DAILY LOBO new mexico
Fashion Q&A
tuesday
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The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
October 13, 2009
Columbus Day opponents push alternative holiday
Shop talk, sawdust
by Tricia Remark Daily Lobo
Joey Trisolini / Daily Lobo Bruce Loyd cuts wood at his shop, Bruce Loyd Furniture Maker, on Oct. 6. Loyd has worked in the same building for over 40 years. Check out DailyLobo.com for a multimedia slideshow.
Harassment charges withdrawn by Isaac Avilucea Daily Lobo
Mike Locksley will probably take any victory he can at this point. While his Lobos are 0-6 on the field, Locksley was dealt a favorable off-field result on Monday. Locksley endured a very public battle after former administrative assistant Sylvia Lopez filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Later, it was reported by the Albuquerque Journal that Lopez said she was replaced because Locksley wanted “younger gals” in the office to entice recruits. Monday, the University said all legal claims, as well as the EEOC charges against Locksley, were withdrawn — contrary to the report from KRQE Channel 13, which said the EEOC deemed the allegations “unfounded.” Both parties were able to resolve the dispute without the EEOC’s intervention, according to a University-issued press release. When the Daily Lobo
contacted Athletics Director Paul Krebs on Sunday, he didn’t substantiate what KRQE reported. Instead, he said he hadn’t heard about it. “The EEOC complaint is about to be resolved,” Krebs said. “I wasn’t in the office on Friday, but we expected that to be resolved and something to be forthcoming soon.” According to the press release, the University is looking forward to retaining Lopez’s services, but it didn’t specify where she would be working at the University. “Ms. Lopez has always been a strong performer and a loyal employee, and we are looking forward to continuing her employment with us,” the release said. “We are glad to have had the chance to utilize the steps in our EEOC policy in this situation. Resolving these issues amicably shows that the steps for resolution really do work when employees are equally as committed to using them as UNM is.” Krebs, who earlier said the University and Locksley would be vindicated, said all parties involved
can now put the issue behind them. “We are pleased we could clear the air and everyone involved can move forward in a positive direction,” he said in the press release. In the University-issued statement, Lopez recanted her previous position. She said that it’s unfortunate that the term “sexual harassment” was used in this case. “I truly wish the best for coach Locksley and hope he has a great season and career with UNM,” she said. “I regret that this misunderstanding may have created a negative perception of coach Locksley. I feel very positive about working for UNM and know I can be an asset to the University because of my years of experience and skills.” In a joint statement, Krebs and President David Schmidly proclaimed their unswerving loyalty to the Lobos’ first-year head coach. “We stand behind coach Locksley and know that he has performed, and continues to perform, his job in a professional and respectable manner and will do so in the future,” according to the statement.
About 50 UNM students from diverse backgrounds turned out Monday to show their support for Indigenous Day. Since 1934, the second Monday of October has been a federal holiday: Columbus Day. The Native American Studies Indigenous Research Group celebrated the sixth-annual Indigenous Day at UNM — instead of Columbus Day — with activities such as a Sunrise Ceremony and an Indigenous Day Declaration. At the Indigenous Day Declaration, NASIRG presented a petition calling for the official recognition of Indigenous Day, a celebration of the indigenous people present in the Americas before Columbus landed in 1492. Wyndsor Yazzie, NASIRG co-chair, said the group will give President David Schmidly the petition with student signatures and ask for UNM’s support. The petition has at least 60 signatures, Yazzie said. Jozi DeLeon, vice president of equity and inclusion, said she will encourage other UNM administrators to support Indigenous Day. “I’m going to be working very closely with the administration to see what we can do to formally make Indigenous Day happen,” DeLeon said. “I think it would set a great example in this state because of our Native population.” Beverly Singer, acting director of Native American studies, spoke to students and community members at the Indigenous Day Declaration in the SUB atrium. She said Columbus symbolizes the discovery of America, but that needs to change. “This land — this homeland that belongs to all of us — is a place that holds such promise, wealth and knowledge,” Singer said. “I truly believe in my heart that one of these days, our University will embrace that knowledge as well and add to the serving of what we offer here.” Yazzie said Columbus Day doesn’t accurately represent the history of
America, since indigenous people lived in the Americas before Columbus arrived. “Indigenous Day really acknowledges all the actual history of the ‘discovery of the New World,’” Yazzie said. “The mythology of Christopher Columbus discovering America and the histories that have been told about it always exclude the Native point of view. Acknowledging the indigenous people and saying that their voice counts is a big deal.” Yazzie said NASIRG wants recognition of Indigenous Day at the state level by this time next year. He said the group is working with the chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council and the secretary of Indian affairs to achieve this goal. “We try to get out as much information as we can,” Yazzie said. “By putting this event together and other events throughout the year here on campus, we try to educate the student population and the surrounding communities about a lot of the issues that we face — political or social issues.” DeLeon said she attended the Indigenous Day Declaration and fully supports the holiday and the history behind it. “I told the students that I thought it was really the right idea to declare the celebration of Columbus Day as the celebration of Indigenous Day instead,” DeLeon said. “I think celebrating Columbus Day just doesn’t make sense, given the fact that American Indians have existed in this country long before Columbus ever landed on the shores of what is now the United States.” Singer said UNM is the perfect place to celebrate and raise support for Indigenous Day, because of the diverse students, staff and faculty. DeLeon said the University will probably support Indigenous Day, but she hasn’t formally talked with other administrators about it yet. “I cannot imagine that the University would not be supportive, given their stance on diversity and the University’s very deliberate efforts to support a diverse student population, especially our Native American population,” she said.
Art project stops the moving picture by Hunter Riley Daily Lobo
Taking pictures of movies is sometimes frowned upon in the art world, said UNM senior George Richardson. But Richardson said he photographed intense moments on the
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
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silver screen for his latest art show, “Come With Me,” which is up at John Sommers Gallery through Friday. Richardson was working as a projectionist when he began haphazardly taking photographs of a movie. “We were projecting a pretty
obscure Russian science fiction film from the ‘70s,” he said. “I shot this image, and when I looked down at the camera LCD it just struck me, because it was these two characters engaged and just looking at one another, and there was so much expression and vulnerability on their
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Robert Maes / Daily Lobo Assistant Professor Kathleen Washburn, center, signs a petition at the SUB on Monday encouraging UNM to recognize Indigenous Day as a holiday instead of Columbus Day. Mario Atencio, left, and Russell Grey also signed the petition, which had about 60 signatures.
The Sounds
Royale with cheese
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