issue 35, volume 19
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Issue 35 of Volume 19 of The CNM ChronicleTRANSCRIPT
The CNMChronicleVolume 19 | Issue 35 March 4-10, 2014/cnmchronicle thecnmchronicle.wordpress.comT h e s t u d e n t v o i c e o f C e n t r a l n e w M e x i c o c o m m u n i t y c o l l e g e
Semicolon projectPage 5
By Nick SternSenior Reporter
Beginning in the cur-rent spring semester, all of the computer labs that were in the down-stairs area of the Student Resource Center (SRC) at Main Campus have been removed, and now stu-dents can only access the second f loor computer labs or the Assistance Center for Education (ACE) com-puter lab, ACE Learning
Center Supervisor, Randolph Crandall said.
Crandall said that the downstairs computer labs were removed in order to turn the space into strictly computer classrooms, because of the influx of com-puter related classes being registered for by students.
“The change has been made to accommodate an increase in computer related classes,” Crandall said.
There are no other plans for the original downstairs
lab space, except to remain as computer classrooms for the foreseeable future, Crandall said.
Though there are no plans for the original space, the now exclusive upstairs computer labs have been subject to a simple but effective change, and there are also online tools to make computer accessibility and availability an easier pro-cess, he said.
There have been addi-tional computers added to both the library computer lab and
the ACE computer lab, which is an obvious move to make now that students who want to use a computer are required to go to a more condensed area, Crandall said.
Computer Center Supervisor, Gary Woodworth said there is also a fantastic new tool that can be used by students with smart phones and other por-table devices with internet access called Lab Maps.
Computer labs shutdown in Main campus Student Resource Center
PHOTO BY NICK STERN
Students keep busy in second floor open computer lab in SRC
By Angela Le QuieuStaff Reporter
The Know Now mobile medical unit will be coming to the CNM area and will offer free tests for two of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in New Mexico, and the unit will also provide free pregnancy tests, Mobile Unit Director Joan Douglas said.
Starting March 17 the mobile medical unit will be parked in various places around the city from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., but mostly in the area around the CNM and UNM campuses near Yale Boulevard to provide access to STD test-ing and pregnancy tests to low
income families and stu-dents, Douglas said.
“Being able to offer it for free and being able to pay the minimal fee that we have to pay to do that is a huge service and benefit to the students, and I hope they will take advantage of it,” Douglas said.
For more information on the Know Now mobile medical unit or to find a location where the unit with be, students can call 720-5537.
The Center for Disease Detection out of San Antonio, Texas pro-vides STD tests to orga-nizations such as Know Now to make the tests more affordable and so
that people can get results quickly, Douglas said.
The mobile unit will be testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are the two fastest growing STDs and have been a major concern in the state of New Mexico, Douglas said.
The unit will be spending the majority of its time in the campus area in the afternoon and early evening in order to be more accessible to stu-dents, because their studies and research have shown the
see sTD on page 7
PHOTO BY ANGELA LE QUIEU
Joan Douglas, Mobile Unit Director showing testing supplies.
see LaBs on page 7
Mobile unit provides free STD testing
By Carol WoodlandStaff Reporter
Mysterious yellow stains hail the oncoming spring on Main Campus at CNM, and some students are wondering just what is this yellow chemi-cal being seen all over campus since the President’s Day break on Feb. 17.
Wisdom Reyes, Fine Arts major, said that when he goes to sit on the grass outside the Student Resources Center he wondered what exactly had been sprayed on the grounds.
“I want to know if the area is chemical free and that it’s not harming all of us; that we’re not ingesting it, smelling it, and it affecting us down the line in the future.”
Anthony Rael, Director of Maintenance and Operations said that fortunately for all the students and staff who enjoy playing Frisbee and relaxing in the sun on the lush green expanse between the SRC and JS buildings, that grass is 100 percent chemical-free.
“That turf is safe to lounge on and is a very durable ath-letic turf blend. It is intended for heavy use being that it is a central gathering point for stu-dents and CNM functions and events,” Rael said.
As for the yellow stains, Rael said they are from an herbicide called Pendulum which is applied to rock mulch and low maintenance areas to kill invasive plant material. According to the Environmental Protection Agency website at epa.gov, “it is practically non-toxic” to the touch, “unless this chemical is ingested there are no real con-cerns other than mild skin or eye irritation.”
For students want-ing more information, Material Safety Data Sheets for the Pendulum and any other chemicals used by Maintenance and Operations
can be found at the Physical Plant Building, Rael said.
