Tag: Issue 1 Volume 19

Nursing Program drops vital courses

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By: Jamison Wagner, Staff Reporter

According to CNM’s website, the requirements for gaining entry into the Nursing program are being reduced and access to the program will be offered on a first come, first served basis starting in the spring of 2014. Students expressed differing opinions on whether or not these changes will be for the better.

The requirements to enter into the Nursing program have dropped from 15 required courses to six courses, while courses being removed from the curriculum are Chemistry, Nutrition and some Biology courses which were cut down from 5 to 2 required classes.

The school will also no longer have an application process to apply for the program, and instead students will be required to register for NRSG 1010: Introduction to Nursing Concepts and NRSG 1015: Principles of Nursing Practice to be eligible for the nursing program, according to the CNM website and course catalogs from 2013 to 2014.

Mary Langois, Nursing majo,r said “The question is: Which nurse do you want working on you; the one with an A average or the one with a C average?”

The other side of the issue is that there are some people who do not test well but excel when it comes to the hands-on part of the job, she said.

“I have seen it as a practicing paramedic; where people who work in the medical field have the book smarts. They are A students, but they cannot actually apply the information to help their patients. I am kind of torn on this because I have seen both in people,” said Langois.

Nursing major Dana Broadway said she does not have any real problem with the changes being made to the program.

While it does seem odd that they would lower the standards and reduce your ability to enter the program only when you are able to register, and there is not much that can be done about it, she said

Consistency is good in terms of entry to the program, but the changes do not seem like they are needed, she said.

Broadway said, “I cannot control the changes they make; I can only control how I react to it. Mostly I am going to have to hope that luck is on my side.” According to nmned. org, these changes are being made to allow for increased efficiency in transferring nursing students between colleges, as well as bringing CNM’s program in alignment with the standards of New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium curriculum which will, “Improve efficiency, quality, and educational outcomes of nursing education through cooperation among community colleges,”.

Campus Security: More than just badges

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By: Daniel Montano, Staff Reporter

The first step to personal security for anyone, in any situation, begins with constant alertness, said CNM interim Director of Security Steve English.

While CNM’s Security department uses a number of approaches to maintain a safe environment, there are several guidelines everyone in the CNM community should follow to stop crime before it starts, English said.

“It’s important for anybody, in general, to be aware of their surrounding at all times,” he said.

Awareness can help to identify a potentially dangerous situation, but having a plan for those situations is also essential to remaining safe and secure, English said.

Keep the plan simple and stay committed to it in every situation, but keep in mind that if flight is an option, it is always the best option, he said.

It’s also important be aware of where the closest emergency telephone is, according to the latest campus safety report.

There are emergency ‘code blue’ telephone poles and yellow emergency call boxes placed across all campuses, English said.

“Both systems provide one button speed dialing for instant communication with campus security 24-7,” according to the report.

Campus security offers services that help to deal with potentially dangerous situations before they start, English said.

Anyone in the CNM community may request an escort from a security officer to and from anywhere on campus anytime, he said.

Security officers also offer motorist assistance, including attempting to get into locked out vehicles, English said.

“We also offer jump starts if someone is having trouble with their vehicle and has a dead battery, we’ll take care of it for you folks,” he said.

According to the latest campus safety report, incidents of theft have been steadily climbing over recent years. In 2008 there were 67 reported thefts across all campuses but in 2011 those numbers increased to 210, according to the report.

“Of course, theft happens everywhere, unfortunately. So again, be aware, use common sense; lock your vehicle, secure your personal belongings, don’t leave anything in the open, keep an eye on your personal items,” English said.

If a crime does occur it is important to remain calm and call the police/security with a description of the aggressor if available, need for medical assistance and the location of the crime as soon as it is safe to do so, according to the safety report.

Dialing 911 or ext. 3001 from any campus phone will ring security’s emergency dispatch line and the dispatcher will send security, police or any other needed emergency services, according to CNM’s security webpage.

For more information, visit cnm. edu/depts./security or call 224-3002.

Bridging the gap: APS @ CNM

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By: Daniel Montano, Staff Reporter

A new dual-credit high school, aiming to have graduates leave with both a high school diploma and a college certificate or associate degree, will open on CNM’s main campus fall 2013, Katherine Winograd, CNM president, said.

Winograd held a joint press conference with the heads of APS and the New Mexico Public Education Department on Friday May 10, announcing the yet to be named high school, saying the school will be the first of its kind in Albuquerque.

The 5050 model of this new program will require students to attend classes taught by APS teachers for half of the school day and spend the other half in college-level courses, according to APS’s website.

“It’s going to allow more students to get on a faster, cost-effective track to achieving their college and career dreams. We’re going to help them pursue their passions by providing educational pathways that lead to higher educational credentials and high quality careers,” Winograd said.

