DAILY LOBO new mexico
Artist’s Ave. see page 8
wednesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
March 10, 2010
Fee board amends rules for funding departments by Pat Lohmann Daily Lobo
Sean Gordon/ Daily Lobo Gail Houston, chair of the English department chokes back tears when talking about her colleague, Hector Torres. Torres was killed along with his girlfriend Stephania Gray, a graduate student, in his home on Sunday.
‘He always had a smile for me’ Professor and grad student left friends and colleagues with fond memories by Shaun Griswold Daily Lobo
The UNM community is mourning the loss of two colleagues, professor Hector Torres and graduate student Stefania Gray, who were found murdered at a residence near campus on Monday.
The two were considering getting married, according to friend Travis Parkin. Torres worked as a faculty member at UNM since 1986. His humor and smile made Torres a popular figure within the department, said Gail Houston, chairwoman of the English department who had an office across
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from Torres for six years. “He always had a smile for me. He was always there to listen,” Houston said. “Either he was working away on his computer, on his books or articles or he always had students. He was so brilliant, and they wanted to get everything out of him they could.”
see Mourning page 3
67 VS 54
On to the next
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. — In order to make a big run in Women’s basketthe postseason, the UNM ball vs. Utah women’s basketball team Wednesday had to first make a little at 5:30 p.m. one. Th omas & Mack And the Lobos can Center, Las Vegas thank second-year guard Sara Halasz and post player Valerie Kast for the nice little flicker they provided. Halasz helped UNM defeat Colorado State 6754 in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament on Tuesday. Kast finished with 8 points and four rebounds, but had two crucial blocks at the end of the first half. Still, CSU played inspired, not allowing the Lobos to pull away late, Halasz said. “They are a good team, and you just have to come back and fight no matter if they hit shots or not,” she said. But Halasz brawled furiously, especially against one of the MWC’s top scorers. She was handed the task of guarding CSU forward Kim Mestdagh, the Rams leading scorer during the regular season with 16.4 points per game.
Daily Lobo volume 114
issue 115
Student smokers doubt power of tobacco tax Daily Lobo
Daily Lobo
Inside the
see Fee Board page 3
by Leah Valencia
by Ryan Tomari
see Basketball page 5
The Student Fee Review Board made several policy changes at a meeting Saturday, allowing it more flexibility and power when distributing student fees. The board approved amendments to its policy making it possible to take an organization — like Athletics or Student Health and Counseling — off recurring-funding status. SFRB Chair Lissa Knudsen said some situations might make it unnecessary to give money to certain recurring-funding organizations. “If we get universal health care, then we maybe wouldn’t need to fund Student Health and Counseling,” she said at a February meeting. Before the amendments, the SFRB could only promote groups to recurringfunding status. Organizations on recurring funding status receive a locked-in allocation every year. Also, the board changed its policy to allow a 10 percent probationary cut for all recurring-funding organizations, instead of 5 percent. Jake Wellman, an undergraduate member on the board, proposed the amendment. Wellman also introduced another means of cutting funding to an organization. The SFRB can now cut groups by 5 percent, but only if fiscal situations warrant it. “For fiscal reasons only, the SFRB may recommend a non-probationary reduction for an organization on recurring-funding status,” the policy amendment reads. The board also took measures to prevent student fees from being allocated without going through necessary steps. The board approved a $30,000 allocation to fund ABQRide bus passes for UNM students; however, it did so without receiving an application on behalf of the bus passes. So, Knudsen recommended amending the SFRB policy to forbid any such
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo Sara Halasz slashes past Colorado State’s Kim Mestdagh, left, and Chantel Kennedy, during the Lobos’ 67-54 victory over Colorado State. UNM faces Utah today.
UNM students said a 75 cent tax increase on cigarettes won’t be driving them to Nicorette any time soon. The state legislature passed a 75 cent increase to the current 91 cent cigarette tax last week, bringing the overall tax to a $1.61 per pack. However, smokers say the increase will not deter them from lighting-up. “People pay out the nose for heroin,” UNM sophomore Jesse Clifton said. “I think an addiction is an addiction.” Graduate student Sophia Hammett said imposing the cigarette tax is a way to tax a population that is least likely to resist and is often a more viable option for legislators than other tax increases. “It is more ‘moral’ to raise a sin tax than acknowledge that we’re in a deficit,” Hammett said. “And either raise taxes across the board or make painful cuts.” The state will be raising a projected $33 million per year in cigarette taxes. Pug Burge, head of UNM’s Smoke-Free Environment Committee, said the cigarette tax is trying to make it financially uncomfortable for smokers, so they may consider quitting.
Vibrating with laughter
Voter anger
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“I think those that have been smoking for years and years probably won’t quit,” she said. “I am hoping that younger people who are on the borderline will use this as an opportunity to stop smoking.” Historically, cigarette tax increases have resulted in reduced sales. According to its quarterly reports, Philip Morris USA, which sells cigarette brands Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims, saw a 10.5 percent decrease in 2009 domestic cigarette shipments after federal law increased cigarette taxes by 62 cents in April 2009, Hammett said the federal increase did not affect her habit, and she does not expect the state increase to have a bigger impact. “That didn’t slow me down,” she said. “I do not imagine that another 75 cents will hurt me that much.” New Mexico is not the only state that has forced smokers to pay more as it tries to balance its budget. Last year, 16 states increased their cigarette taxes, according to StateLine. org. Major tobacco-producing states generally charge less, while the rest of the nation charges more. Currently, 14 states tax cigarettes by $2 or more. Rhode Island has the highest cigarette tax at $3.46 per pack, while South Carolina only taxes cigarettes
see Smoking page 5
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