DAILY LOBO new mexico
tuesday
Sudoku see page 12
The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
January 26, 2010
University lobbies at Capitol for UNM Day LEGISLATIVE SESSION
by Leah Valencia Daily Lobo
Vanessa Sanchez / Daily Lobo Minerva Cook speaks with a client at Butt, Thornton & Baehr Attorneys at Law on Monday. Cook graduated from the UNM School of Law in 2007. The School of Law is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is accepting nominations for memorable people, historic laws, events, legal cases or civic solutions.
SANTA FE — New Mexico legislators were greeted Monday with a visit from several University departments and organizations for UNM Day. Fearing harsh budget cuts, the University put on its first-ever presentation to exemplify the value of the work done and opportunities provided at UNM. Interim Dean for the College of Fine Arts, Jim Linnell, said the presentation gave UNM the opportunity to show legislators and the public the value of supporting higher education. “UNM Day is to showcase to the public here at the Capitol the things that only a flagship university can do — the programming that goes
see UNM Day page 3
Book commemorates 60 years of law PIRG seeks student fees to hire professional staff by Tricia Remark Daily Lobo
It has been 60 years since the first class of UNM School of Law students graduated. To celebrate, the school is creating a colorful book recognizing 60 special people, accomplishments or legislation, named 60 for 60. “It’s more than just a book,” School of Law archivist David Myers said. “It’s important because the UNM law school has played a significant role in the state of New Mexico. Legal, judicial, political, public policy — all those kinds of things UNM law school graduates and faculty have been heavily involved in.” Nominations for the 60 for 60 book will be accepted until April 1. They can include people, historic laws, events, legal cases or civic solutions, according to the law school’s Web site. Minerva Cook, a 2007 School of Law graduate, said the school prepared her for a successful career in the law profession by giving her realworld experience. “A lot of law schools are academic, in that they get you to think and never really make you use your practical skills — how to write a letter or actually conduct yourself in front of a courtroom,” she said. “Then your first day on the job you panic because you don’t really know how to be a lawyer.” Cook said one big accomplishment for the School of
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 114
issue 84
Law is the clinical practice, which is mandatory for all students. This program allows students to gain realworld experience by defending actual clients in need of legal help, Cook said, and would be a great addition to 60 for 60. Cook has worked at Butt, Thornton, and Baehr PC, Attorneys at Law for two years. Kevin Washburn, School of Law dean, said the clinical program is up for nomination to be in 60 for 60. “We pioneered clinical education and still do it as well or better than most schools,” he said. “We’ve had a clinic for about 40 years. Students are actually practicing law — it’s not the traditional classroom setting at all.” Washburn said the School of Law doesn’t get the recognition it deserves in the community. “This school doesn’t do a very good job of highlighting itself or patting itself on the back,” he said. Washburn said students, alumni, faculty and community members are encouraged to make nominations. To make a nomination, visit the School of Law’s Web site and click on “60 for 60” in the upper left corner. Myers has already received about five submissions. All submissions will be reviewed by an objective panel that is selected by Washburn The book will be released early next fall, Myers said, accompanied by a celebration at the School of Law. Washburn said the price of the
Deadline for nominations: Apr. 1 For questions, contact David Myers at 505-6796 Submit nominations to: lawschool.unm.edu/60for60
book is yet to be determined. Barbara Bergman, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Law, said she has taught at the UNM School of Law since 1987. She has seen 22 classes of UNM law school students graduate. “It’s sort of bittersweet,” she said. “It’s always a pleasure to see them succeeding and going off and knowing that some of them are going to be doing some amazing things, and it’s a little sad because you’re going to miss them.” Bergman said she will probably submit a nomination, but still has to think about what it will entail. “I think it’s just a wonderful idea to sort of step back and take a look at what the graduates of our law school have accomplished in the last 60 years,” she said. “We’ve never really done that.” Nominations should be between 250 and 500 words, said Myers, and can be submitted on the UNM School of Law Web site.
by Kallie Red-Horse Daily Lobo
UNM’s Public Interest Research Group is asking for student funds to assist them in recruiting statewide students for their organization and becoming a part of the larger PIRG community. Members of the chapter presented a request for funding to the Student Fee Review Board asking for $84,000 of student fees for the school year. The funding would allow PIRG to hire a professional staff to assist in their expansion plans, said PIRG representative Vicky Scheidler. “One concern that comes up a lot is ‘Oh my gosh. You are asking for 80-something thousand dollars’ and we really don’t see it as that huge (of an) expenditure,” she said. “We feel that we are remarkably efficient in the way that we spend our money. We are only paying for a portion of their time. We are not paying for their whole salary by any means.” The proposed staff would include adding an organizer, organizing director, state director and field director, Scheidler said. The cost of the state representatives would be split among other regional universities amounting to the chapter paying 25 percent of their salary, she said. A larger staff could allow PIRG to unite students statewide for a larger
Spotlight
Art accident
See page 2
See page 6
impact, she said. “We are going to be lobbying in New Mexico for issues that students care about, like college affordability,” she said. “If we have students all across the state joining together, instead of just students at UNM, we are going to hold a lot more clout in Santa Fe.” PIRG’s growth would also include collaborating with UNM’s Institute of Public Law, where public policy dialogue methods would be taught, said Paul Biderman, IPL director. PIRG members would be trained to handle public forum meetings with student fees. “PIRG and the kind of effort IPL has been making about civil discourse are a really a good fit,” he said. “IPL has been working on making our state more collaborative in terms of public policy. To have people talk to each other, taking into (account) everybody’s values and concerns and not trying to override them.” Scheidler said the proposed hirees would aide in bringing the two groups together. “That’s another place where the organizer would fit in really well, just assisting in bridging that really huge gap that currently exists
see Funding page 3
Today’s weather
45° / 25°