“We try to avoid using chemicals as much as pos-sible. Our groundskeepers pull weeds by hand in high traffic and gathering areas in order to avoid over spray and to reduce the chance of someone coming in contact with the chemical,” Rael said.
According to epa.gov the active ingredient in Pendulum is a chemi-cal called “Pendimethalin,” which is approved and used for weed killing use, not only in the United States, but also in the European Union, Canada, Japan and across the globe.
And because of the chemical’s low toxicity, it is used extensively on plants for consumption including cere-als, corn, sunflowers, car-rots, tobacco, salad greens and strawberries, which works by inhibiting root and shoot growth on weeds.
According to epa.gov Pendimethalin is generally applied before weeds sprout or progress into very young weeds, and specifically stops microtubule forma-tion within the cells of the plants, which makes the cells become disoriented and expand to a rounded shape.
The cells are then not able to divide, and the plant is unable to grow.
According to epa.gov, “Pendimethalin dissipates in the environment by bind-ing to soil; it is essentially
see MeLLOW on page 7
PHOTO BY CAROL WOODLAND
Mysterious yellow stains on the dirt and walls of the Student Resouce Center.
If it’s yellow, let it mellow
Yellow herbicides are harmless, says school
NonToxic
GRAPHIC BY ANGELICA MANZANARES
PHOTO BY RENE THOMPSON
2 | The CNM Chronicle March 4-10, 2014
To submit items for Campus Bulletins, please email news item with a maximum of 150 words to: [email protected] or call 224-4755.
student organizations cnmECOS Accepting New Members
The Executive Council of Students is accepting new members.ECOS meets every Friday at 4 p.m. in ST 12-A.For more information,email [email protected].
Veterans For Educational Success Student Club
Bringing together Veterans in an effort to assist each other in being successful in college.Come join us at the meetings for coffee, chat and ideas to benefit Veteran studentsand find volunteer opportunities in the local community. Where: Rio Rancho Campus. Meetings: Bi-weekly every second Friday at 1 p.m. and forth Friday 9 a.m. If interested email advisor at [email protected] for specific dates and times.
Join physics league
The CNM Physics League is a chartered student organization with a goal of supporting physics students. We meet every Saturday in JS 303 at Main Campus for a study session from 10 AM to 2 PM with the CNM Math League. We also hold an official meeting once a month, location TBA. Please contact our president, Jenny Smith, at [email protected] or our secretary, Joseph Denison, at [email protected] for more information
Chemistry Study Sessions Available:
Weekly study session for any chemistry subject. Meet people and get homework done at the same time! The study group always has free coffee and snacks.Contact: Tim Torres (President)Phone: 928-699-9834Email: [email protected]
Free Bus and Parking Passes
Current students qualify for a free general parking pass and AbqRide bus pass. The passes can be obtained at the Main campus Student Activities Office. Name, schedule, and student ID number are required. For a general parking pass vehicle and drivers license information must be provided. To register the online parking system for the free general parking sticker log-in to myCNM and follow links from the
“transportation” section.
Employability Workshops
Job Connection Services invites CNM students and graduates to attend free Workshops at Main (SSC-207) and Montoya (TW-105) campuses. Workshops focus on resume writing and offer tips for answering interview questions.For more information, call 224-3060 or go to cnm.edu/jobworkshops
Planning to Attend Graduation Ceremony? Don’t Forget to Submit a Grad Application.
If you are planning to participate in the Spring 2014 Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Tingley Coliseum, don’t forget that you must submit a graduation application for your degree or certificate by Friday, March 28, 2014 by 5 p.m.To contact an academic advisor call 224-4321To contact the Student Activities Office, that organizes the Graduation Ceremony, call 224-3238.For more information about the Graduation Ceremony go to cnm.edu/depts/graduation/dates.html.
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INNOVATION STARTUP SEEKS MULTI-TALENT CREATIVES:
IT/web, engineering, legal, accounting, marketing, art/design, research, writing, production. Part-time to ramp up. Send long cover letter, short resume to [email protected]
SUNCARE SPRAY TAN AND SKIN CARE SALONHiring Seasonal Cleaners... Looking for motivated and hard working individuals for part time work. Please do not call, bring in resume or come in to apply. Ask for Cassie or Milissa. 5555 Montgomery Blvd. or 9370 Coors Blvd.
