Issue 4 Volume 20 – The CNM Chronicle

ARTworks CNM Art Club offers social media workshops

June 10, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By Nick Stern, Copy editor

The Artworks CNM Art Club has put together a workshop that consists of four sessions and targets the growing need for networking through social media among entrepreneurs, specifically entrepreneurial-minded artists, said Seminar Instructor Sky Carlisle.

The name of the workshop series is Social Media for Artists and consists of a three-part remote YouTube login webinar, using Google Hangouts, plus the four workshops which are held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 120 and 122 of the Student Resource Center, on June 6 and 20, July 25, and August 1, Carlisle said.

The workshops focus on how beneficial social media can be in the development of an artist’s presence, and are directed towards helping individuals in the art community develop better knowledge and understanding of all the different social media systems, Carlisle said.

Students can get themselves seen and recognized by anyone who might be interested in what they do, he said.

“The four seminar class is geared to help create a presence for artists online, so that they can be found and so not only just be found locally but they can be found nationally. Our goal is to let people, even if they have never done it before, get introduced to a system that works to help keep them updated on trends moving forward,” Carlisle said.

Carlisle looks at the workshops as a way to build strong relationships to help artists over time and help them use the different social media systems to define and promote who they are, what they do, how they want to be seen online, and who they want to be seen online by, he said.

“So people can be found for their art and for what they want to be known for. We want to make sure we can create a relationship with each of them so that way, moving forward, we are here to help the in the long term,” he said.

Carlisle said that, though the workshops definitely benefit the artists who attend and work hard to create a substantial social identity, there is also a much bigger picture, which is that the entire community can benefit from artists becoming more stable and having more of their art seen locally, he said.

“I think the ripple effect is just like throwing a stone in a pond, because the rest of the community benefits from the fact that people can be found that we are more stable with our art. I think that art trends are coming back. We have a ton of great stuff happening now with new galleries opening, and new art from all over the place is brought here,” Carlisle said.

President of Artworks CNM Art Club, Letitia Hill, said that she and Carlisle recognized the fact that the social media of today has truly changed the way that an artist has to go about getting noticed and connected with a way to make a living, she said.

Currently it is almost impossible for an artist to be seen or heard of by anyone, unless he or she are networking properly, and that can be tough when people are spending all their time and energy on the medium that they are talented in, Hill said.

This networking necessity that has been born out of the booming expansion of social media is how the idea came up to create the workshops, Hill said, and is tough to do, but can actually be very helpful.

“It is born out of the fact that there has been a shift in how artists actually get connected with their source. We decided to host this because it just seemed to be something that was really needed in the art community,” Hill said.

The very first open seminar happened on June 6, and Hill was very thrilled with the results because many different people showed up with many different ideas and agendas, and they were all there to learn to promote themselves efficiently, she said.

Hill said that there are definitely still open seats available, and for $5 anyone can become an Artworks club member, which will also allow free entry in any of the workshops that are held throughout the rest of the year, Hill said.

“I am super stoked. I am really happy that we had so many people show up first off, and it has actually produced a great interest, especially in social media. We would love to see every chair taken,” she said.

Carlisle and Hill both agree that though the workshops are geared toward artists, anyone can come to the meetings to learn entrepreneurial skills for networking, Hill said.

“You do not necessarily have to be an artist. It is actually about entrepreneurship. It is a huge tool for entrepreneurs,” Hill said.

Anyone who is interested in the social media workshops, Artworks club, or other workshops held in the future can go to artworkscnm.wix.com/artworks or email artworkscnm@gmail. com for more information.

Ken Chappy Hall gets facelift, removes hazards

June 10, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By Daniel Johnson, Investigative Reporter

Parts of Ken Chappy Hall have undergone asbestos and lead paint removal in preparation for the creation of a new faculty office space said Director of Communications and Media relations, Brad Moore.

CNM has removed the asbestos in Ken Chappy Hall in compliance with city, state and federal laws, including the city of Albuquerque, Environmental Protection Agency, New Mexico Environmental Department and OSHA, he said.

“All rooms that are currently open in Ken Chappy Hall are safe to use”, Moore said.

Asbestos is not dangerous until it is disturbed and becomes airborne, where it can be inhaled or ingested by people, he said.

The asbestos abatement was done so the area can be safely remodeled to provide new faculty office space, he said.

