DAILY LOBO new mexico
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wednesday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
November 4, 2009
Case of dorm room ‘creeper’ investigated
Inscribing Smith Plaza
by Pat Lohmann Daily Lobo
Junfu Han / Daily Lobo Student David Raguini walks past a wall on the east end of Smith Plaza. The vandalized inscription, which reads “You are your own master,” was not cleaned up as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Students organize health care rally Four students round up peers for health care rally. by Kallie Red-Horse Daily Lobo
With the health care debate sweeping the nation, four UNM graduate students have united to organize a rally in favor of a public option. Justin Thompson, Erica Martinez, Amber Whiting, and Angelica Baca started organizing the event as part of a course, Thompson said. But the four soon went beyond the basic class requirements because they were so passionate about the topic of their project. “We were able to make a coalition of student organizations, a sort of student front,” he said. “The fact that the issue impacted us so much that we took on a demonstration ourselves is a big deal, and people were glad to see us doing it.” Martinez said the event will allow students to get information about the public option and get involved in the issue. The group will have petitions to congress representatives and phone banks to call legislators, as well as notable speakers including doctors, UNM professors and Julie Heinrich, wife of Congressman Martin Heinrich. Martinez said health care is one of the biggest issues in the country, and students need to
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know how it impacts them. “The four of us came together and decided that this was important to us, and we also realized a lot of students don’t really know the ins and outs of a public health care reform,” she said. “They don’t even know what a public option really is, and we want to inform them because it is an important issue.” Student Lyanette Martinez said
“Students are the muscle behind movements. It’s what we do.” ~Justin Thompson, Graduate student she isn’t informed about the public option and is grateful for the students’ efforts. “I think it’s great. They must be very motivated,” she said. “We need people like that because I know I couldn’t do it.” Martinez said the group also aims to point out that health care reform is necessary to keep America healthy and thriving. “A public option is going to be what makes health insurance companies honest because they will be forced to keep their rates low and won’t be able to deny coverage for ridiculous so-called pre-existing conditions, “ she said. “It’s also an affordability
issue because a lot of people can’t afford health insurance.” Freshman Calvin Keller said he’s impressed with the work these four students have done. “I think its great that students that aren’t obligated by an organization got together to do something for what they believe in,” he said. “I will definitely stop by and see how it all goes.” Thompson said grassroots movements like this are part of the role of college students in society. “Students are the muscle behind movements. It’s what we do,” he said. “It’s our role as students to participate when we become passionate about things. It’s a historic role and I think it’s sacred.” The road to making the event happen has not been easy, Thompson said, but in the end it was worth it. “It’s been a rocky process because none of us have organized (an event) before,” he said. “It’s definitely been a great learning process for the four of us.”
A man wearing only underwear broke into three second-story rooms in Coronado Hall last Tuesday night and touched two female residents while they slept. UNMPD Spokesman Robert Haarhues said the police have a suspect. If convicted, the suspect will be charged with criminal sexual contact and burglary. Katie Dedman, a third resident on the second floor, was abruptly awakened by the underwear-clad man at 3:42 a.m. “I woke up because I felt my bed moving and saw him standing, like, right here, with his hands on my bed,” she said. “And so I was like, ‘What are you doing in my room?’ and I was trying to figure out if he was playing a prank on us. He wasn’t.” Dedman said the suspect lingered in her room long enough for her to have a conversation with him, but she did not find out enough information to aid police in their investigation. “At some point he said, ‘Well, I’ll leave if you want me to,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, I think you should go now,’” Dedman said. According to the UNMPD police report, the suspect — who was possibly carrying a motorcycle helmet – walked into unlocked rooms on the
second floor of Coronado Hall. The report states that the man touched the breast of one woman and the knee of freshman Jordan Gillespie. The Daily Lobo does not name victims of criminal sexual contact without their consent. Gillespie said she locked her door before she went to sleep but her roommate may have left it unlocked
“I always felt like we were safe, but now ... we keep our doors locked.” ~Katie Dedman, UNM student when she left later. The suspect then entered her room and awakened her as he touched her knee. “I yelled, ‘Hey, what the f***!’ And he ran,” she said. Gillespie told police she did not see the suspect’s face or follow him as he fled. “We call him ‘the creeper,’” Gillespie said. The report goes on to detail an instance of theft. Freshman Megan
see Campus creeper page 3
$POGVTFE B $POGVTFE BC CPVU UIF PVU UIF --PDLTMFZ PDLTMFZ **ODJEF ODJEFO OUU Don’t miss a conference and Question and Answer with UNM President David Schmidly, Athletics Director Paul Krebs, Vice President for Human Resources Helen Gonzales. Today 11 a.m. Lobo Room in the upper level of SUB
Students Unite for Health Care Reform Today, Noon to 2 p.m. SUB Atrium
Basketball showcase
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