WORK FROM HOME IN TRAVEL INDUSTRYhttp://jadeinalbuquerque.lifestartsat21.com/[email protected]
LOOKING FOR A GREAT COMPANY TO WORK FOR?
If you have taken the CNM electronics soldering course and have good skills in this area, we would like to talk to you. We are looking for full time Production Operators at Sennheiser, the premier manufacturer of high quality microphones and headphones used by the world’s
greatest artists, studios and DJs. We have outstanding benefits and a great work environment. If you are interested in applying please send us your resume at [email protected] or mail to: Human Resources, 5321 Wilshire Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
Now is the time to submit FAFSA applications for the 2014-2015 award year.
CNM’s Financial Aid & Scholarships Services department has partnered with CNM CONNECT to encourage students to get their taxes done early and join these departments the week of March 3 to March 6 to get professional assistance in filling out this year’s FAFSA.
FAFSA WORKSHOPS:
March 3-6, 2014 Where: Assessment Center SSC 204BMon & Wed 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Tues & Thurs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m
International Woman’s Day Celebration
CNM staff and students are invited to the International Woman’s Day celebration at CNM. Learn about key topics that effect women.Thursday, March 6, 1 p.m. - 5 p.mRichard Barr Boardroom, 204 SRC, Main CampusRefreshments served from 12:30 p.m-4 p.m
University Transfer Fair
Find out more about transferring to a four-year college or university. Meet with representatives from many colleges and universities and find out how easy it can be to continue your education beyond CNM.March 11, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.SSC, Main CampusContact Sharon Gurule for more information, 224-2624 or [email protected]
NEWSOPINIONBulletins2| The CNM Chronicle March 4-10, 2014
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ChronicleThe CNM
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL CARTOON BY NICK STERN
The Chronicle is a place where students can learn about journalism at a school that does not have a jour-nalism program, so it is truly amaz-ing that we have won fourth place in the Best of Show Competition at the National Associated Collegiate Press Convention in San Diego this last week on Sunday, March 2, 2014.
It is such a great experience for stu-dents to be able to go on trips and enter into competitions to see how CNM students measure up to other schools on a national level, and it is great that
the school allows students to be able to learn from workshops taught from advisers throughout the country.
The Chronicle thanks the school, Student Allocation Board, and people who make advertisements in our paper, because if it was not for them, we would not have the opportunity to go to these eye-opening conventions that help us see how other schools operate their papers, and how we can learn how to improve the student run newspaper with each semester.
The Chronicle gets much criticism, sometimes it’s constructive and some-times it is not, so we feel that these competitions validate what it is that we are striving to accomplish, which is to consistently produce a quality newspa-per for our student and faculty readers.
We just hope that the school can recognize our achievements and give us improved support in our endeavors to better the paper, as well as to help us achieve the greatness that is expected here at CNM.
Hard work pays offBy The Chronicle Editorial Board
Call for student writersStudents who would like their poetry or short stories
(no longer than 500 words) featured in the CNM Chronicle, please send your writings to [email protected] for consideration.
Know that any writing submitted to the Chronicle is subject to editing for space.
4 | The CNM Chronicle March 4-10, 2014
By Angela Le QuieuStaff Reporter
The Student Activities office is working to help more students be able to walk in the Spring 2014 graduation ceremony, and in past semesters only a fraction of students receiv-ing degrees or certifica-tions participated in the ceremonies.
Brandon Seber, Student Activities Coordinator said there are a few steps that students eligible for gradu-ation need to take in order to participate in the gradu-ation ceremony, but that the first step is to go on line and apply for graduation, and after that, Seber said he can help students with concerns that they may have about the ceremony.
The graduation cer-emony for the Spring 2014 semester will take place at Tingley Coliseum on May 3, 2014 and graduates must arrive between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to check in and then the ceremony will begin promptly at 12 p.m., Seber said.
“Generally speaking I think that all students who receive an Associate degree or certificate should walk in the grad-uation ceremony to cele-brate their academic suc-cess since they put a lot of effort, time, energy,
and sacrifice into get-ting the degree or cer-tificate,” Seber said.
The deadline for stu-dents to apply for gradua-tion who want to walk in the ceremony is March 28 by 5 p.m., but if a student does not want to walk they have until May 1, Seber said.
Seber and his office want to get more students to participate in the gradua-tion ceremony, he said.
In the Fall 2013 semes-ter there were more than 2000 students awarded a degree or certificate and only 500 students walked the line in the graduation ceremony, Seber said.
