DAILY LOBO new mexico
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February 20, 2012
Trial against UNM begins
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
IT’S GOOD TO BE KING
Sharon Warner sues over breach of contract by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu
UNM professor Sharon Warner is suing UNM for a $1.5 million breach of contract, following what her lawyer said is a mishandled whistle-blowing complaint about sexual harassment committed by another professor. Warner’s complaint, which was filed in September 2009, will be heard Monday through Friday of this week before a jury in the District Court in Santa Fe. Warner filed an Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) complaint after she received an anonymous complaint letter. The authors claimed to be parents of a UNM student. The letter included pictures of Lisa D. Chávez,a creative writing professor, posing as a “dominatrix professor” and disciplining “misbehaving students,” according to the lawsuit. Chávez was identified as “Mistress Jade” in a local phone-sex company, People Exchanging Power, in 2008. On the People Empowering People website, the advertisement for “Mistress Jade” read, “Do you want a biker bitch, an imperious goddess or a stern teacher ready to punish unruly students?” In one photo, she posed with then-graduate student Liz Derrington. Warner’s attorney, Arnold Padilla, said Warner is filing for damages which could amount to between $500,000 and $1.5 million. Padilla said Warner lost her chairship after she complained about Chávez posing with Derrington. In 2009, Warner filed a lawsuit against UNM for retaliation, breach of implied contract and breach of covenant of good faith. Padilla said Warner’s complaints filed with the OEO were unsuccessful. Chávez still teaches creative writing classes at UNM. She was never found guilty of any wrongdoing in investigations conducted by UNM. In an email in September 2010, Chávez said those who accuse her of wrongdoing should accept the University’s judgment. “It is only a few people who continue to drag down our department by their refusal to let this matter rest,” she said. Warner claims UNM is procedurally required to acknowledge
Adria Malcolm / Daily Lobo Sophomore Arthur Dahl (center) and freshman Daniel Garcia (right) show their Lobo pride during the game against UNLV Saturday morning in The Pit. The Lobos defeated the Runnin’ Rebels 65-45. They lead the MWC standings. See page 12 for full story.
Students develop satellites for NASA by Barbara GomezAguinaga barbarag@unm.edu
Courtesy of COSMIAC CubeSats are 4x4x4 inch satellites created by UNM students that will be launched by NASA at the end of the year.
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Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 116
issue 103
Where are we?
Outpitched
See page 2
See page 8
UNM spends hundreds of millions of dollars on technological development each year. The federal government foots most of the bill according to The Office of Instutional Research. In one project, undergraduate students are building satellites for NASA, using funding supplied by the Air Force. In one of the closest partnerships between UNM and federal agencies, students work with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate on military and aerospace innovations, including a type of microsatellite that uses light-detection technology to study the upper atmosphere and enhance GPS systems. AFRL is working with the Configurable Space Microsystems Innovations and Applications Center (COSMIAC), which is housed in UNM’s electrical engineering department, to develop CubeSats. The 4x4x4-inch satellites are expected to be ready for use by NASA by the end of this year, said Matthew McCullough, an electrical engineering undergraduate researcher. He said the project is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to participate in impor-
tant research, an opportunity not available at all universities. “A nice thing about COSMIAC is that we are not merely focused on research,” he said. “We also want to expose motivated students to space electronics and space systems.” McCullough, who has worked with COSMIAC since May 2010, said developing leading technology in college is an opportunity all undergraduates should take advantage of. “You learn a lot in the classroom, but here you apply what you have learn.” Federal agencies contributed 78 percent of the $370 million in research awards and grants given to UNM in 2010, the most recent data year. The majority of grants, research awards and partnerships go to hard science departments and come from agencies including NASA, the Department of Energy and the Office of Naval Research. BOX: For more information about theFor programs, visit Cosmiac.org more information about
the programs, visit Cosmiac.org
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