DAILY LOBO new mexico
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April 4, 2012
wednesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Students get snow but not a snow day by Avicra Luckey
because they’ve canceled school for a lot less snow before,” she said. avicraluckey@gmail.com Some students the Lobo spoke Students awoke Tuesday to a with were indifferent toward the winter wonderland … kind of. Some snowfall, while others were worried students sat beside bedroom win- about getting to campus safely. But the chances of a snow day dows with phones in hand awaiting a text from the University commu- are getting slimmer as the tempernications department confirming ature warms up. The temperature Tuesday was an average of 46 declass had been canceled. grees, according to the NWS. It never came. The last time UNM closed for a Following a rainstorm late Monsnow day was in day, 1.4 inches of December. snow fell over the In February Duke City early 2011, New Tuesday morning, Mexico ran low but didn’t stick. on natural gas While snowused for heating fall in Albuand power during querque in early a week where spring is not unan Albuquerque heard of, the last record low of 4 few years haven’t degrees for the produced much month of February ~Monique Padilla precipitation. Acwas set, according cording to numstudent to the NWS. Gov. bers from the Susana Martinez National Weather Service, Albuquerque saw no declared a state of emergency and snowfall in all of April and March asked residents to turn down their in 2011. In March 2010 the total thermostats to conserve gas. About came to 0.8 inches, and no snow- 10,000 homes across the state lost power during the week, according fall was reported in April. Student Monique Padilla said she to government reports. The all-time recorded low in Alwas disappointed with the Universibuquerque was recorded at 17 bety’s decision not to cancel class. “I was actually kind of angry low zero in Jan. 7, 1971.
“I was actually kind of angry because they’ve canceled school for a lot less snow before,”
Courtesy photo Students built a snowman and a snowdog outside the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department yesterday. It snowed 1.4 inches Monday .
Women’s rugby struggles for funds, recognition by Luke Holmen and Elena Saavedra Buckley news@dailylobo.com
Although UNM’s women’s rugby team plays at a Division I level and has a better record than the UNM football team, the program goes unfunded by Athletics, which means team members pay out of pocket to play games. Njeri Henderson, co-captain of the Lobo rugby team, said without recognition from the NCAA, playing the sport is difficult. “We do not get the proper recognition or funding, which we deserve and need,” Henderson said. Co-captain Jade McLaughlin said the team struggles to raise enough money to compete. McLaughlin said away games, which often require buses and hotels, cost around $1,000 and home games cost around $250. Tim Cass, senior associate director of Athletics, said sports not recognized by the NCAA in the Mountain West Conference are ineligible for funding from Athletics. “The league we compete in, the Mountain West Conference, doesn’t have rugby,” he said. “If you were to have rugby as a Division I sport, you wouldn’t have a league to play in. Could you get membership into a different league? Maybe. But your travel cost would be extremely high.” New Mexico is one of the least
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popular states for rugby. Both Cass and Henderson said the main obstacle preventing rugby from being recognized by the NCAA and the Mountain West is lack of popularity. With fewer than 800 collegiate members, New Mexico lags behind states like California, which has more than 7,200 members, according to USA Rugby membership statistics. But nationwide participation in the sport is on the rise. More than 32,000 college athletes registered to play rugby in 2010-2011, a 14 percent increase from 28,000 in 2008-2009, according to USA Rugby membership statistics. Without NCAA certification and funding from Athletics, teams such as rugby are left at a disadvantage. Official sports teams have access to south campus facilities, tutors, advisers and buses, but sports clubs are a different story. Henderson, who manages and plays on the team, said juggling school and rugby is tough. “It’s difficult to be both a good student and athlete,” she said. “I myself am double majoring in biology and psychology for pre-med. I have 18-plus credit hours this summer and still have a GPA well over 3.5.” The team, who is currently 2-2, finishes up its regular season in May. –Gerald Polanco contributed to this report.
Ruby Santos / Daily Lobo UNM sophomore Kedra Janae Davis (left) practices blocks with teammate Jennifer Foster during a rucking drill Feb. 22. UNM women’s rugby is one of several UNM sports that has struggled to generate funds for travel expenses.
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