“It’s nice to walk on stage, celebrate with the family, but also I try to persuade the students who don’t want to walk that maybe they should if they have younger kids or cous-ins, so that way they can be the role model to inspire the younger generation to want to complete high school and college,” Seber said.
Student concerns include economic issues like being able to afford their cap and gown, or mobil-ity impairment for disabled students, but there is help if a student has notified the Student Activities office, Seber said.
If a student has economic concerns about their regalia for
g r a d u a t i o n , Seber said stu-dents can work with him to make sure that they can still walk.
There is also a system in place that can help stu-dents with mobility and other impairment issues, Seber said.
“Since I’ve been on board on the team and working with the gradua-tion, there has not been a problem we were not able to assist with,” Seber said.
Diana Myklebust, Administrative Technical Assistant is in charge of organizing assistance for students, she said.
After a student has filled out a graduation applica-tion, if students indi-cate that they have an impairment issue, their information is sent to her and she calls stu-dents to see what assis-tance they might need in order to walk in the graduation ceremony, Myklebust said.
“The biggest part of the process is letting us know that there is an impairment that we need to assist them with,” Myklebust said.
Myklebust has helped students walk who have had mobility problems, students with diabetes and blind and hearing impaired students, she said.
After a student is called by Myklebust, she will
ask about what their needs are, if they can
walk up stairs or ramps, if they have trouble sitting or standing for long periods of time, and then she will make an arrangement for that student, she said.
“We try to accom-modate all spectrums of impairment, so that we can make sure they can still be a part of that process,” Myklebust said.
There are volunteers at the graduation cer-emony that help students with these needs from the moment they arrive to check in until the end, Myklebust said.
On the occasion that a student cannot make it up the stairs or ramp Myklebust’s group will inform the dean of that student’s school and CNM president Dr. Katharine Winograd so that they can come down from the stage and shake the student’s hand, Myklebust said.
“The goal is to have them involved in as much of the process as pos-sible and make it easy and comfortable for them,” Myklebust said.
There are other con-cerns which students have about participation in the graduation ceremony and this includes students who
receive an invitation to be in the graduation, but have not applied under their declared major, Seber said.
Two offices handle graduation and because of this the gradua-tion process is in two parts; the first office is Enrollment Services which oversees grad-uation applications, and the second is Student A c t i v i t i e s which runs the gradu-ation cer-e m o n y i t s e l f , S eber said.
E n rol l ment services has begun
“farming out” people who are qualified for different degrees or cer-tificates regardless of a student’s program of study, Seber said.
“We in the office of Student Activities have been encountering lots of questions as to why they are being invited to the gradu-ation ceremony, because they are still pursuing their declared major,” Seber said.
Seber’s offices will run a report of each graduat-ing term that is created by Enrollment Services based on the information that the office generates and then send out graduation invita-tions based on that, he said.
“And that’s been challenging for us in Student Activities, but it’s confusing for our students because we’re having to answer all of these questions,” Seber said.
CAMPUS NEWS
PHOTO BY ANGELA LE QUIEU
Brandon Seber answers Luis Ramirez’s graduation questions.
Graduates encouraged to walk in ceremony
March 4-10, 2014 The CNM Chronicle | 5
By Jonathan BacaCopy Editor
It has been said that a pic-ture says a thousand words, and a group of Albuquerque artists and activists are trying to start a conversation about suicide with a very simple symbol; a semicolon.
The second annual Albuquerque, New Mexico Semicolon Tattoo Project is bringing together tattoo artists, mental health work-ers and the larger com-munity to raise awareness about the dangers of suicide, using the semicolon as their symbol, said former stu-dent and Project Manager Jon Cottrell.
“It is the way that we go ahead and address suicide, self harm and mental health, to raise the conversation. Because the more people that talk about it, the more people get treat-ment, not the other way around,” Cottrell said.
During the weekend of March 15, tattoo artists from eight different shops throughout Albuquerque will be giving tattoos of semicolons at a special fixed rate on people from all walks of life, in order to create consciousness around the issues of suicide, self-harm and depression, Cottrell said.
Tattoos will cost $30, and half the proceeds of each tattoo will be donated to Agora Crisis Center, which is a 24 hour crisis prevention hotline where volunteers answer calls from people who need to talk about tough feelings, and who con-duct outreach to schools around the city, discuss-ing mental health issues.
