Jyllian Roach – The CNM Chronicle

Albuquerque Comic Expo: Revenge of the con

May 21, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

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”

A Rainbow of Sexuality

March 27, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By Jyllian Roach, Editor-in-Chief

Editor’s note: this interview was originally three and a half hours in length. For space concerns the interview was edited to include only the most relevant information.

Sexual identification is a personal and often varied thing. The CNM Chronicle sat down with a group of people with varying sexual backgrounds to discuss what life is like for them as people in Albuquerque.

How did you realize what your sexual identity was?

Sarvis: “I was eight or nine. I first realized I wasn’t straight actually watching “Star Trek: Voyager” and I realized I wanted to be with Seven-of-Nine and Captain Janeway. I don’t think I really knew what it meant though until about middle school.”

Jensen: “Well I would say it’s kind of weird for me because I, I thought I was straight until I was 31 years old, but I always knew that I found men – certain men – were attractive without being attracted to them.

It wasn’t until I had a same-sex experience when I was 31 that I was like ‘oh. This is not nearly as bad as I would’ve thought.

When I first realized I could be sexually attracted to men I was like ‘I’m gay then,’ but then I was like ‘no, I’m not gay. I love women. I love having sex with women.

I think women are gorgeous’ and that’s when I was like ‘Ohhh. You can be bisexual.’ Then I realized that I’m more interested in relationships with men than women. So I’m bisexual leaning more toward men, now.”

Galvez: “When I grew up, you just were and nobody and you were expected to have specific roles.

So from really young – I had a mock wedding at six – so from a really young age I just always identified as heterosexual, although I do think many very women are attractive. That’s just kind of how it’s always been.

I don’t think I ever really had this dawning of ‘I just want to be with men’ it’s just always been that way.

Silva: “I kind of feel the same way. I can’t really pinpoint at what are or certain moment in life where I said ‘Yeah, I’m straight now’ but I can identify beauty in both sexes. Even though I’m not gay and don’t have any tendencies I can see men and see beauty of a physical body or whatever.”

Slattery: “For me, I knew on some level from about the age of four. I didn’t actually, and then I started cross-dressing secretly when I was about 13.

I grew up in a very conservative religion in a small town so it actually took me longer to realize than it would have, because I had gotten the impression that if I was transsexual I had to be attracted to men and I’m not very much.

I had a friend whose boyfriend was also Trans and I didn’t know this until early college, but I ended having talks about it.

When I was 20 I finally had private internet access so I looked and I was like ‘Wow, so there’s a lot more variation here and it’s allowed. Ok good.’

The other thing is, I don’t know that the church I grew up in has this formal of a stance on it but I always figured that if I even acknowledged it I was going to go to hell.

When I was 21 I spent a week where I did nothing but try to figure this out, praying, being willing to accept and then basically it was like ‘Oh yeah, I am a woman.’

I didn’t go fulltime until I was 29 but I came out to my parents about a year after I figured it out. It is probably worth noting that the only relationship I’ve had happened after I went full time.”

Wells: “Basically since I was little I’ve felt different but I could never figure out in what way it was just a lingering feeling. I was raised Jehovah’s Witness which might explain –“

Galvez: “The rebellion?”

Wells: “Fallen angel all the way. Personally, I didn’t do much dressing up when I was young. At a certain point in my life I met someone who let me know that she, as a woman, thought it was incredibly sexy to see a man with certain features in panties, stockings, garter belts, so on and so forth.

Personally, any time I’ve dressed up – for me, it’s the clothes. Oh god. But really, I’ve never felt right putting on make-up and a wig in a male body because this is my male body.

I feel comfortable with clothing it feels really nice on your skin. So very recently what I’ve been talking about and thinking about for a very long time I realized that it’s ok, I realized the fact that I’m heterosexual and Trans.

I don’t like who I have to portray as a man, it’s not me, I want to be sensitive.”

Silva: “So you’re attracted to women and you’ve going to have the surgery?”

Wells: “Not fully. I love my penis. It’s so awesome to just stand up and stare at the night sky while you’re peeing. It also has other advantages.”

Galvez: “So what is it that you’re planning to do? Is it a partial transition?”

Wells: “Yeah. In about a year, I’m going to start hormones. I’m going to see my doctor in April and I’m going to start therapy which is required to take hormones.

Ogden: “I really can’t give you a pinpoint; I just always knew I wasn’t like the rest of the boys.”

de la Cruz: “I can pretty much pinpoint the exact moment. I was in catechism because I was brought up Roman Catholic. Going through the first Holy Communion things and there was this nun and she was so banging.

She was just gorgeous; I was just really drawn to her for some reason. That was the moment. I still sleep with men sometimes, but having a relationship with men, I’ve tried.

But it’s just not there. As far as coming out and stuff, I really didn’t need to because I have friends over, the door would be locked. My mom is totally cool with everything. My sister and I are both gay and my other sister just got married to a man.”

Silva: “Something I don’t understand is that you identify as lesbian but you said you enjoy having sex with men. Doesn’t that make you lesbian?”

de la Cruz: “No. That’s the thing. I’ve tried dating guys. Identify as lesbian because I have relationships with women.”

