlesnakes from the parking lot. Hawks, ravens, spiders, and coyotes also enjoy this environment.
And now more people are returning, after a Covid-induced drought of more than a year. CNM employees at the front desk, say that students are beginning to trickle in to register and receive academic coaching, as Fall Semester approaches.
Today, a group of prospective electric linemen are seen on the grounds east of the main building, addressing a set of utility poles, undeterred by a few raindrops on this cloudy day of June 30, 2021. A mobile unit parked east-side enables welding students to pursue their craft outside.
Inside the building, class-room chairs are still stowed on the top of desks. Tables and chairs in RR building’s central courtyard, and various alcoves around the building await users.
The Rio Rancho campus, when it is going full-bore, may serve upwards of 1800 students who come to attend classes in general studies, but also receive specialized training in nursing, paramedics, teaching, business, and more.
Built more than a decade ago, the Rio Rancho campus seems adjusted to its place in the desert. The campus provides a comfortable venue for a student to find a spot to sit and observe the desert as it comes to bloom again.
Photos and Video by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
A vending machine off the main lobby of Smith-Brasher Hall on Main Campus is fully stocked with candy, chips, and other goodies, on Friday, June 25th, as it awaits the arrival of hungry students. The bottled water vending machines are depleted of their stocks, but two drinking fountains nearby are fully operational. They are now part of what is called a “hydration station,” as a sign clearly indicates.
Story by Mark Graven
Staff Reporter
The Executive Council of Students (ECOS) met with Dean of Students Chris Cavazos to discuss the number of members and officers need to charter, or renew, a club at its June 18th on-line meeting.
Currently, CNM requires that clubs have at least eight active members, with four of them serving as officers.
ECOS members and Cavazos discussed a proposal whereby five active members and two officers would be sufficient to charter a club.
“Five (members) would be great,” said Cavazos, adding that it would represent an effort by the college and ECOS to get students more engaged.
When students are more engaged, they are more successful, he said.
CNM had more than 25 clubs and organizations in operation before the Covid pandemic shut down in-person activities on campus. Some clubs were able to stay active but others have fallen off over the last year and a half.
ECOS, which is in charge of allocating funds for the clubs, which comes out of student registration fees, last year decided to allocate funds at 50 percent of previous levels, until the campus returned to normal operations.
The ECOS board members discussed with Cavozos, the problem of club continuity, and officers being able to know the proper procedures in obtaining, and using, funds.
Kristofer Gaussoin, CNM director of student conduct and responsibilities and the official advisor to ECOS, noted that the college is working on an on-line training program for club officers, which could help overcome the problem of getting officers to in-person training.
ECOS President Alex Crossland said that at a community college, there can be more frequent turnover among officers, so clubs might need to lean more on faculty advisors to help maintain continuity.
Colin Stapleton, ECOS outreach officer, noted that faculty advisors tend to have a wide range of involvement.
Cavazos said that the role of faculty advisors in maintaining club continuity was a factor to consider in deciding how to proceed. ECOS is expected to revisit the question at its next meeting.
ECOS is meeting every other Friday at 2 p.m. during Summer Semester.
Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
A sign in front of the entrance of the Market Place Bookstore at Main Campus indicates that folks will have to pay for on- campus parking. A survey of the parking lot by the Bookstore on Tuesday, June 22nd, shows not many folks taking advantage of the opportunity.
Story, Photos and Video by
Mark Graven
Wildlife Correspondent
Ducks usually get top billing when it comes to news from the UNM Duck Pond, after all the pond is named for them.
But it is midway through June, and the hot days of summer are upon us. Most of the hundreds of ducks that occupy the pond at the center of UNM’s campus are gone for vacation in the northern climes.
The turtles are going nowhere fast, but are happy together on the rocks of the pond, which serve as podiums where they can bask in the glory of the New Mexican sunlight.
The turtles take advantage of a large grouping of rocks at the west end of the pond to put their sunbathing talents on display. But they also use a small grouping of rocks near the fountain at the east end of the pond.
Occasionally, the turtles will go for dip in the water. With the fountain and a waterfall near the southwest corner of the pond, the turtles have a stunning aquatic environment. The turtles seem to enjoy swimming to cool down: sun bathing can be tough work!
Now, please kick back and enjoy our photo display of the turtles today.
Story and Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
(slide show)
A photo tour of CNM’ Advanced Technology Center (ATC) shows the campus to be operating in a low-energy mode.
ATC, according to its website, is an 80,000 square foot facility, replete with state-of-the art classrooms and labs. When operating at full throttle, ATC hosts loads of classes in the fields of: Architectural Engineering; Aviation Maintenance; Construction Management; Film Production; Surveying; Truck Driving; Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and more.
In the late morning of Monday, June 7th, the ATC campus is quiet. A couple of small planes parked on the east side of ATC, do not appear ready for take-off. The south parking lot has only a few cars, while there are no vehicles in the “fuel efficient” and “low emission” parking slots on the west side.
Signs at the entry door on the south side indicate that face coverings are required for all persons entering the building, and that once inside, folks should maintain a distance of at least six feet apart.
There are no people at the entryways, although one person is spotted at a distance, down a long concourse. Signs indicate that at least two classes are meeting at ATC during Summer Session.
But Sol the Suncat seems a solitary figure as pictured on the wall near the north entrance. Sol looks to be in a good mood–perhaps because there is nobody to yank his tail, or rattle his cage, so to speak, this fine sunny morning.
Story by Salvador Zambrano
Staff Reporter
The Equity Council, a group comprised of CNM staff and employees, has designed a SharePoint Site that will provide monthly updates to the CNM community, said Travis Thompson, a member of the Equity Council.
Each month the site will provide information on different topics of racism as well as definitions and writing from their members regarding racial problems. Other informational resources will be available through the site like videos and pieces of artistic expression to promote a greater awareness, he said.
“The goal of our site is to create a greater understanding around racial equity, diversity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, white privilege culture, as well as to build a culture of anti-racism within and around our communities,” he said.
The Council is currently seeking approval on different ways to spread their information, said Sonia Crawford, a member of the Equity Council. They intend to spread their information to the entire CNM community.
The site is currently available and can be viewed by the CNM community but has not yet been announced by the Equity Council.
The site was designed to be easy to access important information as to encourage people to come back to the site to gain future information on different topics, said Thompson.
“We want to give credit to the entire Equity Council for their effort in making this site possible”, said both Thompson and Crawford.
The Equity Council site can be found by searching for them through the MyCNM website or by clicking here. The site gives more information on their goals as well as who is a part of the Council.
All information provided on their site is also available in Spanish for any Spanish speaking readers who are interested in learning more about the Equity Council.
Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
The Memorial Day thunderstorm may have poured approximately two inches of rain on parts of Albuquerque, according to the weatherman. Along H Building at CNM’s Montoya Campus the influx of moisture is paying off big time in terms of extremely green grass for at least the first week of June. North of Montoya, across the arroyo, at Oso Grande State Park, it is green, almost as far as the eye can see.
Photos by
Mark Graven
Staff Writer
As of May 28th, the foundation for the new catering/brewery facility at Robert P. Matteuchi Hall on CNM’s Main Campus has been laid, and the superstructure is being erected. Brycon Construction of Albuquerque is the general contractor for the job.