There was recently an addition of new furniture and some other minor upgrades to the SAGE instructor office spaces prior to the asbestos removal in Ken Chappy Hall, but is now being renovated in a much more comprehensive and structural way to provide more space for faculty and the offices they use, he said.

When this current renovation is complete, faculty from CHSS, MSE and SAGE will occupy the new office spaces, he said.

This project is in conjunction with the CNM Master Plan to provide centralized faculty office locations on Main campus, he said.

“This will hopefully encourage more collaboration among faculty members,” Moore said.

The instructors who were in the space that is being renovated are now located temporarily in classrooms in Ken Chappy, he said.

More space is now available in Ken Chappy because the registration office for Adult Basic Education classes has been moved to the recently remodeled Student Services Center, he said.

“Ken Chappy Hall is the only location that needs this kind of attention at this time,” Moore said.

The construction cost for the Ken Chappy renovation project, including the asbestos abatement, is $670,000, said Moore.

The removal of asbestos has been completed and the faculty office renovation is expected to be completed around the start of the 2014 fall term, he said.

“If other buildings become pinpointed for renovations, and they are older buildings, studies will be done to determine if there are any dangerous substances such as asbestos that require special attention prior to any renovations,” he said.

When a building has been chosen for renovation, many studies are done to evaluate whether there are dangerous materials within the structure, including studies to determine whether asbestos is present, he said.

Buildings built prior to the early 1980s could have asbestos inside them in inaccessible areas like inside walls or above the ceilings, he said.

The reports from these studies are used to determine how a building is renovated, he said.

The contractor for this project was KEERS Remediation Inc., and they specialize in the safe removal of asbestos, he said.

They are thoroughly trained in removing asbestos and disposing of it properly, he said.

An inspector from the New Mexico Environmental Department checked the site on Thursday, May 22, and confirmed that the project was being conducted appropriately and safely, he said.

KEERS Remediation Inc. Service Coordinator, Emily Sanchez said the removal of the asbestos went as planned and finished on schedule.

“The crew that worked out at CNM ran into no hiccups or problems during the removal process which was a good thing,” she said.

Upon completion of the removal a test sample was sent to a third party tester and all results returned as negative, she said.

Currently KEERS Remediation is not working on any other projects on CNM campuses, Sanchez said.

Albuquerque Rail Yards Market quickly becoming a Sunday tradition

June 10, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By Rene Thompson, Editor in Chief

The new Albuquerque Rail Yards Market offers an eclectic and different type of marketplace that deals an array of sights, sounds and smells to give market goers an accurate local experience of home-grown vendors, music and food, located at a time honored historical site near and dear to the heart of Burque.

Located at 777 First street NW in one of the oldest Albuquerque neighborhoods of Barelas, there are dozens of local booths at the rail yards, from artisan bakers, to local farmers, artists, food trucks, retailers, and music that give an impression of what Albuquerque has to offer, as well as giving market goers a look into the historic Albuquerque rail yards.

The blacksmith shop of the rail yards was re-purposed for the market, which opened its doors on May 4, with hopes of emulating a large and open Spanish style market, which can hold up to 999 people, according to cabq.gov.

This review is about some of the vendors at the market, but also what type of stuff to expect from this new community-driven initiative that will be going on until Nov. 2, every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Not only do most vendors have a square reader (mobile credit card app.) to accept most credit cards, but tokens are also usually available to be purchased from market organizers to make purchasing easier and more convenient.

There is a kid’s zone for educational arts and crafts, bands playing throughout the day on two separate stages, live art, massage therapists, belly dancers, face painting, and sample selections, just to name a few of the activities provided at the market throughout the day.

Patrons can also peek into surrounding buildings of the market to get a look into the history of the Albuquerque rail yards, but what would have been really cool, was if someone was there explaining the buildings, or at least had some signs set up about the history of each structure that could be accessed from the market.

Here is a short list of some of the vendors and what they had to offer, which could change from week to week.

Zendo

It is suggested by this reporter that upon arrival market-goers must make their way to the Zendo booth that sells fresh, strong and delicious iced coffees served in massive 20 ounce mason jars, which customers get to keep.

The coffee also includes espresso ice cubes and an array of flavorings to choose from that will keep anyone going for the whole day, guaranteed.

These home-style treats are made by Zendo Art Gallery and Espresso Bar, with coffee mason jars costing $6 and only $4 in a regular cup.

