1. ABQ Journal - "Group honors 6 New Mexicans"
Six New Mexicans received awards from the Dialogue Institute of the Southwest at a recent dinner and awards ceremony with the Education Award going to our very own Robert G. Frank, UNM President. Go Lobo!
2. ABQ Business First - "UNM's Frank makes push to acquire Aperture Center"
UNM President Robert Frank presents a plan at the next Board of Regents meeting that would allow the university to make a $4.5 million bid to acquire the Aperture Center.
3. ABQ Business First - "UNM amps up its outreach to foreign students"
In an effort to draw more international students, UNM opens a recruitment office in Mexico City.
4. ABQ Journal - "Nursing program credit transfers easier"
“Gov. Susana Martinez and leaders of the New Mexico Nursing Education Consortium announced that all of the nursing programs offered at New Mexico’s higher education institutions will implement a common curriculum with standardized and streamlined clinical and academic training requirements.”
5. ABQ Business First - "Krishna’s a rare combo: professor-entrepreneur"
UNM would like to see more professors commercially develop their research, like Sanjay Krishna, professor in electrical computer engineering, who with his wife, created Skinfrared, a company that uses optics technology created with quantum dots, paired with cancer detection research.
6. Laser Focus world - "Semiconductor Sources: Laser plus phosphor emits white light without droop"
Material scientists have combined laser diodes with inorganic phosphors to create efficient, stable sources of white light. UNM, among others, considered for use as white-light sources.
7. KOB-4…"Grasshoppers abundant in NM thanks to monsoon rains"
David Lightfoot, an expert in grasshoppers at UNM, says Mother Nature is the reason they're still around.
8. KOAT-7… "UNM Retiring Brian Urlacher's 44 Jersey" video with Angela Brauer
9. ABQ Journal - "Fundraiser features new film about the Harvey Girls"
UNM alumna, Katrina Parks, produced a documentary about the Harvey Girls which premiered at the National Archives in June and will be broadcast on more than a dozen PBS stations. New Mexicans can see it in the New Mexico History Museum Sunday, Nov. 17 from 4-7 p.m. and on KNME Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
10. Epoch Times - "Doctors to Parents: Limit Kids’ Texts, Tweets, Online Time"
Victor Strasburger, pediatrics professor at UNM, suggests parents enforce a ‘media diet’ for kids.
Also featured in Gazette.Net - “Doctors prescribe media time limits” (CecilDaily.com)
11. UNM Media Watch from Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013
2 KASA 9:00 PM News
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOUR BOSS SAID YOU HAD TO GET A FLU SHOT, OR YOU MIGHT BE FIRED? THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITAL, AND THEY ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT UNMH, IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. LORI MACIVER/UNMH NURSE: ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS EMAIL CAME OUT THAT SAID IT'S MANDATORY, YOU MUST HAVE A FLU SHOT UNLESS YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EXEMPTION OR A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ALL 6-THOUSAND UNMH EMPLYEES WERE ORDERED TO HAVE A FLU SHOT…
KOB-4 5:00 AM, 6:00 PM and 12:00 PM News
THE EMPLOYEES UNION AT UNM HOSPITAL PLANS TO EXPLAIN ITS DECISION TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE HOSPITAL. IT SURROUNDS A MANDATORY FLU SHOT POLICY. THE UNION SAYS IT WAS BASED ON TWO CONCERNS. ONE - EMPLOYEES HAVING THEIR "ROLE IN NEGOTIATING TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT BEING ARBITRARILY STRIPPED FROM THEM." AND SECONDLY - THE NEED FOR THE HOSPITAL TO PAY FOR ANY EMPLOYEE WHO MIGHT HAVE A BAD REACTION TO THE FLU SHOT. THE HOSPITAL SAYS THE REQUIREMENT IS ABOUT PROTECTING PATIENTS, VISITORS, AND WORKERS. A LETTER WAS SENT TO EMPLOYEES LAST MONTH THAT SAID IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE SHOT BY DECEMBER THEY'D FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. THEY COULD EVEN LOSE THEIR JOBS.
