DAILY LOBO new mexico
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Lobo Village:
August 22, 2011
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Trouble in Paradise? by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu
Dylan Smith / Daily Lobo Sophmore James Sheehan, member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, gave a helping hand to new residents of Lobo Village last Wednesday.
UNM’s future set up by master plan by Chelsea Erven and Charlie Shipley news@dailylobo.com
New Mexico’s population is expected to reach more than 3 million by 2035, and members of Lobo Development said UNM needs to grow to accommodate the population increase. That’s where UNM’s Consolidated Master Plan comes in, they said. The Master Plan is a 10-15 year development plan that aims to change UNM from a commuter campus to a “24/7 campus,” said Dale Dekker, who is in charge of planning for Lobo Development. “It’s not just about physical changes, it’s about this campus being in the middle of a growing campus and how it has to evolve from a commuter campus to a 24/7 live, learn, work, play environment,” he said. Dekker said a more residential campus where the majority of students live, work, attend class and shop, eliminating the need for personal transportation, is Lobo Development’s goal. “There are 70,000 people commuting on and off campus every day, and that’s a lot of traffic,” he said. “That has a big impact on the city’s traffic, and that type of traffic is not sustainable. A major goal of the plan is to eliminate the need for so much personal transportation.” Dekker said 25 percent of UNM’s land area is dedicated to surface parking.
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The Master Plan is an update of a previous 1996 Master Plan, but this plan is the first to suggest connecting North, Central and South campuses. The Plan also suggests adding 2,000 resident beds and a recreational center. The housing portion of the plan is already underway with the addition of Lobo Village to South Campus and dorm construction on main campus, UNM real estate director Kim Murphy said. “Lobo Village shows the power of an amenity to attract students,” he said. “We want our campus to make students want to come here and stay here.” Murphy also said he hopes to develop the mesa across the street from Lobo Village and West of the Isotopes Park into retail space. “There could be a lot commercial opportunities there for retail and food,” he said. “Retailers would pay UNM rent and provide opportunities for students to do their dining and shopping on campus,” he said. “More housing supports more retail.” The Plan provides opportunities for Health Sciences and UNM hospital expansion. Dekker said Lobo Development took into consideration input from students, faculty and communities surrounding UNM in order to design the plan. The Board of Regents will vote to officially adopt the Master Plan in their Sept. 13 meeting.
Students moving into Lobo Village Aug. 17 enjoyed a pool-side barbecue, ice cream trucks and a DJ. Lobo Village’s grand opening week also included a false fire alarm, a power outage, drinking and smoking in unauthorized areas and minor-in-possession charges by the dozens, residents said. “There were a ton of people drinking on move-in night,” resident Alissa James said. “A lot of people were complaining that it was really loud. There was a DJ and I was trying to fall asleep at two in the morning.” James said Lobo Village officials had re-posted the alcohol policy on resident’s doors by the next morning. Parent Terry Templeman, whose daughter is moving in to Lobo Village, said he doesn’t have a problem with the alcohol policy. “I don’t really have any concerns,” he said. “It’s better they drink in their own apartment then go out somewhere else.” A short walk around the facility revealed cigarette butts on stairs and landings, which are clearly des-
ignated and labeled unauthorized smoking areas. Alcohol bottles were found on the ground as well, despite an alcohol policy that prohibits drinking outside of apartments.
“I don’t really have any concerns. It’s better they drink in their own apartment then go out somewhere else.” ~Terry Templeman UNM Parent Paul Aitken, founder of The Party Trolley, a shared ride service for people who have been drinking, said Lobo Village refused to let him into the complex Friday and Saturday to pick up customers who had reserved a safe ride to downtown. “The security guards came up forcefully yelling and saying ‘Get the f*** off the property,’” he said. “I
was trying to tell him I had to turn around in the space up ahead and they were just yelling at me to ‘Get the f*** off.’” He said the night managers and the security guards told him he wasn’t allowed on the property because they said they didn’t want to promote drinking. Residents, such as Zach Kavelman, Justin Rider and Robby Madeiros said they heard rumors of police officers handing out MIPs by the dozens. “I heard s**t went down,” Kavelman said. “They cracked down pretty hard …” APD and UNMPD would not confirm any MIP citations, and Lobo Village officials refused to comment. According to PNM, a thunderstorm caused loss of power to roughly a thousand homes and the Lobo Village complex from about 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday night, the day after residents moved in. Guests of Lobo Village also set off a fire alarm, Langen said. “Some guests pulled a fire extinguisher,” he said. “It was just some
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Zach Gould / Daily Lobo Senior Jennifer Williams shoots an attempted goal during the first game of the season against St. Mary’s. The game was tied 1-1 in overtime.
Learning to fly
Going for the kill
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