DAILY LOBO new mexico
Passion of fashion
tuesday
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
April 13, 2010
LaPo employee let go for harassing co-worker
Natural Artist
by Shaun Griswold Daily Lobo
Amie Zimmer / Daily Lobo Alexis Pavlantos models a necklace on Sunday that she made out of resin molding and a blooming flower. All her jewelry is made with recycled materials. Check out page 5 for the full story.
Award assists mother of five by Kallie Red-Horse Daily Lobo
The Truman Scholarship is allowing one UNM student’s dreams to come true. Cara Valente-Compton, who got the $30,000 award, said she’s wanted to attend the UNM School of Law her entire life, and her award is allowing her to do so. “My plan has always been to attend the UNM School of Law. Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to be a lawyer,” she said. “I am fascinated by law and government, so that’s the plan. If UNM will accept me, I am going to go and pursue my degree.” Kiyoko Simmons of UNM’s
National and International Scholarships and Fellowships said Valente-Compton earned the award because of her passion to serve the state. “In my opinion, the primary reasons she got it (is) her determination, her academic excellence, scholastic skill and community services,” she said. “Cara has just strong determination to work for the New Mexico state population.” As a mother of five, ValenteCompton said she wants to inspire other women to return to school. “I came back to school a year ago, and I have been so happy here. I feel like I am finally accomplishing the goals that I set out for myself long ago,” she said. “I think
it’s especially important for young women to know that you can leave academia and start a family and come back, finish your degree and accomplish the goals that you established for yourself when you were young.” Valente-Compton’s course plan is immigration law, she said. “One of the things I am most concerned about, especially here in New Mexico, is how people are really at a disadvantage when it comes to immigration process,” she said. “They are discriminated against and the bias that prevents them from seeking or accomplishing citizenship has forced a lot of
see Scholarship page 3
A La Posada Dining Hall manager is no longer employed with UNM after being accused of assaulting a fellow employee. “Anthony Rosa no longer works with us,” said Chartwells district manager Rudy Simchak. “The case is closed.” Angelica Cordova, the victim, said she filed assault charges against Rosa. Rosa declined to comment. In their initial response, Chartwells’ representatives suspended Rosa for three days and required him to take an online sexual harassment class before returning to work, according to Shawn Weed, a La Posada kitchen manager. The March 18 incident happened after Cordova and Rosa got into a confrontation in the back of the La Posada kitchen. Cordova said the argument escalated after she asked Rosa to return unneeded container lids he brought at her request. “I was busy and put them somewhere until I needed them,” she said. “He got mad and wanted me to put them away where he got them from.” Rosa instructed Cordova, who was working at the cashier’s booth near the entrance to the buffet, to meet Rosa in his office to settle the dispute. Rosa told her to leave the dining hall but she refused. According to the UNMPD police report, witnesses saw Rosa grab Cordova’s arm as she tried to leave. “I was just doing my work and he was bullying me,” she said. “I was in fear for my life. I thought he was going to hit me.” When UNMPD arrived on the scene, they separated the two employees. The police report said that Rosa instigated the argument
and used physical force to block Cordova’s path. Rosa, who typically managed the night shift, was on duty for the morning shift when the incident happened because a supervisor meeting was taking place in a separate location. “I am glad he is gone,” Cordova said. “He has no business working with people if he is going to treat them bad.” Cordova, who said she has been a UNM employee for more than 20 years, brought assault charges against Rosa and filed a grievance with her union, the Communications Workers of America. The CWA set up a meeting between Cordova and the UNM Human Resources Department at Chartwells to re-evaluate the case. “He created a hostile environment,” said CWA representative Scott Askey. “There were several witnesses that substantiated the battery. Any other employee would have been terminated.” Some students and community members protested outside of the dining hall because they felt La Posada managers were not taking the matter seriously. “(Rosa) was abusive as a supervisor,” said community member Mike Butler. Butler, who helped organize the protest and circulate the petition, said he is satisfied Rosa no longer works at La Posada because service employees deserve a safe work environment. Cordova said she pursued action against her manager for the same reason. “We should never have to go through anything like that,” she said. “There should be no tolerance for harassment, no tolerance for a hostile work environment and that’s what I thought they put us through.”
GPSA candidates differ in approaches by Andrew Beale Daily Lobo
GPSA elections are coming up, and Danny Hernandez has a challenger for the council chair seat. Community and Regional Planning student Megan McRobert is also running for the council chair seat. The elections will be held from April 19-22. McRobert said she will bring the experience she gained as a volunteer with GPSA to the council chair position if she wins. “I got a different perspective because of my work as a volunteer with GPSA,” she said. “I’d like to bring my experience and abilities to this organization.” Current Council Chair Hernandez, who is running for reelection, said he also has valuable
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
issue 134
experience to bring to the organization. “I’ve chaired lots of organizations over the years, so I have a lot of experience running a meeting, which means letting everyone have their say,” he said. Hernandez said the council chair is not a position with an agenda, but instead relies on the chair’s skills at running a meeting. “It’s a little different than being president, because the main reason to elect a council chair is because he can run the meetings the best,” Hernandez said. “My agenda is what the council says it is. I think this year we got that dialogue down really well.” McRobert said that as council chair she would work to incorporate diverse groups into the GPSA Council.
“I think that the Graduate and Professional students are an incredibly diverse group of people,” she said. “We’ve got new people coming in not every year, but every semester. I think GPSA needs to be open to new ideas and perspectives.” She said, if she wins, she will work to make it easier for graduate and professional students to navigate UNM’s bureaucracy. “This is a really complex university. We have a very large bureaucracy. It can be an absolute maze — a labyrinth,” she said. “One of my goals is to increase transparency and also communication.” Hernandez said he will work closely with the new Student Bar Association if its secession from GPSA is successful.
see GPSA page 3
The Daily Lobo scored the lineup for this year’s Fiestas.
Johnson Field
noon to 9 p.m.
April 24
The
Grand Canyon
D.J.’s Z-Trip & Dizzy
The Flobots • Oh Snap!! • The Noms • Zagadka Hollywood Holt • Cobra Moonshine • Daniel Park
You bike, you booze, you lose
Sudoku
Today’s weather
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75° / 46°