KOB-4 5:00 PM News
FLYING AROUND NEW MEXICO? YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE. METEOROLOGIST JORGE TORRES SPOKE WITH AN INSECT EXPERT TO FIND OUT WHY THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY. I'VE SEEN DOZENS OF GRASSHOPPERS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS-- AND WONDERED WHY THERE ARE SO MANY THIS LATE IN THE YEAR. ONE EXPERT I SPOKE TO TODAY-- SAYS THE MONSOON RAINS ARE THE MAIN FACTOR. "THIS IS CALLED THE DIFFERENTIAL GRASSHOPPER AND IT'S A SPECIES THAT'S PRETTY COMMON HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE" YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOME OF THESE CREEPY CRAWLIES HOPPING AROUND ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO THIS FALL. DOCTOR GARY LIGHTFOOT, AN EXPERT IN GRASSHOPPERS AT UNM-- SAYS MOTHER NATURE IS THE REASON THERE STILL AROUND. "THIS YEAR HAS BEEN VERY GOOD FOR CERTAIN SPECIES OF GRASSHOPPERS IN NEW MEXICO BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AMOUNT OF RAIN WE HAD IN JULY AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER AND THAT RAIN TRIGGERED EGG HATCH" BUT THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THEM SWARMING OVERHEAD AND DESTROYING CROPS LIKE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOCUSTS DID BACK IN THE 1800S. THESE GRASSHOPPERS PREFER A SMALLER TARGET. "YOU WILL OFTEN SEE THEM IN PEOPLE'S YARD AND THEY CAN BE A PROBLEM WITH GARDEN PLANTS IF THEY'RE IN HIGH NUMBERS" ANOTHER PLACE THAT THEY LOVE TO HANG OUT--THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR MOTORISTS--ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO "PLACES LIKE DEMING AND LORDSBURG--THE HIGHWAYS ARE ACTUALLY COVERED WITH THE BODIES OF THESE GRASSHOPPERS BECAUSE PEOPLE RUN OVER THEM AND MORE COME ONTO THE ROAD TO FEED ON THE DEAD GRASSHOPPERS AND THEY JUST KEEP COMING AND COMING.." IF ENOUGH OF THEM PILE UP-- THEY CAN MAKE THE ROAD SLICK LIKE ICE. LIKE ALL OTHER INSECTS---THE GRASSHOPPERS WON'T SURVIVE THE FIRST HARD FREEZE. BUT THE FEMALES WILL BURY THEIR EGGS UNDERGROUND--AND ONCE SPRING COMES, THE CYCLE REPEATS ITSELF.
KOAT-7 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM News
MANY EMPLOYEES AT UNM HOSPITAL, JUST FOUND OUT THEY'RE NOW REQUIRED TO GET FLU SHOTS. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER TODD KURTZ SHOW US.... THE UNION THAT COVERS A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES SAYS, THIS SUDDEN DECISION IS VIOLATING THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.. THERE'S A RECENT PUSH IN HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO MAKE FLU SHOTS MANDATORY FOR EMPLOYEES. DOCTORS AT UNMH HAVE LOOKED INTO THE IDEA FOR YEARS, AND THE HOSPITAL IS NOW MAKING IT A REQUIRMENT FOR THIS FLU SEASON. THE NATIONAL UNION OF HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEES ARE UPSET THEY WEREN'T PART OF THE DECISION MAKING. BILL BROWNE-ADMIN DIRECTOR/UNION"THIS ISN'T ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE SHOULD BE TAKING A FLU SHOT, THE QUESTION IS WHY ARE YOU NOT NEGOTIATING WITH US WHY ARE YOU FORCING THIS WITH US WHEN YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT ALL THE DETAILS YOURSELVES." THE HOSPITAL HAS LINED UP A MEETING WITH THE UNION FOR NOVEMBER 11TH, BUT SAYS IT STILL REQUIRES THE FLU SHOTS. THE UNION HAS NOW HIRED AN ATTORNEY AND FILED A COMPLAINT TO A UNM BOARD... IN HOPES OF SLOWING THE PROCESS. LORIE MACLVER-UNION " THE TIMELINE WAS SO TIGHT THERE WASN'T ANY TIME TO REACT TO IT EITHER. TODD KURTZ "SOME OF THE WORKERS INSIDE UNMH ARE WONDERING WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL -- AFTER ALL IT WAS THE DOCTORS WHO DECIDED MANDATORY FLU SHOTS FOR ALL OF THE STAFF INSIDE HERE ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR ALL OF THE PATIENTS WHO COME TO UNMH. DAVID PITCHER, M.D. "THIS WAS NOT A HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT DECISION, THIS WAS A MEDICAL STAFF DECISION ABOUT MEDICAL CARE AND THE CARE OF OUR PATIENTS HERE. AND DOCTOR PITCHER SAYS MEDICAL DECISIONS NEVER GO THROUGH THE UNI. SO AS OF NOW .. FLU SHOTS ARE STILL MANDATORY. STAFF CAN OPT OUT OF THE FLU SHOTS FOR RELIGIOUS AND MEDICAL REASONS. THE UNION WANTS SOMETHING IN ITS CONTRACT THAT COVERS EMPLOYEES IF THEY GET SICK FROM THE SHOT.