Jensen: “Whereas I, there is a 99.5557 percent chance that I will never be in a relationship with a woman again, but I identify as bisexual because there’s no word like homo-relationship or homo-amorous. But I consider myself bisexual because I enjoy sex with both.”

Wells: “There are so many labels. There’s no way to look at another person for the first time and not have a snap judgment as to something about them.”

What have your experiences been as far as negativity goes?

Ogden: “I was in this sort of redneck town, working at a restaurant and I never had a problem until I worked a few graveyard shifts. The drunken cowboys would come in.

One night, this guy was talking s**t – and he wasn’t even in my section— he could just see me.

Another server came to me and said ‘Evan, stay away from that table. They’re saying a lot of f**ked up s**t about you. I’m like ‘I wasn’t gonna go over there; I’m busy over here.’

After that, I wasn’t allowed to work graveyards anymore. Because of them. The general manager said ‘Evan, I don’t want you to work graveyards anymore. I know you were just filling in a shift and being nice, but I don’t want you to do it anymore, because of this incident.’ There was no incident.

The only other time I had a problems is when I was managing one night at another restaurant.

Another gay guy was serving and there were problems with rednecks giving

The CNM Six

March 5, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

(left to right) Melanie Mullens, Steve Fye, Crystal Perea, Natasha Spencer, Dr. Kathie Winograd, Adrianne Sanchez and Stephen Martos pose together after the students recieved their scholarships and medals commemorating he event.
All photos by Jonathan Gamboa

Students awarded two-year scholarship

By: Jyllian Roach, Editor-in-Chief | Photos By Jonathan Gamboa

Six students were honored at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe by the House and Senate Education Committees for receiving the All State
Academic Scholarship, which awards students with free tuition to any four year institution in New Mexico for two years for demonstrating leadership
and community involvement.

Melanie Mullens
Pre-Health Sciences

“It will be really helpful. I am a single mom, so paying for school is not easy.”

Mullens earned her scholarship by volunteering with the Mats Mobile Detox, which helps people with addiction and at Crossroads, an organization that helps women in domestic violence situations.

She plans to transfer to UNM and major in dental hygiene. Her goal is to open a private practice in a rural area.

Steve Fye
Culinary Arts

“I’m really honored to get this.”

Fye plans to attend UNM as a journalism major and weave his loves of food and writing into a career as a food writer.

He is a member of the six-month-old campus Veteran’s Club and is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Upsilon Chi.

Off campus, Fye volunteers with a non-profit called the Society for Creative Anachronism, an educational historical re-creation group.

Crystal Perea
Fine Arts Studio

“I feel proud and accomplished for the first time in my life.”

Perea helped to raise scholarship money with Miles of Coin, designed the Lobo Paw and fed the homeless through Stand Down.

On campus, she and three others organized a cleanup day on multiple campuses. She also created art installations for the Westside campus.

Perea wants to work with autistic and at-risk children hopes to do so by transferring to UNM and earning a master’s degree in art therapy.

Natasha Spencer
Pre-Health Sciences

“I am excited about this, it is such a relief.”

Spencer is a member of Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Upsilon Chi and has participated in the group’s jacket and food drives, as well as other fundraisers.

She also volunteers at The Albuquerque Roadrunner Tournament.

She plans to transfer to UNM and major in either dental hygiene or medicine so that she can work in public health.

Stephen Martos
Criminal Justice

“I feel very honored to receive this award. It’s a really great opportunity.”

As President of the Executive Council of Students, Martos is no stranger to community service. ECOS has volunteered with many campus-sponsored events, created campus safety trainings and safety walks and has held food, clothing, shoe and toy drives to help those in need.

Martos is unsure where he will continue his education, but eventually wants to attend law school.

Adrienne Sanchez
Integrated Studies

“I feel really good, it’s free tuition.”

Sanchez plans to transfer to UNM to become certified as both a nutritionist and a nurse.

She has volunteered with March of Dimes and the Storehouse.

She is also a SkillsUSA member and went to the State Leadership Conference in 2012.

Want to apply for next year’s scholarship? Here’s some advice from the winners:

“Don’t give up. People get intimidated with the amount of work you have to do to get the scholarship, but it is really not that bad.” – Melanie Mullens

“Do it. Stick with it and keep working on your essays.” – Steve Fye

“If you can help someone out with your time and get some money to go to school, it’s worth it.” – Crystal Perea

“Don’t be lazy. Write the essays. It is easy, but a little time consuming. It’s definitely worth it.” – Natasha Spencer

“Don’t be afraid to get out there are help in the community. It will benefit you in more ways than you can imagine.” – Stephen Martos

“Document everything you do. Make sure you have good references and you get everything done on time.” – Adrienne Sanchez

Administration explores solutions to faculty paycheck mix-ups

February 26, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By Jyllian Roach, Editor-In-Chief

Instructors were recently asked by the Marketing and Communications Department to take a survey regarding past payroll difficulties in an attempt to streamline the payroll process.

