DAILY LOBO new mexico
August 16 - 22, 2010
Flanagan’s rooks
summer
see page 9
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Former coach sues Locksley, regents by Isaac Avilucea ijavilu@gmail.com
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo A worker stocks microfilm on shelves. The university received a large-sum grant to aid with digitizing and archiving old New Mexican newspapers.
Old newspapers to be digitized by Danielle Boudreau dbou@unm.edu
UNM Libraries received a more than $350,000 grant to resurrect hundreds of thousands of New Mexico newspapers, some of which are 150 years old. The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded UNM Libraries the grant to digitize 100,000 pages from New Mexican newspapers that date between 1860-1922. Michael Kelly, director for the Center of Southwest research, said a board will select which of UNM’s collection of newspapers will be digitized. “Since UNM Libraries hold the largest collection of New Mexico newspapers on microfilm, we want to take the initiative and make these and other unique resources freely
DL
available to everyone in New Mexico,” Kelly said, in an Aug. 2 news release. UNM Libraries employees will make the digitized newspapers available for the Library of Congress’ “Chronicling America” online database as well as a New Mexico’s digital database. Kelly said the major benefit of online public access is the speed and accuracy it brings to research. “Before, you had to go get the box of materials, go through the box folder by folder, scan what you wanted,” Kelly said. “Before, scholarship was much more linear. Now there is so much more (online), and you have a chance to compare and contrast.” Kathlene Ferris, digital programs manager for University Libraries, said UNM has been collecting and
BLACK TIDE
microfilming New Mexico papers for years. Kelly estimates UNM has 500 wheels of microfilms with 1,000 pages on each wheel. Kelly said that UNM has 15 partners around New Mexico who all contribute to the database’s content. It includes music, videos, photographs, and posters, all of which UNM professors can use in lecture presentations. Individuals worldwide can use the materials in their own research or projects. New Mexico’s Digital Collections will augment its existing collection through the new grant. The database can be navigated by searching for a particular person, place or event. Kelly said the focus will be on digitizing newspapers that deal with
see Digitization page 6
DL
Pat Lohmann / Daily Lobo Waves slosh into one of hundreds of marshes near Grand Isle, La. This photo, taken from a Coast Guard helicopter, shows a rim of oil collecting around the small island. As the oil reaches the shore, it kills the grasses, breaking up root systems that hold the soil in place. As a result, the islands are more susceptible to erosion. Check out DailyLobo.com on Wednesday for a multimedia project on the Gulf Coast oil spill’s effects on Grand Isle, La.
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 115
issue 1
When the UNM football team returns from its so-called company retreat in Ruidoso, Mike Locksley might want to consider chartering a flight and booking a separate vacation. Not only will Locksley have to contend with the day-to-day managerial pressures of coaching a team that went 1-11 last year, but awaiting him when he and his team return from an 11-day practice excursion in the mountainous town are the stresses associated with a longexpected lawsuit, stemming from a Sept. 20 altercation with now estranged wide receivers coach J.B. Gerald. A week after New Mexico-based attorney Dennis Montoya filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque on behalf of the former wide receivers coach, alleging Gerald was assaulted, discriminated and retaliated against, Locksley and UNM’s Board of Regents were served with the complaint and summons, Montoya said in an e-mail Aug. 7. The summons put Locksley on notice that he is being sued. The defendant(s) then have to either
appear in court or acknowledge in writing the opposing party’s intention to sue. Montoya said both Locksley and the University have 20 days to respond, putting the date at or around Aug. 27. Montoya said UNM trivialized the incident because of racial factors. “This was treated as, ‘This is a thing between you blacks,’” Montoya said. “ … When an African American is in a career that he or she likes in athletics, (there’s the attitude) that ‘Boys will be boys,’ and they should not rock the boat if they are treated in a completely unacceptable manner.” As of July 31, UNM spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said the University had not received a copy of Gerald’s complaint but would “vigorously defend itself and its employees against these claims.” In dismissing Gerald’s allegations, the University added that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s investigation failed to uncover evidence that it violated that law. Montoya responded to the assertion with contention. “EEOC investigations can be very superficial,” he said. “The EEOC determination is not admissible in
see Gerald page 2
Regents approve annual work plan by Tricia Remark tremark@unm.edu
UNM President David Schmidly is promising to tackle low graduation rates, get faculty involved in big decisions and do some major fundraising this year. The Board of Regents approved Schmidly’s annual work plan at its meeting Aug. 10. He said the more than $30 million in state funding cut from UNM may hinder some of his work plan goals, including hiring new tenure-track faculty and keeping class sizes low. “We’re not able to add faculty to the extent our enrollment is growing,” Schmidly said. “That’s probably our biggest challenge.” He said the University’s academic mission is his first priority, but further budget cuts could lead to layoffs and furloughs. “We’re trying to do the things that protect the academic mission of the institution to the extent we can,” he said. “So far, we’ve done it without layoffs, furloughs or salary reductions. Hopefully, we’ll be able to continue to do that, but if there are any more cuts, we just can’t make promises.” Schmidly said UNM may also have to eliminate some classes and programs if UNM’s budget is cut again.
Community Vision
Sexy Rexy
See page 20
See page 17
“We may have to look hard at some of the programs that haven’t been very productive,” he said. UNM’s four-year graduation rate is only 13.2 percent — something Schmidly said will also be a major focus in the coming year. He said an increase of advisers last year may lead to higher graduation rates this year. “Sometimes it takes more than one year for an action to create change,” he said. “I’m hopeful that this year we might see a bounce up in some of those (graduation) numbers as a result of what we did last year.” Schmidly said the state legislature may also soon start funding universities based on graduation rates. Based on its funding formula in place now, the state gives extra funding to universities that increase their enrollment by 3 percent or more. “I think there is a move to look at different ways of funding higher education,” he said. Raymond Sanchez, Board of Regents president, said another of Schmidly’s goals — accountability — will help clarify how faculty should be involved in decision-making processes at UNM. The faculty senate voted no confidence in Schmidly’s leadership in February 2009. Now,
see Graduation page 2