“We are an all-issues listing service that handles
everything from having a bad day to more serious issues like suicide preven-tion. We are totally free and we’re totally confidential,” said former student Jenn Brown, outreach coordina-tor for Agora and organizer for the Semicolon project.
The group chose the semicolon as their symbol because in writ-ing, it is meant to signify a pause, before the writer continues with more of the story. In the same way, suicidal thoughts are a sign that one should stop, think, and talk to someone about their feelings, before continu-ing on with their own story, Cottrell said.
“The symbolism of the semicolon is; an author could use a period to end a sentence. Instead, an author used a semicolon to carry on in the same vein, joining clauses. So you can pause, but you carry on. We use that as a metaphor for people’s lives,” he said.
In addition to the tattoo portion of the event, there will also be a benefit concert at the Launchpad downtown on March 15, with perfor-mances from local bands, where the proceeds will also benefit Agora.
There will also be a poetry gala on the same night at ArtBar downtown, where local poets, artists and other assorted performers will be gathering and performing.
Last year was the first time the event was held, and in just six days, using only Facebook to advertise the event, the group was able to give out 148 tattoos, Cottrell said.
This year, he had six months to prepare, so he said he expects there to be an even bigger turn-out, and even more money earned to support Agora.
New Mexico has the fifth highest rate of sui-cide deaths in the nation and climbing, and sui-cide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10-24, Brown said.
“More youth in New Mexico are killing them-selves than are being killed by others,” Brown said.
“We need to do some-thing to decrease the stigma around mental illness and suicide in particular, and I think this is a good starting point to have a conversa-tion about it.”
Former student Brian James got involved in the project after losing two long-time friends to suicide in the last year, he said.
James said that for him, the event and the tattoo have become personal, and in the past he has worked with Agora and with an
outreach website called SuicideFindingHope.com.
James said he feels like the more people can talk openly about these issues, the easier it will
be for people to come forward and talk about it if they are having thoughts about suicide or self-harm.
He said that one of his friends announced his suicide on Facebook, and he feels that if more people were aware of the warning signs and how to talk about this issue, the better chance we have of stopping these tragic deaths.
For him, having the tattoo of the semicolon is both a tribute to his friends, and hopefully a way to raise awareness about the issue, by starting a conversation with people who ask about what it means, he said.
“The symbolism to me is like, you are stop-ping and saying to your-self, is this what I need to be thinking about right now, and how else could I approach this? You’re still continuing your
story, which is really important, but are you going to change the path of how you’re going to continue it?” James said.
English major, Sara Saucedo said she got her semicolon tattoo at the press event for the project on February 27, and that she encour-ages anyone who has been affected by suicide, depression, anxiety or any other mental health issue to go to the event and get their ink too.
She said that there is already a growing com-munity of activists and tattoo enthusiasts in Albuquerque, and that this project is the perfect meld-ing of these two groups.
She feels proud to be a part of the cause, and hopes that her tattoo will mean something to the people who see it, she said.
“I hope when people see it, it will kind of get the ball rolling on communication, being able to talk to people about your depression, or your sadness, your need to hurt yourself. I think that it is a cool little signal that says ‘hey, I got your back,’” Saucedo said.
For more informa-tion about the event, go to signalonethreeme-dia.com/semicolon, or check out the group on Facebook at facebook.com/semicolontattoo.
FEATUREThe Semicolon project
Tattoo event promotes mental health awareness
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BACA
Jon Cottrell and Jenn Brown watch a tattoo in progress.
Semicolon Project Participating Shops
WHERE:King’s Kreation tattoo
117 Seventh St. NWPor Vida tattoo
1012 Central Ave. SWaces tattoo
2737 San Mateo Blvd. NEarchetyPe dermigraPhic
529 Adams St. NEascension Body modification
3600 Central Ave. SEBlue Jay tattoo
1503 Golf Course Rd. SEstay gold tattoo
123 Yale Blvd. SE71 tattoo
9800 Montgomery Blvd. NE
WHEN:March 15 during shops open hours
PRICE:All Semicolon tattoos will be $30
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BACA
Angelia Santistevan cleans up Sara Saucedo’s new semicolon tattoo.
6 | The CNM Chronicle March 4-10, 2014STUDENT NEWS
Celebrate Your Achievement at the CNM Spring Graduation Ceremony!
Begin your celebration today!Complete a Graduation Application Packet online through myCNM by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2014.
cnm.edu/gradceremony
Celebrate Your Achievement at the CNM Spring Graduation Ceremony!