Food Street Institute

At the rail yards there are a variety of food vendors, but for CNM students, there is the Street Food Institute that gives students a 10 percent discount with ID, and had an assortment of spicy and flavorful tacos as well as sandwiches, sweets and infused teas offered on the food truck monthly menu, which changes periodically.

The Oaxacan Memelitas tacos were mouth-wateringly exceptional, with pork shoulder, quesillo, black bean spread, and mole sauce.

The tacos were a recipe inspired by a trip made to Oaxaca by CNM student employees of the food truck in the 2014 spring semester.

If some people do not get a chance to check out the market, the Food Street Institute food truck is at Main campus every Tuesday and Thursday in the Ted Chavez hall parking lot until 3 p.m.

Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc

The splendid smell of fresh tortillas made on site along with packaged tortillas sold at the Tortilleria Cuauhtemoc booth giving a true Albuquerque feel and aroma to the market atmosphere.

Tortillas were sold in a variety of quantities and are worth the investment for making burritos or tacos with traditional Mexican style tortillas.

111 Media Collective

There was also a screen printing booth making merchandise on site with 111 Media Collective, who produce a variety of Albuquerque themed shirts, jackets, bags, or any other garment provided by patrons.

111 Media Collective will either provide customers merchandise to get printed, or patrons can bring their own merch and choose from an assortment of Albuquerque-related prints put on right on site while customers can watch and wait for their custom-made stuff.

Cost of a t-shirt provided with print is just $10 and only $5 when customers bring their own.

Guerrilla Graphix

Guerrilla Graphix of New Mexico has not forgotten its Burque roots, with providing an assortment of Santa Fe Railway logo memorabilia from the Santa Fe Railway Company that helped New Mexico to thrive when the rail yards were open, and is much like a tribute to the old Santa Fe Railway shops that existed from the 1880s to 1920s.

Guerrilla Graphix Santa Fe Railway souvenirs consist of ashtrays to aprons, t-shirts, and coffee mugs, and they provide a range of Breaking Bad and Zia symbol merchandise, which are sold at surprisingly decent prices, with shirts ranging from $10 to $20.

These are only a handful of vendors that the Albuquerque Rail Yards has showcased since the beginning of May, and will hopefully bring more events and revitalization of the Barelas neighborhood.

The rail yards had been closed to the public since the 1990s, and were once considered an eyesore to some people in the community, but then had its potential seen, once again, by the movie industry with many movies filmed there, such as Terminator, The Avengers and Transformers.

The city of Albuquerque bought the rail yards in 2007 for $2.8 million for renovating and repurposing the historical site, according cabq.gov.

This market is such an exciting idea because of the dedicated volunteers of this new and innovative marketplace, who have given the community a chance to see a bit of Albuquerque’s historical roots, while making a place that is giving a much needed boost to the local economy.

Overall the Albuquerque rail yards market is definitely worth enjoying a Sunday afternoon with family and friends.

The market adds somewhat of a hip new twist on the conventional flea market or swap meet, that provides a truly great vibe of what Albuquerque needed and was seemingly lacking up until now, which was a place to see what the local community is really all about now, and to revitalize and showcase one of the best parts of Albuquerque’s history.

For more information on the market, other events, or to volunteer at the rail yards, go to railyardsmarket.org.

Changes are coming

June 10, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By the Chronicle Editorial Board

Some readers may be wondering why the Chronicle has downsized to only four pages this summer, and the editorial board would like to explain what the Chronicle hopes to be doing this summer and in the coming year.

The CNM Chronicle will be restructuring over the summer semester to make an enhanced and more comprehensive instrument out of the student newspaper.

This will be to help incoming student employees to learn from the paper in a more universal and modernized way.

The staff is taking this summer to research better learning resources, find out about how other community college newspapers are run, and incorporating better policies at the Chronicle.

All of this is to help the Chronicle transition into the modern era so to speak, by focusing more on the additional online version of the paper, as well as to have the usual print version of the paper seen more on campuses.

The Chronicle hopes to be able to start emailing students the weekly paper, as well as focusing more on website-based stories provided to students throughout the week, not just in a weekly publication.

We also hope to introduce a mobile app sometime next year that will provide students with up to date stories and bulletins via their mobile phones to be more user friendly and give news to students more easily.

