DAILY LOBO new mexico
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
dailylobo.com
Thursday, S eptember 20, 2018 | Vo l u m e 1 2 3 | I s s u e 1 1
UNM sorority criticized for “racial remarks” By Kyle Land
@kyleoftheland The Black Student Alliance (BSA) of the University of New Mexico released a statement Wednesday condemning members of the Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority for using “racial remarks” during a workshop for incoming Greek Life members. The workshop was part of Monday’s 2018 Greek New Member Summit, an event that educates incoming Greek Life members on various topics, with the incident occurring during a portion of the event covering mental health. According to the statement, the comments were made when Dr. Stephanie McIver, director of counseling at Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), was making a presentation about the services available at SHAC. Nick Morgan, an ASUNM senator, is a member of Black Student Alliance and attended the event on Monday night as a member of his fraternity. He said that the members of the sorority began talking once McIver started presenting. “When we were in the workshop with (UNM Police Department), everyone was quiet and attentive and respectful,” Morgan said. “This group of girls, who were in the back,
Colton Newman/ @cnewman101/ Daily Lobo
The Kappa Kappa Gamma house off of University Boulevard stays busy on the afternoon of Sept. 19, 2018. Kappa Kappa Gamma is in the midst of allegations that members of the sorority used “racial remarks” during an anxiety workshop.
were literally mocking (McIver) the whole time.” Eventually, the comments from the group began to take a racial tone. The BSA statement stated that members of KKG also said, “Black people get away from me.” One
member reportedly was so upset that he began to shake. Morgan said that he heard more comments afterwards, including one sorority member saying, “Yeah, and stop wearing grills.” Nieajua Gonzalez, another
member of BSA who attended the summit, said she overheard the last comment and approached the girl who said it afterwards. Gonzalez said that when she asked the girl about what she had said, the girl laughed and said she
didn’t mean it like that. “I said ‘I don’t care how (she) meant it, there’s no right way to say it’,” Gonzalez said. She added that the girl apologized, but both Morgan and Gonzalez said the apology lacked sincerity. “You can tell there was no genuine apology,” Morgan said. Gonzalez said the group’s manner changed little following the apology. “The dynamic never shifted,” she said. “It was still funny to her.” Both Gonzalez and Morgan said they do not speak for their Greek letter organizations, but rather just BSA. Brandi Stone, program specialist for African-American Student Services at UNM, said that comments like these feed into a negative stereotype of African-Americans, specifically black men. “It feeds into stereotypes of black men being like animals or dangerous bodies to be around,” Stone said. The UNM KKG chapter did not provide comment to the Daily Lobo. However, the national chapter provided an official statement on the matter: “We are aware of the incident and reached out privately to the group involved. We are also reviewing this matter with our members and will determine any appropriate next steps with our local chapter.”
see
KKG page 2
ASUNM committee recap El Centro celebrates 50th anniversary By Justin Garcia and Madison Spratto @Just516garc and @Madi_Spratto
The Associated Students of New Mexico Senate Finance and Steering & Rules committees met Wednesday evening to discuss an investigation into Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE, appropriations and four resolutions. Finance Committee Among the nearly $25,000 in appropriations discussed, Vice President Emily Wilks announced the Finance Committee was investigating Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE who received about $20,000 in appropriations last year. Lobo Motorsports Formula SAE is a student organization, partly funded by student fees, that builds and races formula one vehicles against other universities. Wilks said the gray area was the group’s relationship with the classes they offer and ASUNM. The group’s website states, “The program is now a three semester program that begins in the spring of each year and is an alternative path to graduation.” In 2016, ASUNM defunded Scribendi, a magazine that publishes creative works by honors students, on the grounds that Scribendi “functioned too much like a class.”
By Makayla Grijalva @MakayalEliboria
Danielle Prokop/ @ProkopDani/ Daily Lobo
The weekly ASUNM meeting gets underway in the Student Union Building on Sept. 19, 2018.
The committee also discussed nearly $25,000 of appropriations. Beta Alpha Psi – Theta Xi, a fraternity for students of accounting, finance and information systems, requested $3,811. Much of the appropriation was to cover the cost of traveling and attending conferences in Fort Collins, CO and Chicago, IL. The Finance Committee voted to reduce the appropriation to $2,232, largely because the fraternity had requested money they planned to use in the upcoming spring semester. Lobo Catholic requested $3,585. Nearly all of it was to cover their Fall Awakening Retreat at the Madonna Retreat and Conference Center in Albuquerque. The appropriation was approved “to see the
On the Daily Lobo website Prokop: Stokes unpacks first 200 days at State of University address
opinions of the Full Senate,” said Senator Isez Roybal. The Society of Women Engineers requested $1,877. The society requested $500 for a new office computer. The appropriation was approved. The Society of Physics Students requested $5,388, which was reduced to $1,036. The Women's Ultimate Frisbee club sport requested $5,577. The representatives of the Ultimate Frisbee Club high-fived immediately after the appropriation was passed. Lobo Hockey requested $4,491. The appropriation failed because the request form was filled incorrectly. The approved appropriations will go before the Full Senate next
see
ASUNM page 2
El Centro de la Raza kicked off their year-long 50th year celebration on Sept.17. The student services center was opened at the University of New Mexico in 1969 under the name Chicano Student Services and is a part of the Division of Student Affairs. The kickoff event included speakers from every decade since El Centro’s founding. Speakers talked about El Centro de la Raza’s evolution, and a special anniversary logo for the center was also revealed. “We don't want to do just one event that celebrates 50 years,” said Rosa Isela Cervantes, director and alumni of El Centro de la Raza. “We want to do events throughout the year that represent all those 50 years.” Cervantes said at the time of the opening students wanted UNM to recognize the significant amount of Chicanos on campus. A center was opened in order to strengthen these student’s connection to their identity while also assisting them in academics. The name was later changed from Chicano Student Services to Hispanic Student Services in an effort to identify with students who
had roots in Latin America, rather than just Mexico. The term Chicano references Mexican-Americans, while Hispanic is an umbrella term. Another name change came in 1995 when UNM students voted on the name El Centro de la Raza. This was another effort to include Latinos and Latinas of all identities, rather than just those who identify as Hispanic. Cervantes recalled being involved in voting for the new name as an undergraduate. “In the end, we were already calling it El Centro,” Cervantes said. “It was the translation of the center, and it became very easy for us to say. And ‘raza’ to us means community and people together.” She said since its opening, it continues to be about making sure students feel supported. “Initially, there was more of that social connection and definitely action in terms of fighting for different rights and opportunities,” Cervantes said. “And I think some of that remains very alive at El Centro, but we’ve also expanded.” Today, El Centro offers a variety of services, including mentoring, scholarships, advocacy and professional development. The center is open to all students regardless of ethnicity.
see
El Centro page 2