DAILY LOBO new mexico
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September 21, 2011
wednesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
Mascots rally against pricey textbooks by Tamon Rasberry news@dailylobo.com
Textbook Rebellion, a national movement to lower textbook prices, visited UNM Tuesday with its mascots, Mr. $200 Textbook and the Textbook Rebel. UNM’s chapter of New Mexico Public Interest Research Group sponsored the event to gather petition signatures and get students interested in ways to lower textbook prices. “This event is important because students care about textbook costs,” NMPIRG organizer Rashi Mangalick said. “The average student pays $1,100 or more on textbook costs, and it can even deter some people from wanting to go to college because they can’t afford it.” Textbook Rebellion advocate Nicole Allen said the rallies held at more than 40 campuses across the nation have been successful. “We are starting to see a lot more affordable alternatives come to the market,” she said. “In the longer term we’re seeing solutions like open-source text books, which the Textbook Rebellion is really focused on promoting. They’re freely available online and can be purchased at a low cost.” Student and PIRG intern Alexandra Chin said she hopes the rally brings together students’ and faculty members’ concerns about textbooks. “This rally rebellion is very important because school revolves around textbooks,” she said. “NMPIRG did a study, and they found that there is a large percentage of students who aren’t buying the books because they’re too expensive, and that takes away from their education.” Mangalick said the goal of the event was to encourage at least 200 students to sign the petition.
Zach Gould / Daily Lobo “The Textbook Rebel,” mascot for a national “Textbook Rebellion” campaign, gets students pumped outside the SUB on Tuesday about lowering textbook costs. Event organizers said they hoped to get more than 200 signatures on a petition calling for lower textbook costs during the event.
Roybal: Students want rec center by Luke Holmen holmen@unm.edu
The UNM Master Plan outlines a plan to build a new recreation center and update Johnson Gym, even though a proposal to fund a new recreation center using student fees was voted down in the ASUNM elections last fall. “The University and ASUNM ask students for their input on everything and then ignore it, it seems like,” said student James Brown. “Whether it is the presidential search, or new construction or new services, no one seems to pay attention.” ASUNM President Jaymie Roybal said she believes students want a recreation center, and that the ASUNM measure did not pass because of technical reasons. “I think (the proposal) was poorly worded and that is why it didn’t pass,” she said. “The way in which it was phrased made no one want to vote for it.” She said the current plan has no cost estimate, no definite de-
Inside the
sign, and is a placeholder for the future of the University rather than a design for the present. “Things don’t happen at UNM overnight,” she said. “If they were saying ‘we are going to build a rec center tomorrow using an increase in student fees’ I might be upset, but the Master Plan is a long-term plan for the future, and at some point Johnson needs to be updated. I’m not sure how to fund it, or what it will cost, but that is something they can look at in the future.” Roybal said UNM is overdue for a new recreation center. “UNM is far behind its peer institutions, and Johnson is not exactly a state-of-the-art facility,” she said. “I think students do want it, and I think it’s something we need, but part of the reason it didn’t pass is economic times are hard. Some students just can’t afford an increase in student fees right now.” Mary Kenney, the University planning officer, said her department is listening to students.
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“My intent is to suggest that from our interviews, numerous meetings and comments, there is interest in having a freestanding recreation center,” she said. “Student Affairs also supports the notion that this would bring value to our students by enhancing recruitment and retention. UNM is one of the few universities nationally that does not have a free-standing rec center.” She said the goal of the plan is to save space and have a starting point for construction when the time is right to expand recreation facilities. “In the future, should the students desire a recreation center, having an area reflected in the Master Plan’s land-use plan ensures that there will be an appropriate location,” she said. UNM spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said student opinions have changed since four years ago. “ASUNM and the students were
see Master
2010 UNM CRIME REPORT RELEASED
UNM Crime Statistics 2008 to 2010 Crimes reported to UNMPD
2010
2009
2008
Murder/Non-Negligent Manslaughter
0
0
0
Negligent Manslaughter
0
0
0
Sex Offenses, Forcible
2
6
2
Sex Offenses, Non-Forcible
0
0
0
Robbery
2
6
7
Aggravated Assault
8
6
6
Burglary
33
50
56
Motor Vehicle Theft
31
35
71
Arson
4
3
8
Hate Crimes
0
0
0
Liquor Law Arrests
0
6
0
Drug Law Arrests
22
19
34
Illegal Weapons Possesion Arrests
1
1
3
105
202
27
46
49
34
2
1
3
Liquor Law Violations Referred For Disciplinary Action Drug Law Violations Referred For Disciplinary Action Illegal Weapons Posession Violations Referred For Disciplinary Action
Plan PAGE 3
Lobo tennis See page 6
TODAY
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