DAILY LOBO new mexico
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
October 12, 2009
Knife-wielding Nixon reported near library by Pat Lohmann Daily Lobo
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo Banner carriers walk in front of the Olive Tree Messianic Temple Saturday to celebrate Sukkot, a Jewish feast day. This is the fifth annual celebration at Olive Tree of the Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorates the Jewish pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Sukkot makes joyful noise by Adam R. Burnett Daily Lobo
Hands clapping, voices raised in song, bongos pounding, guitars strumming open chords, tambourines shaking wildly — this was the opening scene of the Feast of Tabernacles at Olive Tree Messianic Temple on Saturday night. The Feast of Tabernacles, known as Sukkot in Hebrew, is a celebration that recognizes the 40 years the ancient Israelites spent living in the desert, according to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Web site (www.mjaa.org). The name “sukkot” is derived from the Hebrew word “sukkah,” which means booth or hut. The feast, usually held on the 15th day of September or October, commemorates the pilgrimage made by Jews to the temple of Jerusalem. This is the fifth year the festival has been held in Albuquerque. Scott Aaron, a member of Olive Tree Messianic Temple, brought his
wife and children to this year’s festival. He said Sukkot festivals are increasingly rare. “It’s an old Hebrew tradition, and this might be one of the last Sukkot festivals in the state,” he said. Denis Otero, rabbi of Olive Tree, said the festival is significant to the Jewish community. “It is a celebration of temporary shelter,” he said. “It’s a way to reconnect with the Messianic community. This festival in Israel would have been the equivalent to, like, the balloon fiesta or State Fair in Albuquerque. We’re trying to bring back that same festivity of community here.” On Saturday, a procession of men clad in white shirts and black slacks circled the central festival tent a dozen times with banners representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Messianic Judaism draws from both mainstream Christianity and Judaism and shares many customs, traditions and beliefs from both religions, according to the
Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Web site. Although they observe Jewish law and holidays, Messianic Jews believe that Jesus, or Yeshua, is the resurrected Messiah. Rabbi Otero’s mission with the festival is directly tied to this notion. “This festival is really about celebrating the birth of Yeshua,” Otero said. “I want to bring back to the community a reminder that the Messiah was born at the Feast of Tabernacles, not Dec. 25, which most of us already know.” As the festival continued through the night, there was dancing, traditional music, intermittent homilies and testaments from Olive Tree members, and the sharing of space and community. Aaron said the feast is meant to bring unity to the Messianic Jewish community. “The Feast of Tabernacles is like a harvest festival,” Aaron said. “Everyone comes together and we celebrate together.”
Once again, Richard Nixon is not a crook — only an alleged assailant. Student Chris Hannemann said that a little after 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, he took a break from his work at Parish Library and was accosted by a man wearing dark clothes, brandishing a knife and wearing a Nixon mask, according to a UNMPD police report. In the report, the alleged assailant thrust the knife at Hannemann, and the fourth-year senior then caught the assailant’s arm and elbowed him in the temple. Hannemann told police the next think he remembered was lying on the ground next to the knife, and the assailant was nowhere to be seen. Hannemann was not robbed of his wallet or any other valuables. Hannemann was not available for comment. UNMPD spokesman Robert Haarhues said October typically
If you have information about this crime, contact UNMPD at 277-2241 brings out more masked criminals, but this is the first time he knows of such an incident on campus. “We’ve had different crimes within the city where the perpetrators wore Halloween masks in the past,” Haarhues said. “It’s pretty common around Halloween.” Haarhues said no arrests have been made for the assault, and several details need to be ironed out in Hannemann’s description. “There are some inconsistencies in the report that need to be explained or investigated,” he said. Haarhues said Hannemann waited more than three hours to report the incident. There were no signs of a confrontation on Hannemann’s clothing or person, according to the report. Hannemann complained of knee pain and was transported to Lovelace Hospital for care.
In this photo illustration, a man models a Richard Nixon Halloween mask. According to UNMPD, an alleged assailant wore a similar mask in an incident Oct. 1 in front of Parish Library. Zach Gould / Daily Lobo
Gerald takes steps toward resignation in fight aftermath by Isaac Avilucea Daily Lobo
It looks like wide receivers coach Jonathan “J.B.” Gerald is on his way out of UNM. Athletics Director Paul Krebs confirmed Sunday that Gerald turned in his Universityissued cell phone and car keys on Friday. Gerald has been on paid administrative leave since he filed a police report on the evening of Sept. 20 alleging that Lobo football coach Mike Locksley approached him in an “aggressive manner” after a “heated” exchange during an offensive staff meeting. Locksley said he wasn’t aware that Gerald had turned in his keys and said that he hasn’t had a conversation with Gerald since the
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first-year head coach last apologized to him in person. Initially, the only punishment levied against Locksley was a verbal reprimand and a written letter placed in his personnel file. But at Krebs’ request — and after a public outcry — the University Human Resources department launched an investigation into the altercation. Krebs said the University has extended open arms to Gerald, and the wide receivers coach was welcome to rejoin the team whenever he was ready. But Gerald has been mum since the incident occurred, and he didn’t return e-mails over the weekend. Krebs said he wasn’t at liberty to speculate
on whether Gerald has resigned. “He’s on paid administrative leave,” Krebs said. In Gerald’s absence, graduate assistant Aaron Moorehead has assumed some of the responsibilities associated with coaching the wide receivers, and Locksley has played a more active, hands-on role as well. Locksley said his Sept. 20 actions were uncalled-for, and that he hoped the fallout wouldn’t affect his friendship with Gerald or his coaching status with the University — but ultimately the decision resided with Gerald. “I can’t speak for him,” he said during a Sept. 29 media luncheon. “He has to decide what he’s willing to work through and whether he’s willing to forgive. Part of the consequence (is),
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I didn’t just lose a good coach. I lost a friend — possibly. But that’s part of the consequences of the choice or decision I made. All you can ask is for forgiveness — and I’ve done that part.” Locksley has been cleared of wrongdoing on another front: The EEOC ruled the sexual harassment allegations against Locksley filed in May by a former administrative assistant are “unfounded,” KRQE reported on Friday. Krebs said he hadn’t heard about the report. “The EEOC complaint is about to be resolved,” he said. “I wasn’t in the office on Friday, but we expected that to be resolved and something to be forthcoming soon.” Locksley declined to comment on the ruling.
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