DAILY LOBO new mexico
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tuesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
March 2, 2010
Witnesses report gunman on campus by Pat Lohmann Daily Lobo
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo A UNMPD officer holds a gun at his side in pursuit of a reported gunman near Hodgin Hall Monday afternoon. Witnesses told officers that they saw a man pressing a gun to the back of a young boy’s head near the Communication and Journalism building.
UNM Police officers responded to a report of a gunman near the Communication and Journalism building shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. Witnesses told officers they saw a man pointing a wrapped gun at the back of a young boy’s head while holding the back of his neck. Four UNMPD officers responded at 5:01 p.m. and — guns drawn — circled the C&J Building and Sara Reynolds Hall on foot before returning to their vehicles. Classes remained in session and no emergency alerts — like those sent out after the Feb. 15 student stabbing — were broadcast. UNMPD Spokesman Robert Haarhues said witnesses initially reported seeing a gun and what appeared to be a hostage situation. “We didn’t find anything, and
see Gunman page 3
Alford reprimanded for altercation with BYU player by Ryan Tomari Daily Lobo
The Mountain West Conference issued UNM head basketball coach Steve Alford a public reprimand for “unduly” verbal language aimed at BYU senior Jonathan Tavernari, after the Lobos defeated the Cougars at the Provo, Utah Marriott Center on Saturday, 83-81. Alford’s actions were in violation of the Mountain West Conference’s sportsmanship rules, according to a statement sent out by the
conference in an e-mail. During postgame handshakes, Alford and Tavernari were involved in a verbal spat which was broadcast on television because Tavernari refused to shake Alford’s hand, the Albuquerque Journal reported. “You’re an asshole,” Alford yelled at Tavernari, before the two were separated by members of their respective staffs. Greg Remington, associate Athletics director of media relations, said Alford will address the reprimand after UNM hosts TCU
on Wednesday. Under Rule 4 in the MWC Handbook, Alford won’t be further penalized, but subsequent offenses would result in a two-game suspension, according to MWC provisions. Before the reprimand was issued, Alford said in Monday’s news conference he apologized to Tavernari and BYU head coach Dave Rose over the phone. “I think what happens is you get in the heat of the moment and you have two big teams fighting like crazy, and they are two competitive teams,” Alford said. “The
Legislators work on balancing the budget SPECIAL SESSION
by Leah Valencia Daily Lobo
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature reconvened Monday for the Special Session with only one thing on the Governor’s Proclamation — the state budget. Though House and Senate leadership came to an agreement last week, there is still hard opposition from both parties. “There are primarily two schools of thought here,” said Rep. Dennis Roch (R-Curry). “I think the barriers
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unfortunate thing is we are all competitors, and we don’t like each other when we are competing. It’s not like I was rooting for BYU, and they were rooting for UNM. It’s a shame in a college basketball game of that magnitude, somebody had to lose, because that was a great college basketball game.” Preceding the altercation between Alford and Tavernari, junior-college transfer Darington Hobson had an exchange with Tavernari, after Tavernari attempted to steal the ball from Hobson. The two tussled before being restrained.
Senators Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo-11), left, and Lynda Lovejoy (D-Bernalillo, Cibola, McKinley, Rio Arriba and Sandoval-22) greet each other in the Senate Lounge. Monday was the first day of the special session of the New Mexico Legislature, which aims to address the state’s estimated $600 million budget deficit.
to getting a budget are no different today than they were weeks ago.” Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), who was involved in the upperleadership budget talks behind closed doors, said the new budget would have several tax hikes. This would include raising the gross receipt tax by a quarter of a cent. This measure would raise about $119 million a year. Legislators are also considering two versions of a cigarette tax. The first would raise the tax rate by 50 cents per pack, the other 75 cents. At 50 cents per pack the cigarette tax would raise about $24 million, Smith said.
Robert Maes / Daily
see Budget page 3
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