We are changing the overall structure of the student newspaper so that the Chronicle is caught up with the technological times and to be able to properly instruct students about current applications used in the professional world of journalism.

The Chronicle will be going back to the usual eight and 12 pages again during the fall semester.

So please bear with us while we are optimistically transitioning into a more efficient and innovative newspaper that students can relate to, and that will be an effectual learning tool for future student employees to benefit from for years to come.

Letter to the Editor – In response to Volume 20 Issue 1 ‘Aviation students want their teacher back’

June 10, 2014 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

To the Editor:

I recently read the article on the Aviation Maintenance program printed in the May 20th issue of The Chronicle. I found it to be a very one-sided, unjust, and poorly researched article.

I am a 2014 graduate of the program with a unique perspective, being the only woman in the program for 2 years, as well as a having a very successful overall experience. I graduated with a 4.0 and several awards under my belt, and I was hired on with a very high-profile company before I even completed the program.

Seven semesters and over 1900 hours were spent with all three program instructors, yet I was not contacted about the situation for the article. It appears that only students who are currently in the program, and who are only in their second semester, were interviewed. I understand that these students are those who brought attention to the issue at hand, but proper journalism requires a look at more than one position to provide a quality and well-supported story.

While I realize that the primary point of this article is to point out the abrupt suspension of Jason Manzanares, how it affected the students, and how they are being kept in the dark about why, I have several opinions based off of far more experience than theirs about how the program and other instructors were portrayed. They were not fairly nor accurately represented.

How Jason Manzanares is portrayed in this article by the opinions of less experienced students than myself is not what is important to me. Although, personnel issues are a matter for the administration. If, as in this circumstance, an instructor is suspended for example, it is for a reason. That reason is not always everyone’s business, and a lot of the time that’s what’s best for everyone. We don’t always get to know why. Yes, as students, we are affected by it, but as is with life, all we can really do is take care of ourselves.

What is important to me is the complete disregard for truth and respect and the lack of proper investigation performed by this newspaper. The Chronicle took only one opinion and published it, without interviewing a wider range of people with first-hand knowledge and more experience.

The AMT program has not been falling apart, but gaining strength, in the time since I started in 2012. The curriculum has grown and adapted within parameters to better meet the needs of the students. One such very recent example took a very concerted effort from the students, instructors, the Dean and Associate Dean of ATC, testing facilities and the FAA to improve a testing situation that had proven restrictive and problematic for student progression. As this problem has finally been resolved, no future class-including those whose protests are in the article-will have to experience it. As far as the instructors who are remaining in the program, they are owed an apology and due respect.

How an instructor for the program, with field experience from Lockheed Martin and Eclipse, can be referred to as a “substitute” and lacking in “skill level” is offensive and laughable. The students are basing their opinions off of a comparison, not of knowledge, but of how bored they are. Not all teachers are the same. Some are more animated than others. You are there to learn from them, not necessarily to be entertained. That is just a bonus. The lectures can be long, and there’s only so many ways you can run through it. But they are necessary and unavoidable. Students need to learn theory before practice. If this design does not suit them, they can always take the non-academic route and get on-the-job training and eventually test by way of field experience, but they won’t have the certificate or degree that they can earn through CNM.

I owe, as well as do my fellow classmates, much of our successes to Jeremy Frick and Dave Ortiz. I personally had not only very capable and knowledgeable instruction from them, but they served as mentors for me as well. They are professional, clear and direct, and have plenty of time and industry experience that they are more than willing to share with the students. They are very approachable and accommodating and all a student needs to do is ask for direction, help, extra projects or practice, etc. My classmates and I were continually informed of scholarships, job openings, employment search engines, letters of recommendation and even had help updating our resumes to fit the industry. Outside of the basic curriculum, I was supported and encouraged through things like the SkillsUSA AMT competition on both the state and national levels. I practiced extensively in the lab with anything I needed supplied, including advice and help. Upon returning from the national competition, the instructors worked with me to develop better projects to more fully prepare future competitors.

I credit these instructors, this program, and the administration (in addition to myself) with my success. The Chronicle may have thought to include some of this contrasting and knowledgeable perspective, had they taken the time to find out that it existed. It is my very strong opinion that you consider writing an update or new story that offers a more accurate representation with views from people with more experience on the subject.

Sincerely,

Lexy Snell