Begin your celebration today!Complete a Graduation Application Packet online through myCNM by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2014.
cnm.edu/gradceremony
CNM Spring 2014 Graduation Ceremony Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. Central New Mexico Community College
Stephanie Avila
Business major“It’s harder sometimes during the day
because it is really congested.”
Steven Doolittle Psychology major
“I don’t really have an opinion on whether the computers should be here or downstairs. I
don’t really feel any different about it”
Jeff Grey Civil Engineering major
“I think the Student Center, that’s what it’s called right, is great! The move
hasn’t really affected me at all.”
Jennie Flores Radiology and Psychology major
“Not really. I definitely use the computers and there’s times when it’s been a little crowded
but I’ve always been able to get on one.”
Dylan Larsen Pharmacy Tech major
“If I get to the labs a little later in the day I can get on a computer without any effort
whatsoever. It’s all in the timing!”
Jeff Whiteman
Social work major“I’ve been attending this center (ACE) for math for actually 18 months now. I utilize it quite a bit and I think it’s pretty fantastic. Up here is really dif-
ficult. It has affected me (The move). I found about the ones being gone downstairs when I went and tried to use them when I couldn’t get on one here
(ACE). That’s when I realized they were gone.
Suncat Chit ChatBy Nick Stern
Senior Reporter
Has the computer lab move affected you at all? How do you like the labs?
PHOTOS BY NICK STERN
March 4-10, 2014 The CNM Chronicle | 7
LABSContinued from Page 1
CONTINUED
Now accepting applications for:
Start your career with
ChronicleThe CNM
Editor-in-Chief
Deadline to apply is
April 1, 2014
Email your resumé to Jack Ehn at [email protected]
• Be work study qualified• Have passed ENG 1102 with B or higher• Have at least three terms remaining at CNM• Be flexible with schedule• Must have adequate leadership and communcation skills
MELLOWContinued from Page 1
Lab Maps can be accessed online by visit-ing labmaps.cnm.edu, and is a tool that was created by CNM to help students look at a diagram of every single open computer lab at every single CNM campus, he said.
Each diagram displays each computer and its loca-tion in the lab and is color-coded based on whether the computer is available, unavailable, or turned off, Woodworth said.
“Gray is off, green is open, and red is being used. It is straightforward you get out of class and you want to go to a lab and it can help you deter-mine which lab to go to. And
when you go to the lab it can help you determine where there is an open spot,” he said.
The Lab Maps tool is of great benefit to many students and that benefit increases as the size of the computer lab increases, because with Lab Maps students can walk into a crowded computer lab and with their mobile device they can pinpoint exactly where an open computer is without
having to scour the entire building, he said.
Thus far Crandall has observed that the labs, espe-cially the ACE computer lab, have many people in them, but are not full to the point of chaos and he also noticed a smaller number of stu-dents waiting for a chance to use one the computers, because there are fewer labs open, he said.
“I have noticed fewer stu-dents standing around waiting for an open machine. There are more people using the labs, but I would not categorize it (ACE lab) as overcrowded,” Crandall said.
One important thing for students who are seek-ing alternatives to using the open labs is that those alter-natives do exist in the sense that different devices can be
checked out from the library including laptops and iPads, Crandall said.
The use of the new Lab Maps program came about because CNM previously used a program called Lab Stats to track the overall amount of usage of the computers at CNM which in the fall semes-ter of 2013 equaled 200,000 individual logins, he said.
STDContinued from Page 1
highest concentration of these STDs to be in people around college age and near CNM or UNM, Douglas said.
“It’s really scary, I would be afraid to be a college or early career person and dating multiple people at this time in our culture,” Douglas said.
Another reason that this unit will focus only on the two STDs mentioned, is because they are the ones most likely to lead to reproductive health issues in the future if remained untreated, Douglas said.
The test that they will be using for the STD screening is a urine test and one of the most accurate, and because they use a urine test, they can also test for pregnancy at the same time and with the same sample, Douglas said.
If a student’s test results come back posi-tive for an STD, the Know Now unit will send students to UNMH Student Health and Counseling and the New Mexico Department of Health for treatment refer-rals, Douglas said.
“With it becoming of epi-demic proportions, we feel that the responsible thing to do is to go in and offer test-ing and then treatment refer-rals, also it’s an opportunity to educate on those needs and why it is so important that they receive treatment,” Douglas said.
