DAILY LOBO new mexico
A bunch of turkeys see page 6
wednesday
November 24. 2010
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
DOMINO EFFECT
Housing plans not not yet finalized by Chelsea Erven cerven@unm.edu
Lobo Village on south campus is nearing completion, but UNM officials said main campus housing construction plans, entailing the addition of nearly 2,000 beds, have yet to be finalized. UNM Real Estate Director Kim Murphy said American Campus Community’s plans to revamp main campus construction are still hazy. “We don’t even have the whole plan,” he said. “It’s developing.” The next step in the process is consideration of the “strategic housing plan” that ACC will deliver this month, according to Lobo Development’s latest presentation to the regents. Lobo Development will hold an open forum Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. in the SUB to discuss the strategic housing plan. It will consider the plan and present it to the regents’ Finance and Facilities Committee in early December. Amy Coburn, of UNM Planning and Design, said planning workshop attendees came up with three plans for housing during meetings held since August. “We basically generated a lot of information at the workshops, and ACC is the beneficiary of that information,” she said.
“This is a really, really important studenthousing initiative.” ~Kim Murphy UNM Real Estate Director ACC has the final say about the plans, but Murphy said one of the workshop-generated plans will likely be adopted. Murphy wouldn’t specify what the favored plan is. “We think there is a favored alternative, and we expect that the strategic housing plan will reflect that,” he said. The workshop-generated plans share the same Phase I, which entails the demolishing of the Santa Ana dorm and part of D lot to make way for dorms. Subsequent phases could involve the demolition of Coronado and Alvarado dorms, Oñate Hall, the grassy field across the street from Coronado dorm and part of Johnson Field. Murphy said he expects Phase I to be completed by August 2012. Planning and location considerations included vehicle circulation, pedestrians and bikes, building conditions
Junfu Han / Daily Lobo Alpha Tau Omega organizer Andrew Herring straightens a domino during a contest at the SUB ballroom on Monday. The domino contest is a fundraiser for the United Way campaign.
Council collects candy for troops by Shaun Griswold shaun24@unm.edu
A UNM organization is hoping bite-sized treats will make a big impression on U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The UNM Staff Council collected 567 pounds of Halloween candy as part of its civil project, Operation Gratitude. The candy was donated by University members over three weeks. Elise Wheeler, Veteran Student Services director, said the donation boosts troops’ morale. “I thought it was absolutely wonderful,” she said. “You don’t have any idea how great it is to get a package in the middle of nowhere.” Ten boxes of candy were sent
to military bases in California last week. They arrived at their destination Tuesday and will be shipped to troops in holiday care packages. The packages should be in soldiers’ hands by Thanksgiving, according to a statement released by the UNM Staff Council. Wheeler said the holidays are stressful for active military members because they are in dangerous environments, away from their homes and families. Besides those on active duty, she said it is important to remember the thousands of veterans who face isolation and poverty during the holidays. “Some people may think it’s a small donation, but to have something sent from home, that is fantastic,” Wheeler
said. And for less fortunate veterans and homeless here in Albuquerque, five homeless shelters will provide Thanksgiving Day meals. Glendora Hill, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Rescue Mission, said her organization serves veterans who are homeless or don’t have a place to eat. Like other places serving meals, she said her organization needs cash and food donations, including nonperishable canned and boxed food. “Whatever you can put on your plate is basically what we need,” Hill said. Wheeler said most projects aimed at assisting veterans will begin in December. UNM Staff Council President Merle
Kennedy said UNM staff and community members stepped up to the plate to provide for less fortunate veterans. “We also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to UNM staff for promoting, collecting and delivering the candy to the Staff Council office,” Kennedy said. “Your generosity and community spirit is truly heartwarming.” The Division of Student Affairs donated funds to the Staff Council to defray candy shipping costs. Speaking from experience, Wheeler said care packages break up soldiers’ holiday loneliness. “It was really nice when you are living in a tent and there are miles and miles of beach and no water,” she said
see Soldiers page 3
Check out our multimedia coverage of the bodies exhibit at DailyLobo.com
DL
see Lobo Village page 3
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 115
issue 66
Paper champions
Fury in the favelas
See page 6
See page 5
TODAY
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