The school will operate on CNM property and follow CNM’s trimester schedule, but will provide free textbooks and tuition for college classes, according to APS’s website.

Three years of tuition and books at CNM for a typical 18-year-old living with parents adds up to about $6,800, according to CNM’s cost of attendance calculator.

“Because there is no cost to students and their families, this system puts students ahead financially as well as academically. It makes success in education that much more accessible, we will be changing the lives of students and building a community,” Winograd said.

The new school will work closely with a local business advisory board which will help identify proper educational paths in order to help students get jobs that are needed in the Albuquerque community, she said.

“The businesses are going to provide mentorship. They are going to provide internships and co-ops for the students, and they’re also going to help teach the classes,” Winograd said.

CNM will keep its existing dual-credit program, which is currently available for any APS high school student, but the new school will provide a framework for students seeking success, Winograd said.

Gov. Susana Martinez, who spoke at the press conference, said, “These students will be able to take positive steps on their journey to gain a quality education and realize their dreams,” Martinez said.

It is important that high school graduates are properly prepared for the career world and life in college and this new school will provide students with the experience they need to become accomplished, she said.

The school, located in S building on Main campus, will consist of 10 classrooms and one auditorium for up to 400 students from tenth through twelfth-grade, according to APS’s website.

For more information, including how to enroll, go to aps. edu/aps-cnm or call 855-9040.

Albuquerque Comic Expo: Revenge of the con

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By: Jyllian Roach, Guest Writer

Time to pull out the leather masks and shiny capes – the Third Annual Albuquerque Comic Expo is on its way.

Scheduled for June 21 through 23 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, ACE will be focused more on free events and less on getting patrons to part with their cash, Greg Derrick, former student, said.

“Something I dislike about the idea of conventions in general is that your average attendee pays the convention organizer to go to a show and the only option they have for something to do at the show is to spend more money with other people,” he said. “I really don’t like that and it’s a paradigm we’re going to try to shift.”

This year’s expo will feature many of the staples of conventions past, such as Kids Day, celebrity guests and the ACE costume contest, but will also feature many new and free activities, Derrick said.

The organizers of ACE, in conjunction with Quelabs Makespace, have built a life-sized starship bridge where attendees can work as a team to complete missions using the Artemis Starship Simulator game, he said.

Albuquerque Scale Modelers will be offering free workshops and classes for those interested in learning to build models. TromaDance Film Festival will be showcasing local films and Supercon2K will offer gaming tournaments, Derrick said.

ACE will also be selling a hardbound exclusive Sketchbook for $25 which will allow attendees to get free sketches from many artists at the show, he said.

“I really love bringing awesome stuff to Albuquerque for people to do,” Derrick said.

John Sumrow, a local artist whose artwork has become well known nationally, said he is excited to return to ACE for his third year.

“The con has a great vibe, lots of Geek Culture, lots of my friends attend and it’s like family,” he said.

ACE has been supportive of local artists and creators, and attending the shows has even gotten him attention from some of his own celebrity heroes, he said.

“Last year, my girlfriend met Adam Baldwin [Jayne Cobb from “Firefly”] and they just happen to start talking about bacon. He’s a huge fan of bacon, but, really who isn’t? The next thing I know, I’m talking with Adam Baldwin and giving him one of my original t-shirts, “The Shirt of Infinite Bacon.” It was surreal. I’m a huge Firefly fan and to meet a great actor from one of my fandoms and talk about bacon, movies, and bacon was awesome. I smiled for a week. I have pictures,” Sumrow said.

Albuquerque Comic Expo will run from Friday, June 21 through Sunday June 23 at the Albuquerque Convention Center located at 401 Second Street NW. For tickets and a list of events, go to abqcomicexpo.com.

 

ACE 2013 Celebrity Guests

Here is a sampling of guests attending this year’s ACE.

Giancarlo Esposito – Gus Fring from “Breaking Bad”

Steven Michael Quezada – Steven Gomez from “Breaking Bad”

Nicholas Brendon – Xander Harris from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

Veronica Taylor – Voice of Ash Ketchum from “Pokemon”

Sean Becker – Director of “The Guild”

David Yost – Billy Cranston from “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”

Walter Emanuel Jones – Zack Taylor from “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”

Neal Adams – Comic book artist best known for defining the modern incarnations of Batman, the X-Men, Green Lantern and more

Brian Pulido – Co-founder of Chaos! Comics and creator of Lady Death

Melinda Snodgrass – Screenwriter for “Star Trek: The Next Generation”

Cool Summer Classes: Career Exploration

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By: Rene Thompson, Editor-in-Chief

CNM’s adult and general education school offers career exploration support classes to help students gain knowledge about finding a career and how to acquire and retain employment, said Kenneth Chavez, chair of the College Success Experience Curriculum.

