DAILY LOBO new mexico
Breaking ground
friday
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
April 16, 2010
GPSA hopefuls face tough questions by Tricia Remark Daily Lobo
Zach Gould / Daily Lobo
More protest than party
Activists stands on Menaul Boulevard during the American Tea Party’s Tax Day Rally on Thursday. About 500 people gathered on Menaul for the demonstration.
by Leah Valencia Daily Lobo
As the sun set on tax day, the Albuquerque Tea Party movement began its rally against government growth and spending. Hundreds of protesters lined Menaul Boulevard from San Pedro Drive to Wyoming Boulevard on Thursday to support the conservative
political movement. ATP Organizer Robert Young said followers of the movement wanted to urge government to return to the U.S. Constitution as it was drafted. “We are here to protest against high taxes, expanding government and just the general direction of the country,” he said. The intersection of Louisiana Boulevard was congested with cars
sporting signs that read, “Make a terrorist happy, vote dem!” And the congestion was compounded with loud honking and chants such as, “Cut spending and taxes; we are headed for disaster!” Young said people have grown frustrated with the government and are standing up for what they believe in. “We were the silent majority,” he
said. “We aren’t so silent anymore.” Young said the turnout for this year’s event was much greater than the same event held on Montgomery Boulevard last year. Daina Wade, an ATP member, said this was her second year to attend the event, and she came back because she wants to change what is happening in government.
Conference highlights hearty horses by Kallie Red-Horse Daily Lobo
The animal companions of conquistadors still roam New Mexico, and one organization is trying to make sure they don’t run off into the sunset. The New Mexican Horse Project, founded 12 years ago, is raising awareness about the New Mexican Wild Horse with an educational presentation this weekend, said Paul Polechla, UNM research biology professor. “This involves Hispanic people, Native American people, African American, Anglos — anybody that was anybody and their brother and sister, mom and dad, grandpa and grandma,” Polechla said. “Everybody rode this horse because it was the sole means of transportation.” The presentation will be at the
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
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Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, and the NMHP will encourage participation through a multi-disciplinary “educational package,” Polechla said. “Many different disciplines of science, technology and mathematics are involved,” he said. “We are also including an art component to inspire people that are not interested in science to become interested in it.” The presentation will also offer a museum exhibit, documentary film series and an interactive book series with a teachers’ guide and a Web site, Polechla said. “This conference is the first time we will have experts in all different fields coming together, sitting together at the same table and talking,” he said. “(It will be) getting public input from people that range from being school teachers to janitors. It will cover the whole gamut of anyone
Transparency, better representation and budget cuts were just a few of the topics discussed at the GPSA presidential candidate forum on Thursday. Lissa Knudsen, GPSA president, is running for re-election against graduate student Martin Gutierrez. “We’ve kept this campaign positive,” Gutierrez said. “The tone that has been brought to this election has been elevated from past elections.” GPSA Council Chair Danny Hernandez, who is also running for re-election, and graduate student Megan McRobert, his opponent, attended the forum to answer student questions. Knudsen said students would benefit from increased funding in academic-related areas, including scholarships and research. “If we invest in academics and research, that will expand the University,” she said. “Entertainment loses money. I think we need to make good fiscal decisions.” Gutierrez said he wants to improve relations between GPSA and the administration. “(The administration) needs to know who I am,” he said. “But, you have to show respect. Some people may perceive that as being a kiss-butt. I think it’s respect to your elders.” Gutierrez said it’s vital to get involved with graduate students by setting up meetings with groups on campus and reaching out to
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Duel Seeker
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DL
New Mexican Horse Project conference Saturday and Sunday 12:30 to 8 p.m. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, UNM field station that likes horses, nature, history or education.” Student Brittany Berget became interested in the project after taking Polechla’s class, where students were able to interact with the horses. “He took us out to the horse preserve and we helped with the roundup,” she said. “My classmates and I got to see the horses in their natural habitat … It was really cool to see them just in their habitat and being horses.” The New Mexican Wild Horse is a breed of mustang with Iberian
Junfu Han / Daily Lobo A member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms stands with his armor after nightfall on Johnson Field on Wednesday. The society meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. To learn more about the society, check out the Multimedia page at DailyLobo.com.
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Question of the week
Swinging out
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