DAILY LOBO new mexico
Let me blow your mind see page 4
September 10, 2012
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
South campus project on hold
monday
CALM WITHIN THE STORM
UNM wins appeal, halts apartment proposal
Graduate planning students assess St. Michael’s corridor
by Ardee Napolitano
by Ardee Napolitano
news@dailylobo.com
Following an appeal of the city’s approval of building renovations to the rundown Vagabond Inn near south campus, plans for development have stalled. The project, which was proposed by developer Lance Sigmon in a public meeting in May, aimed to convert Vagabond Inn into another apartment complex. But the University administration and residents of Clayton Heights-Lomas del Cielo, a neighborhood near Lobo Village, opposed the renovations. After the project was approved by Albuquerque’s Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) during that meeting, the University and the Clayton Heights-Lomas del Cielo Neighborhood Association filed an appeal with Albuquerque City Council. “In a one-mile radius, we have 2,000 residents,” neighborhood association president Lee Graham said. “We don’t need any more high-density residential units.” Instead of more residents, the neighborhood needs nearby commercial spaces, Graham said. “We have three restaurants and a gas station, and that’s all our businesses in the area,” he said. The nearest grocery store is oneand-a-half miles away, and the nearest large-purchase store, Walmart, is on San Mateo, he said. A shopping center, Graham said, would make the area more convenient for residents, especially students. In addition, Graham estimates that 56,000 people drive by the neighborhood regularly, so erecting an industrial complex would also make it accessible for them. Graham said that in an effort to compromise, the neighborhood association suggested the space could be used for senior housing, but Sigmon refused because senior housing would require the installation of handicapaccessible facilities, which would be expensive. Graham said that although Sigmon did not include important aspects of development, such as landscaping, parking and bus stop plans, in his proposal, the EPC decided the project met minimum requirements and approved it. “The EPC has harshly examined people in opposition,” Graham said. “In the end, the developer didn’t really go out of the way to give a presentation, but met minimal requirements to pass it through.”
see Development PAGE 3
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 16
Sante Fe solicits student input news@dailylobo.com
Juan Labreche / Daily Lobo UNM men’s soccer head coach Jeremy Fishbein stands in the rain during the national anthem before facing University of AlabamaBirmingham on Friday. The game was delayed 30 minutes due to lighting and the first half was played in driving rain and wind. The Lobos beat the Blazers 2-0.
Honors College gets first dean Catherine Krause appointed as interim dean until national search concludes by Mikayla Griego news@dailylobo.com
The provost appointed the first dean for the University’s new Honors College. On Aug. 15, UNM Provost Chaouki Abdallah appointed UNM economics professor Catherine Krause as interim dean of the Honors College until the University completes a national search for the position. Krause is also the dean of University College. In fall 2010, the Honors College Task Force looked to convert the University Honors Program into a college. Now, the University is in the process of opening a new Honors College, which aims to keep honors students in honors classes while in a degree-granting college. “Dr. Krause’s name came up as a potential candidate for the position and I was pleased that she accepted to help in that capacity,” Abdallah said. “As we moved to implement the plan for the Honors College as a separate entity from University College, it was logical to ask Dr. Krause to step in as the dean for Honors College while we conduct a national search for the position.” Abdallah said he chose Krause for the position because he was familiar with her work in University College, and her research and academic
credentials. He said Krause has been working closely with Honors Program faculty members throughout the past year, and has contributed a lot of time and effort to the position. “I have been very pleased with her performance and level of contributions to student retention and student success,” Abdallah said. “In my judgment, Dr. Krause has the temper, the values and the skills to lead the Honors College.” Krause joined UNM in 1996 as an economics professor and has conducted research in areas such as public economics, economics behavior of children and economics of families. During the past 16 years, Krause has been an active faculty member, participating in economic research, assisting University College and teaching. Krause said her priority as interim dean is integrating the core curriculum into honors classes, such as honors philosophy, in order to provide students with an opportunity to graduate on
100th win swag
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Catherine Krause time with a major in honors and a minor in an area of the student’s interest. Krause said she is concerned with the success of students who take honors classes because in the past, students enrolled in the Honors Program have often had delayed graduation rates due to the workload of extra honors courses. The six-year graduation rate for UNM students is about 44 percent. Krause said she also hopes to hire new faculty members to fill the Honors College now that the college is its own entity.
Following the success of a project last year, the city of Santa Fe once again wants UNM graduate student input on road improvements. UNM assistant professor and project supervisor Moises Gonzales said the city of Santa Fe requested UNM student involvement on a new road improvement project because of the students’ professionalism during last year’s project. In fall 2011, a team of graduate students who enrolled in an advanced studio planning capstone course suggested site improvements in the Airport Road corridor, an area in Santa Fe that has had an increase in immigrant residential units and Latino businesses from Mexico. For the project, instructors worked with students to analyze the demographics of the corridor and plan appropriate improvements for the space. Gonzales said the neighborhood lacked sufficient sidewalk space and road signs, needed to become more pedestrian-friendly and was separated by six-lane roads that took up more space than necessary. He said the team recommended adding new road signs and a more efficient road plan that included intersections to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely by converting some of the six-lane roads into smaller two-lane roads with sidestreet parking, trees and wide sidewalks. Gonzales said the project was a strategic effort for Santa Fe to incorporate big businesses and local businesses in the same area in order to economically develop the district. He said that by improving the corridor, the district can develop into an integral part of Santa Fe. “Latino transitional neighborhoods are often seen as transitional; that they’re not necessarily secure,” he said. “I think what was great about this plan was how we were able to provide … a vision for this community.” The team presented its plan at a community meeting where it was approved by city staff members. Gonzales said the project cost about $5,000 and was funded by the city of Santa Fe. He said although students were not paid, the team was reimbursed for travel and other expenses related to the project.
see Corridor PAGE 2
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