For positive preg-nancy results Know Now will offer free limited ultrasounds that can help determine the normal pro-gression of a pregnancy, Douglas said.
Although the mobile medical unit is providing preg-nancy tests the service is not
just for women, as STD testing will also be available for men, Douglas said.
“If a woman’s test comes back positive, we would not be doing our job if we didn’t encourage her to bring her partner in to be tested also, both are going to need treatment,” Douglas said.
According to NMDH in their STD Surveillance Report for 2012, chlamydia rates in NM were well above the national rate, and gonor-rhea rates were below the national average but have risen rapidly.
The report states that there were 575 cases per 100,000 population of chlamydia and 90 cases per 100,000 popula-tion of gonorrhea in New Mexico for 2012, and that Bernalillo County had some of the highest instances of both STDs.
The Know Now unit will be working with the NMDH to help them to understand where some of the concentra-tions are and where the spread of STDs happen the most, so that in the future NMDH can direct their resources in an efficient way, Douglas said.
Even though they will help the state with a number of cases, the tests will be con-fidential, and there is a number that is needed to obtain the results, or Know Now will ask students to return to the unit to get their results in person and get a referral if needed, Douglas said.
There are other services providing STD testing in the campus area according to UNM SHAC’s website at shac.unm.edu, and the Sexual Health Resource Guide for STD testing in Albuquerque lists other places where stu-dents can have access to free or cheaper testing.
The guide details where and when testing services are available and what the cost may be.
Unlike sources for testing like Planned Parenthood and the UNM SHAC, the Know Now unit will be offering the tests for free, and because of the overnight courier system used, students will have access to their results quickly, Douglas said.
“So that’s going to be huge for some of these kids especially if they have sus-pected that they have an STD, but haven’t done anything about it because of money, or not wanting people to know, or not knowing what to do. I think that’s going to make a huge difference,” Douglas said.
The websites for Planned Parenthood and UNM SHAC at plannedparenthood.org and shac.unm.edu do not list the pricing schedule for STD test-ing or the rate at which the
results return, but they do take Medicaid and other insurance.
Until the mobile medi-cal unit knows how many tests will be used in a week, the samples will be sent out on Thursday nights, and the results will be available on Friday morning before noon, Douglas said.
The Know Now medi-cal unit will be in the CNM and UNM area on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and on Wednesdays it will be at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial near Louisiana and Gibson, as well as on Fridays, when the mobile unit will be north of UNM at Lomas and Edith, Douglas said.
“It’s a smart move (to get tested) in today’s culture and it’s going to become a necessary one in the not too distant future, I think,” Douglas said.
immobile in soil,” which means that after Pendulum is applied it stays in place pre-venting weeds from growing in that area for a long period
of time. Sticking to the soil or rocks where it is applied also makes it extremely resistant to contaminating ground water.
According to epa.gov exposure to the chemical
“would not represent a high acute risk to birds or a high
Acute or chronic risk to mammals,” so there is little if any danger for CNM’s stray cat population, or any other animals that come through the grounds.
Rael said that Main campus sits on 84 acres of which 13 are landscaped
by a crew of six full-time and one part-time groundskeepers, “about one groundskeeper for every two acres of land.”
The grounds main-tenance crew starts work each day at 6 a.m. and at this time of year is hard at
work getting ready for the changing of the seasons.
“Our crew usually starts preparing for springtime now by aerating, seeding and prep-ping turf areas,” Rael said.
With the hard work from Maintenance and Operations’ groundskeeping crew, and a
little help from the unseason-ably warm weather, CNM’s Main campus is getting greener day by day.
8 | The CNM Chronicle March 4-10, 2014 SPOTLIGHT
GRAPHICS BY MELISSA SHEPARD
South Valley farm makes it all about community
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BACA
By Jonathan BacaCopy Editor
In Albuquerque’s South Valley, there is a farm that seems to be removed from time, where people are growing food and rais-ing animals the same way our ancestors did hundreds of years ago.
Anthropology major Elli Klein said this place is known as Erda Gardens, and members of the CNM community are hard at work here trying to pre-serve agricultural tradi-tions, protect the envi-
ronment, and above
all to produce high quality food in the most sustain-able way possible.
“We’d really like to see the South Valley, and all of Albuquerque, get restored back to its agricultural
heritage,” Klein said, who lives on one of Erda’s prop-erties and is one of four main farmers.
