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Monday, S eptember 24, 2018 | Vo l u m e 1 2 3 | I s s u e 1 2
New shuttle route drives mixed reviews By Anthony Jackson @TonyAnjackson The University of New Mexico shuttle system has a new combo route, drawing the ire of many students and staff. Since the end of August, the University combined the South Lot and Lobo Village routes every Monday through Thursday after 3:30 p.m. Barbara Morck, the director of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS), said the combo route was implemented due to a shortage of drivers. “In order to have as optimal of service to South Campus as possible, the best way to do that rather than pulling buses off of other areas, was to put it all together,” she said. Morck said the University has 29 drivers and three supervisors operating across North and South Campus, including drivers shuttling students from Lobo Rainforest in Downtown Albuquerque. Morck said there are currently two drivers in the “hiring queue,” and she sees an end for the South Lot combo route in sight. She said she also wants to seek a salary increase for drivers. Currently, UNM shuttle drivers make an average of around $28,300 a year. Morck also floated the idea of employing students as drivers.
“That’s something where you have policies, procedures and training protocols, so it’s not something that can just happen overnight,” Morck said in reference to hiring students. Every bus can make a difference. Morck said buses that are 40-feet long can hold at least 70 passengers. On Sept. 18 UNM PATS recorded more than 4,000 shuttle riders on the Lobo Village and South Lot route, according to driver logs from PATS. The Daily Lobo interviewed two UNM shuttle drivers who agreed to speak under the condition of anonymity for various reasons. “It’s been tough — it’s different, confusing. We’re seeing confusion from students and drivers,” one bus driver said. The anonymous driver said all hands are on deck due to the driver shortage. “Since there is not a lot of us, the drivers in the middle shift have to get some overtime and stay later to help us out or else it’s really hard for us to take a break,” the same driver said. While not all students that park at South Lot or live at Lobo Village take a shuttle to and from campus, Lobo Village has a capacity of more than 850 students and South Lot can have an capacity upwards of 1,800 students. These numbers can put strain
Anthony Jackson/ Daily Lobo / @TonyAnjackson
South Lot and Lobo Village shuttles wait to be used in T-lot.
on combo route drivers and lead to crowded busses and longer wait times. “The reason things have been so hectic these first four weeks is because we’re really short on drivers. With UNM it takes forever to hire somebody — it’s been stressful on the drivers,” another anonymous driver said. One driver said 36 shuttles would be ideal for the amount of
students transported. “More drivers is always better because it allows us to provide more reliable and consistent service,” a driver said. As the University’s property expands, so does the range of the drivers. “We’ve got a route added because we’re running service to the Rainforest down on Broadway and Central — so that took a driver,” an
anonymous driver said, calling this new route a “necessary evil.” Combo routes are not a new shuttle tool for the University. According to the UNM PATS website, the night bus “combines the South Lot, Lobo Village/SSSC, G/Q and Redondo routes into one timed route, with shuttles every 10 minutes at major stops.”
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Exhibit mixes politics with art UNM prepares host of homecoming events
By Matthew Zank @reportermattz
Politics and artistic expression crossed paths last Wednesday, Sept. 19 at the “For Freedoms Party,” an exhibit through the UNM Art Museum. For Freedoms Federation, a project with the goal of combining art with civic participation, worked in conjunction with the UNM Art Museum to bring the exhibition to the University of New Mexico. After a keynote speech from artist Aram Han Sifuentes, the interactive art exhibit began. Attendees were able to voice their own political opinions by filling in cards with statements like “Freedom From...” and “Freedom Of…” and added them to the walls of the exhibit. “I think it’s super powerful,” said Kiersten Stearns, a UNM junior. “I want to make a difference, and I’m also a super artistic person, so to see someone who is taking their art and making impact and making movements with their art is super powerful.” The main focus of the exhibit was the area for attendees to write their own statements. “Freedom From the Patriarchy,” “Freedom Of Expression,” and “Freedom To Love” — these were
By Shayla Cunico @ShaylaCunico
Anthony Jackson/ Daily Lobo / @TonyAnjackson
An art gallery attendee interacts with an exhibit at the University of New Mexico Art Museum on Sept. 19.
just some of the sentiments shared. There was also information about the national For Freedoms Organization posted throughout the exhibit, featuring photography of political participation in Albuquerque, as well as other statements from the organization. The event also featured a DJ, food and drink and a radio broadcast exhibit put on by one of UNM’s broadcasting classes. According to Traci Quinn, the curator of education and public programs at the UNM Art Museum, performance classes will also be
contributing to the exhibit later on in the semester blending the idea of art and political expression together. The national movement is based on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four freedoms of “affirming the inalienable human rights of freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear,” according to the For Freedoms website. For Freedoms has taken their movement to all 50 states. Along with art exhibits, For Freedoms has hosted town halls and designed
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The University of New Mexico will be putting their own twist on the 1969 Woodstock festival for this year’s week-long Wolfstock, homecoming celebration. Starting Sept. 24, the UNM Alumni Association will work with campus staff, faculty and student organizations to put on events everyday starting at 11:30 p.m. that will continue throughout the week. Student’s can participate in 50 different homecoming week events. Monday Starting at 11 p.m., the Alumni Association will partner with the Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers to bring their Peace, Love and Puppies, pet therapy to campus for students to cuddle with canines. The event will take place at the cactus garden, West of Zimmerman Library. There will also be a presentation on the history of the biogeography of cannabis hosted by Professor Chris Duval from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Duval will share his knowledge on plant-people relationships that
people have with cannabis. The presentation will take place in Hodgin Hall, you can RSVP on the UNM Alumni website. Tuesday On Sept. 25, at noon the Alumni Association will host Picnic on the Plaza inviting all members of the campus community to grab a green chile cheeseburger and take a picture with Lobo Louie. Tickets will be $5 and can be purchased at the event. At night Lobo Spirit will be putting on Neon Skate Down. Students can roller skate around a portable roller-skating rink in the Student Union Building ballrooms from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event welcomes students with a UNM ID, where they can check out a pair of skates for free, and skate around to music provided by Lobo Spirit. Thursday Like the late night roller skating rink, Lobo Spirit will be putting on Silent Lights, an immersive light experience and silent disco.
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