The online survey was available to part and full time instructors from Feb. 11 to Feb. 22 as a way for instructors to give their opinions and ideas on how to better handle faculty payroll, said Director of Marketing and Communications Brad Moore.

Faculty members’ pay can be tricky because of added or dropped classes, special projects and added assignments, which have caused errors on some paychecks, he said.

“The project team is looking into the payroll process for possible areas for improvement to make sure all paychecks are accurate the first time to avoid having to make adjustments on the next paycheck,” said Moore.

Continue reading “Administration explores solutions to faculty paycheck mix-ups” →

Student Crowned Miss Albuquerque

February 19, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By: Jyllian Roach, Editor-In-Chief | Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Art Director

While Miss Albuquerque, Stephanie Chavez will focus on child literacy.

Communications major Stephanie Chavez has won the title of Miss Albuquerque 2013.

Chavez won the title on Feb. 9 after previously winning the titles of Miss Doña Ana County 2012 and Miss Albuquerque 2012, she said.

“It feels great. It’s a little surreal, just getting used to the title, but I’m just staying in school and keeping things as normal as possible,” she said.

Chavez’s goal as Miss Albuquerque is to focus on child literacy because reading was something she struggled with as a child, she said.

To help children who struggle with literacy, Chavez visits Albuquerque-area schools and shares her story and how practicing gave her a love of reading.

“I just teach them that reading can be fun, it’s not just for school,” she said.

She has worked mostly with preschool and elementary school children because she understands the impact illiteracy can have on a student, she said.

Students who struggle with reading are often looked upon as bad students and do not always get the support they need, she said.

The next step in her pageant career is the Miss New Mexico competition on June 23, she said.

If Chavez wins the title, she said she will be taking her literacy project statewide so that she can help as many children as possible.

Should Chavez win Miss New Mexico, she said she would have the opportunity to compete in the Miss America competition.

Unlike television shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras” that give the impression that beauty pageants focus solely on physical appearance, Chavez said that the pageants emphasize service and intellect.

“Often on these televisions shows, we see parents pushing the children. It should be the child’s choice. Pageants teach good lessons about winning and losing, but at the same time, these kids don’t want to compete and it’s the mothers or the families pushing them to do so,” said Chavez.

She said the pageants also helped her with public speaking and confidence, but that it was always her choice to enter the pageants.

The Miss America organization is the largest women’s scholarship provider in the nation, she said.

The winner of Miss New Mexico will receive a $10,000 scholarship and the winner of Miss America is awarded a $50,000 scholarship.

“It is a huge help as a college student,” she said.

Chavez said that she realizes pageants are stereotyped as being only about looks, but that it is a stereotype she hopes to help break.

Chavez encourages any students that want to compete for a local title to do so by going to missnewmexico. org, she said.

Miss Albuquerque Fun Fact

CNM finalist for excellence award in student success

February 19, 2013 cnmchronicleLeave a comment

By: Jyllian Roach, Editor-In-Chief

CNM is one of five finalists in the American Association of Community Colleges 2013 Excellence Awards.

The school is a finalist in the new category of Student Success, primarily for the creation of CNM Connect, said Director of Marketing and Communications Brad Moore.

President Kathie Winograd said she is very happy for the school to be named a finalist.

“Being named as a finalist for the AACC Student Success Award is a highly appreciated affirmation of the great work that is constantly being done at CNM for the cause of student success. We are definitely honored to have been named one of five finalists for this esteemed national award,” said Winograd.

Moore said Connect, which offers both on-campus services like achievement coaching; scholarship information and workshops and off-campus assistance for food stamps, legal services, housing and even child care placement, has been emulated by more than 20 other colleges since it was created in 2011, and is credited with higher student retention.

The creative approach of CNM Connect has led to an increase in student retention, said Moore. About 80 percent of first-time students who used the programs in fall 2011 returned the following term, whereas only 71 percent of new students who did not use the program returned, he said.

Similarly, 75 percent of non-first-time students who spoke to someone at Connect returned, compared to only 67 percent of non-first-time students who did not speak with a Connect employee, he said.

Winograd said that this speaks well of the program’s success.

“The development of CNM Connect, which is a very innovative service with a fresh approach to serving students in a more holistic way, has led to great progress in how we support our students. There is great promise for this student-support model,” she said.

Connect was not the only factor in CNM’s position as a finalist, said Moore.

Increases to graduation, transfer and dual credit rates played a role as well, as have the 16 program-specific transfer agreements created between CNM and UNM, he said.

The winner of the Student Success award will be named on April 23, at the AACC annual convention in San Francisco, according to the organizations website.

Winograd, Vice President for Academic Affairs Sydney Gunthorpe and CNM Connect Executive Director Ann Lyn Hall will be in attendance to accept the award, should CNM win, said Moore.

Whether or not CNM wins, Winograd said she is happy that the school has been recognized.

“There is so much terrific work that goes on at CNM every single day in the name of helping students succeed. I say very often that I think CNM is one of the best community colleges in the country.

And I firmly believe that. We have so many devoted faculty and staff who care deeply about helping our students achieve their academic and career goals, and they work very hard to make it happen. That commitment is very evident in our increasing graduation numbers,” she said.