DAILY LOBO new mexico
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tuesday September 18, 2012
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
‘Lynette’ at event gets mixed reviews by Alexandra Swanberg news@dailylobo.com
Negative feedback followed a performance at UNM that aimed to introduce international students to New Mexico. Lauren Poole, who plays Lynette LaBurqueña, star of the viral “S**t Burqueños Say” YouTube video that parodies Albuquerque stereotypes, was one of a few to give international students a taste of New Mexico culture last Friday at the “New Mexico: Red or Green?” workshop. Poole’s act discussed red and green chile, demonstrating how it goes from the ground to New Mexican food, after the “S**t Burqueños Say” video was played. Poole said she was not paid for the event. Special assistant to the president for global initiative Mary Anne Saunders said Poole was invited to speak at the University as part of UNM President Robert Frank’s initiative to increase globalization at UNM, enrollment of international students and opportunities for UNM students to travel abroad. She said that as international students become acclimated, students want to know more about New Mexican culture, not just American culture. Poole also appeared as her character Lynette in commercials for the New Mexico State Fair this year. Saunders said Poole was chosen to offer some entertainment at
Friday’s workshop. She said Poole’s act was introduced by Linda Melville, senior operations manager for the Office of International Programs and Studies, who explained that Poole’s character is a stereotype of people from Albuquerque. “Many of them had seen (“S**t Burqueños Say”) before,” she said. “This is just a microcosm of the greater culture out there.” Saunders said they’ve received positive feedback from the students who attended, about 100 out of the 1050 international and exchange students on campus. But online responses to an article on KOB.com about the event were more varied. User “G.l. Joey” said, “Really UNM, this is the person you want to represent you globally to recruit international students? She might be fine to promote a lackluster event like the NM State Fair, but for an educational institution you should have higher standards!” User “Dan Waring” said, “I can’t believe all the whiners on here! This IS our culture that she was poking fun at! Comics do it all the time! This girl is totally funny!” User “Roy Gutierrez” said “Come on! She is making a mockery of the good people in New Mexico and implying that the people in the state are uneducated and lazy.” Poole said she has not read the article or seen the piece KOB did,
Video Still Lauren Poole, also known as Lynette, appears in a commercial for this year’s New Mexico State Fair with Chicharrón the pig. Poole is the star of the viral “S**t Burqueños Say” YouTube video. Her appearance at an event meant to acclimate international students to New Mexico sparked debate on some online comment boards. Users said the Lynette character promotes negative stereotypes. but heard that it put a negative spin on the event. “It does make me a little sad that they were misinformed and that people would think negatively on the workshop when they have no idea what it was,” she said. “It makes me sad the news would represent it as something that it’s not … if that’s what they were doing.” Poole was the last to present at Friday’s workshop, following Rhodes Scholar and UNM professor Manuel Montoya, who
gave a presentation that covered New Mexico culture from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Saunders said the series will continue this month with a video about U.S. elections and a video about American culture. She said the University probably won’t bring Poole back next year because viral videos don’t have the kind of staying power that would make her as culturally relevant as she was this year.
To watch the “S**t Burqueños Say” video follow the QR code
or go to youtube.com/watch?v=IucBp1yrr7A
Group rewards sober drivers UNM flexible on by Mikayla Griego news@dailylobo.com
Although the Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention was denied state funding last year, the organization introduced a new antidrunk-driving program with minimal student fee funding. COSAP Director John Steiner said the organization makes due with funding allocated by the Student Fee Review Board. SFRB denied funding for FY 2012, when COSAP requested $16.82 per student. However, for FY 2013 COSAP requested $0.82 per student, the lowest amount requested by any organization, but SFRB recommended it be funded $0.84 per student. COSAP’s newest program, Designated Lobos, offers students incentives to be designated drivers. After students sign up for the program, they receive a red wristband that they can show at participating bars to receive free nonalcoholic drinks. Steiner said that 12 local bars are participating in the program, including Coaches, Kelly’s Brew Pub and Nob Hill Bar and Grill. If participants are designated drivers for parties, they can send a message with a picture of themselves wearing their wristband to COSAP via Facebook. This enters them into a drawing to win a prize such as a free
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movie ticket, a trip for two to Las Vegas, an iPad or $50 in LoboCash. Steiner said COSAP trusts that the students submitting photos stayed sober. “It’s an honor system,” Steiner said. “I don’t think that too many people will take advantage of that.” Steiner said COSAP doesn’t advocate abstinence from drinking but instead tries to help students make better choices when they drink. He said that because many students choose to drink, providing them with resources to stay safe will be more fruitful than trying to change their minds altogether. According to COSAP’s Student Lifestyles Survey, an annual survey that asks 700 to 900 students about their alcohol and drug habits, about 33 percent of student participants in 2010 reported having driven while drunk and about 61 student participants reported drinking underage. Steiner said the organization holds tabling events by the SUB and in Smith Plaza to advertise new programs. He said that so far, 109 students have registered for the Designated Lobos program. A similar program, Designated Drivers Do It for Their Friends, was created by COSAP several years ago, but the program was cut due to lack of funding. He said COSAP also produced an informational booklet, “Fun in
the 505,” which lists activities for students that don’t involve drinking. The booklet was distributed across campus during the University’s Welcome Back Days at the beginning of the semester. He said the organization also encourages students to not drink and drive by publicizing upcoming DWI checkpoints via Facebook and hanging posters around campus. Steiner said COSAP will continue to implement new programs to keep students safe. UNM student Martin Overfield said that in order for the program to be more successful, there need to be better incentives. “If you could turn it into a job, that would be really successful. But I wouldn’t go out of my way for it,” he said. “They don’t make me want to do it.” Overfield said that he would be most inclined to participate in the program if it offered more realistic incentives, such as money or college credit for participation in the program. UNM student Kristin Eggleston said the program is a good idea and that the University should encourage safe drinking practices. “People should be encouraged not to drink,” she said. “Hopefully it will be successful, but if people are going to drink and drive they will do it anyway.”
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Exceptional circumstances can warrant special consideration by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
Despite low high school GPAs, students applying to UNM can still be accepted if they have experienced exceptionally difficult circumstances. Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management Terry Babbitt said “extenuating and challenging circumstances” overrule the University’s standard admissions requirements. Beginning fall 2011, the University began implementing slight increases in admissions requirements each year in an effort to improve student success at the University. In fall 2011, admissions requirements increased from a 2.25 GPA to a 2.3 and from 13 to 14 college curricular units. Admissions requirements for fall 2012 include a minimum 2.4 GPA and 15 college preparatory course credits. In fall 2013, admissions requirements will increase to a 2.5 GPA and 16 college curricular units. Babbitt said the University understands that a number of personal problems act as hurdles for students’ academic progress and make it hard for students to be successful during their high school careers. “For instance, if a student
had a very ill family member and was forced to be a caregiver for an extended time, this could have a negative impact on their academic performance through no fault of theirs,” he said. “They could be considered for special admission.” Babbitt said the process demonstrates the University’s commitment to helping students succeed, regardless of their struggles in the past. “It allows us to provide access for students who have broad life experiences, who have overcome challenging circumstances or who have been motivated to improve their academic performance,” he said. “This is critical for a public university.” Babbitt said the special admissions process at UNM was approved by the Faculty Senate and has been in effect for more than 30 years. He added that many other public universities have similar admission processes. “Just about every university that has eligibility model admissions has a category that allows a more subjective, holistic review of student circumstances. It is often called special admissions or exception,” he said. Babbitt said the University has an
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