Discovering career opportunities can be tough and the class hopes to aid students after they have completed their degrees, he said.

“This course is designed to assist students through their career exploration and decision-making processes,” he said.

The four major self-assess ment areas explored in the class include, personal styles or characteristics, interests, and values and skills for self-understanding, he said.

“The career exploration course helps students chart their academic and career courses through the creation of an action plan,” he said.

Students will be able learn how to choose a career, or occupational opportunities related to their major, he said.

“Students will also explore how internships, cooperative work experiences and service learning can help with career decision-making,” Chavez said.

Some CSE classes are offered year-round, with some of the CSE classes also formatted for summer semester, he said.

Three credit CSE courses do require buying some text materials, but for some of the one credit courses the instructor will provide students with learning materials.

Other CSE classes offered range from Learning Strategies and Research Techniques, to College Survival and College Success. According to the CNM website, CSE courses numbered at 0999 or below are graded CR/NC, but CSE courses numbered 1000 and above can be taken for a letter grade, taken CR/NC, or audited.

Although the majority of CSE’s focus is providing students with the skills needed to survive and thrive in the college environment, students also have the opportunity to explore majors and careers offered through CNM’s occupational programs, Chavez said.

“Through this c omp r e h e n s i v e approach, we hope to provide students with the academic and employability skills needed for today’s demanding market,” he said.

For more information on CSE courses, contact Kenneth Chavez at kchavez65@ cnm.edu or by phone at 224-4000 Ext. 50211

Editorial: New Beginings

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My name is Rene Thompson and as the new Editor-in-Chief I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and clarify the new direction of the Chronicle in the coming year. Our goals are to work with the CNM community in sharing views, opinions and ideas of how CNM can be a better place for everyone.

The Chronicle encourages our readers to give us feedback and let us know how you feel about our stories and the issues that really matter to you. Students faculty or staff who feel they might have a good idea or an issue they feel should be in the paper, please email us and let us know about it, because we want your feedback and ideas.

As employees of the Chronicle, we are all students learning the profession of journalism. In order for us to succeed, our focus will be in the best interest of students and faculty.

We want to move forward with a new perspective in helping to solve problems on campus and helping to make our school the best it can be.

The standards met at the paper have exceeded expectations, including winning third place in a national journalism competition, and this coming year we hope to go above and beyond in a whole new direction with our readers in mind.

We look forward to gaining feedback from you and we hope to make the Chronicle an even more important part of the CNM community.

Column: How to deal with crappy roomates

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By: Shaya Rogers, Managing Editor

The problem with roommates is that you cannot live with them, but you cannot afford a place to live without them. In college, we often hear horror stories from friends and acquaintances about all types of roommates.

Like many aspects of adulthood, sharing a home with someone does not come with a guide. It is figured out through trial and error, which depending on the error can be a terrible experience.

The Chronicle has put together a few options to consider when choosing a roommate, and what to do when dealing with a crappy roommate.

A good way to ensure a peaceful living situation is to choose wisely. Choosing someone with somewhat similar life goals and qualities should provide a head start to co-existing.

When one roommate is uncomfortable with parties and the other wants to have people over almost every night, it is going to create problems. Pay attention to the little things and set a solid foundation. Do not be scared to interview a few different people to get a feel for their communication skills and their likes and dislikes.

Making a contract sounds a lot more intimidating than it should be. It is fairly easy to sit down and agree to a few basic guidelines. This contract should not include nit picking every small detail, but should map out a few major issues including sharing utilities, a cleaning schedule, sharing food, sharing electronics and noise levels. Keeping an open line of communication and about important guidelines is a good place to start and will hopefully inspire an open dialog. The longer the conversation is put off, the harder it will be to approach and no one wants to deal with a roommate that is freaking out about cleaning the bathroom.

A good rule of thumb, let go of the little things. Try not to let negative feelings linger. If there is a big issue that needs to be addressed, then take care of it. Do not let personal quirks get in the way of the living situation. A messy room is allowed, however, a messy shared space is not. Let go and realize that roommates are going to be annoying and that is just part of living with another person. Take a moment to consider if an issue is worth making a big deal about.

There is a possibility that someone may need to move out. If the living situation has become unbearable and there is obvious awkward, uncomfortable tension, moving out may be a positive thing. It is not the end of the world, sometimes people just do not get along. Try to approach the split in an objective way, making it clear that it is not going to work, and give at least one month’s notice. Most of the time, the feeling will be mutual anyway. Try to find a place that is paid for month to month rather than getting a place with a lease. This way, just in case it does not work out, no one is trapped into staying somewhere they do not want to be.