NM Daily Lobo 022812

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DAILY LOBO new mexico

February 28, 2012

It’s not about your looks...

tuesday Jury finds in favor of UNM in $1.5 m lawsuit see page 4

The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895

UNM professor has no regrets despite order to pay both parties’ legal fees Sharon Warner

by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu

UNM professor Sharon Warner lost her $1.5 million breach of contract lawsuit against the University on Monday. In Warner v. University of New Mexico the jury ruled in favor of UNM at the First Judicial District State Court, according to the court. Warner filed a complaint in September 2009, following what her lawyer called a mishandled whistle blowing complaint Warner made about potential sexual harassment within her department. Warner stepped down from her chairship following the complaint. Her husband, Teddy Warner, a professor at UNM Health Sciences Center, filed a lawsuit in 2009 claiming the University cut his

Lisa D. Chávez pay by 20 percent because of spousal affiliated retaliation. That case has yet to go to court. Warner filed an Office of Equal Opportunity complaint after she received an anonymous letter about UNM creative writing professor Lisa D. Chávez, which claimed Chávez was sexually harassing students. The authors claimed to be parents of a UNM student and the letter included pictures of Chávez posing as a “dominatrix professor” and disciplining “misbehaving students,” according to the lawsuit. In 2008, Chávez was discovered to be an operator at local phonesex company People Exchanging Power. She worked under the name “Mistress Jade.” According to the People Exchanging Power website, Mistress Jade could act as “a biker bitch, an imperious goddess or a stern teacher ready

“I’m not the kind of person who can look the other way and that was what I was asked to do and I couldn’t.” Sharon Warner UNM professor to punish unruly students.” In one photo, she posed with thengraduate student Liz Derrington. Warner said she still believes pursuing the case was the right thing to do. “I did what I thought was

MWC bus trip fuels charity work by Nathan Farmer

news@dailylobo.com For the third year in a row, Lobo fans have the chance to support their basketball team, give to a local charity and take an affordable vacation. Tix for Kids, a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged children and their families, has set up a chartered trip through Paradise Tours for next week’s MWC tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. for $225 per person. The proceeds go to the nonprofit. The bus leaves on March 6 and includes round trip fare and a three night stay at the Circus Circus Hotel from Mar. 7-10 in a double-occupancy room. The price does not include tickets to the game, which start at $15 per game for students. The price for taking the bus without the hotel stay is $150 per person. Bobby Aragon, a volunteer for Tix for Kids, put the trip together. He said it’s a great opportunity for Lobo fans to watch their team. This year Aragon said he plans on taking two buses and already has about 80 seats filled for the trip. He said this trip is a great opportunity for students to get to Las Vegas to cheer on UNM. “I know it’s hard to be a student,

Inside the

Daily Lobo volume 116

issue 109

and there is not a lot of extra money,” he said. “A price like this can give students a way to get down there and support their team.” This is the third year that Aragon has set up the trip to Las Vegas. During the 2009-10 season, the Lobos were nationally ranked and he was able to take two buses and a van. He raised $6,000 for Tix for Kids. Last season, with the Lobos going 8-8 in conference play, the trip only broke even. “The first year we took 125 fans and a couple people that just wanted to go out for a cheap vacation,” he said. “Last year we ended up taking only about 30 because the Lobos weren’t doing too well.” John Aragon, founder and president of Tix for Kids, said this year he figured they have already raised $2,500 and expects the remaining seats on the buses to sell out. “It (Tix for Kids) is a nonprofit organization that I started 10 years ago to help kids going through tough times,” he said. “We have a bus that’s full and a second bus that we’re trying to fill up. We are kind of hoping it will be around $3,000.” He said the money helps

see Tix

right,” she said. “I still think it was right. I don’t know how I could have done anything differently, and I really feel I did what I thought I could do on behalf of the students, the department, myself and the program. I am very disappointed that it turned out this way. I’m not the kind of person who can look the other way and that was what I was asked to do and I couldn’t.” Warner will be required to pay the legal fees of both parties. In an email, Chávez, who continues to teach at UNM, said the issue should have been resolved years ago. “I do feel that justice was served, and I hope that the door is closed on all of this, as it should have been five years ago,” she said. UNM Spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair said the University has no ill

will toward Warner. “We are pleased with the result, and we are glad to put this behind us and we wish Dr. Warner the best,” she said. Warner’s attorney Arnold Padilla said he was surprised he lost the case. “I have no clue how (we lost), honestly,” he said. “I have never had a case where I misread result and the effect of the case this much. I thought it went very well and evidence was very compelling, but how compelling can a case be if you lost?” Padilla said about six faculty members and four students testified on behalf of Warner, citing discrimination from the University. Witness Carrie Cutler said she felt the trial was

see Lawsuit PAGE 2

I WHIP MY HAIR

Jefferey Hertz / Daily Lobo Sophomore Aaron Hamre of Dogbats delivers a guitar solo during his performance on Thursday night in the SUB Ballroom. Dogbats placed second overall in the competition. See page 7 for story.

for Kids PAGE 2

Greek charity

Breathing is still free

See page 3

See page 9

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