Erda Gardens is spread out over about six acres on several sites around the South Valley that have been leased from the county, and the members of this collec-tive work the land by hand, using almost no gas or elec-tric powered tools and no pesticides or chemical fertil-izers, Klein said.
Full-time SAGE instructor, Jessica Mills, who has been on Erda’s board of directors for four years said the farm is Albuquerque’s oldest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) opera-tion, a model where mem-bers pay or work for a share of the farm’s crop,
and share equally in the bounty and the risk.
“It takes the burden off the farmer as being
the only person who suf-fers loss in the case of a poor growing season. It spreads that risk out among many. You are committed to a farm,
instead of just being a passive consumer, want-ing to just have the farmer serve you as a customer,” Mills said.
Members pay $600 for a full share, and this guarantees them a box of produce every week for six months. When there is a bountiful crop, mem-bers can receive more food than they need, and when the harvest suffers due to weather or other factors,
they all share the risk, and the farmer does not go out of business, Klein said.
The CSA model, like the farm’s growing prac-tices, is aimed at sustain-ability and shared pros-perity and responsibility, values that have completely
disappeared from the large scale, corporate monocul-ture model that has taken over the world of farming, Mills said.
“It assumes a complete paradigm shift in thinking. People who are involved with a CSA are no longer a customer who doesn’t have a voice. They are a member of a farming project; they are part of a community who are doing something together and collectively. So it is truly community building, and that in and of itself is priceless,” Mills said.
At Erda Gardens one can see a large variety of crops grown there, from leafy greens and vegetables to herbs and spices.
A larger orchard on the property provides peaches, apricots, and several other fruits, along with several kinds of berries and grapes.
Klein also helps to raise free range chickens, geese, and several bee-hives, along with a small but growing family of goats that produce milk.
Each week, the produce box that mem-bers receive is different;
containing whatever crop is in season and is being harvested.
This type of system highlights the values of the farm, where members are partners with the farmers, and the farmers are partners with the land, Klein said.
“In the corporate structure of our food system, we have very little choice and very little power as far as what we get to eat. And so here we get to preserve native varieties, heirloom seeds, and try to produce crops that are well suited for our climate here. If you eat local food and plants from your environment, you’ll be more resilient in that envi-ronment,” Klein said.
Another important value at Erda is environmen-tally sustainable farming, and Klein said they are com-mitted to using zero pesti-cides and harmful chemicals, virtually no gas-powered tractors, and watering tech-niques that aim to preserve the limited resources of our state and climate.
Klein said that Erda is strongly opposed to genetically modified crops (GMOs), and that the farmers work hard to use heirloom seeds that have been passed down for generations, further preserving the area’s agricultural heritage as well as ensuring their members’ health.
Erda is also Albuquerque’s only biody-namic farm, a type of farm-ing developed in the 1920s that uses the movements of celestial bodies as a guide to planting and harvesting, in an effort to achieve greater harmony with natural cycles, Klein said.
“Biodynamic farmers use astronomical planting calendars, homeopathic preparations as well as special composts to opti-mize soil and plant health. This approach recognizes the spiritual effect of agriculture in our envi-ronment and utilizes the interconnections among soil, plant and animal life,” according to their website at erdagardens.org.
Although Erda’s model is based on being a small operation, Klein said there are several ways that the farm could grow without compromising their qual-ity and values.
Their major short term goal, Klein said, is to buy as much of the land they work on as possible, which is no small feat.
Klein said they would also like to eventually start a small elementary school, where kids would learn the skills and values of small-scale farming.
Mills said that small, community-based, envi-ronmentally friendly farming is the future, for the long-term sur-vival of the planet, as well as the health of individuals and communities.
She said that people can begin making small steps toward this future, by joining a CSA, shop-ping at co-ops and farm-er’s markets, and plant-ing backyard gardens. She said she feels that the extra effort is abso-lutely worth it, to ensure a happy and healthy future for everyone.
“It’s good for your health, it’s good for the environment’s health, and it’s great for building community. And the food tastes better, absolutely hands down,” Mills said.
To learn more about Erda, go to erdagardens.org, or to find out about volunteer opportuni-ties, students can email Elli Klein at [email protected].
ERDA GARDENS COMMUNITY WORK PARTY
Sunday, March 910am to 4pm
Free potluck lunch at 1pmBring food to share, a hat, and plenty of water
1305 Blake Road SW
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BACA
Elli Klein stands in front of a mosaic wall on Erda’s orchard.
Klein inspects new blossoms on a peach tree.