A FORMER UNM PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF RUNNING AN ONLINE PROSTITUTION RING, WHERE CHARGES WERE LATER DROPPED, GOES TO COURT TO GET HIS PROPERTY BACK. CHRIS GARCIA WON, SO HE WILL GET BACK ITEMS TAKEN FROM HIM LIKE COMPUTERS, CELLPHONES, SEX TOYS AND PORN TAPES...BUT HIS ATTORNEY ISN'T SURE THE SEX-RELATED ITEMS WILL BE RETURNED. COMING UP AT 10, AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAN KNOWN AS BURQUE POPS, CHRIS GARCIA. HE TALKS ABOUT HIS ARREST, AND WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO, ABOUT THE EMBARRASSING HIGH PROFILE CASE.
KRQE-13 5:00 AM News
THE FORMER UNM PRESIDENT ONCE ACCUSED OF RUNNING AN ONLINE BROTHEL, WANTS POLICE TO RETURN HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY. IN 2011, CHRIS GARCIA WAS CHARGED WITH PROMOTING PROSTITUTION FOR ALLEGEDLY BEING A LEADER OF "SOUTHWEST COMPANIONS"-- A WEBSITE THAT LINKED JOHNS TO PROSTITUTES. LATER A JUDGE RULED THAT A WEBSITE IS NOT A PHYSICAL HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION UNDER NEW MEXICO LAW - SO GARCIA'S CHARGES WERE TOSSED. DURING THE INVESTIGATION POLICE SEIZED A VARIETY OF THINGS FROM HIS HOME AND UNM OFFICE -- INCLUDING MONEY, COMPUTERS AND A CELL PHONE. HIS LAWYERS ASKED A JUDGE TO ORDER ALL THAT RETURNED AND THE JUDGE AGREED-- SAYING THE INVESTIGATION IS OVER.
KRQE-13 5:30 PM News
IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC... HAVE EVERY WORKER AT UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITAL GET A FLU SHOT. BUT THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AT UNMH ARE ANGRY OVER THE NEW RULE. A RULE THEY WERE NEVER ASKED ABOUT. FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT UNMH, IT WAS BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER. LORI MACIVER/UNMH NURSE: ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS EMAIL CAME OUT THAT SAID ITS MANDATORY, THAT YOU MUST HAVE A FLU SHOT UNLESS YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EXEMPTION OR A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, ALL 6- THOUSAND U-N- M-H EMPLYEES WERE ORDERED TO HAVE A FLU SHOT. THE EMAIL WENT ON TO SAY THAT WORKERS WHO DON'T GET A SHOT BY DECEMBER FIRST, WILL BE DISCIPLINED... "...UP TO AND INCLUDING POSSIBLE TERMINATION..." BUT THE UNION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 3- THOUSAND OF THE HOSPITAL'S WORKERS WAS NEVER CONSULTED. BILL BROWNE/UNION ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR: WE BELIEVE IN DOING WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT MIGHT BE TAKING FLU SHOTS, THE QUESTION IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO MANDATE IT. IN FACT THERE ARE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS THE NEW POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS. LORI MACIVER/UNMH NURSE: THE EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW THAT SHOULD THEY TAKE A FLU SHOT, SHOULD THEY GET THE FLU SHOT AND THEY HAVE AN ADVERSE REACTION,THAT THE HOSPITALS IS GOING TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBILITY, TO GIVE THEM THE MEDICAL CARE THEY DESERVE AND NOT HAVE IT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THEIR INCOME AND THEIR BENEFITS. THE HOSPITAL'S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DEFENDS THE NEW POLICY. DAVID PITCHER/UNMH* CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: THIS WAS A MEDICAL CARE DECISION THAT WAS MADE AND TYPICALLY THOSE ARE MADE BY THE MEDICAL STAFF IN OUR USUAL FORUMS, AND WOULD NOT TYPICALLY INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE UNION. FOR THE HOSPITAL WORKERS... THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. LORI MACIVER/ UNMH NURSE: WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING, IT COMES EVERY YEARS, WE SHOULD HAVE SAT DOWN AND HAD THIS CONVERSATION MONTHS AGO. THE UNION FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE LABOR BOARD. THEY NOW HAVE A NEGOTIATION SCHEDULED WITH UNMH ON MONDAY. AT LOVELACE AND PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITALS WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO GET FLU SHOTS. THOSE WHO DON'T MUST WEAR A MASK WHENEVER WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PATIENTS.
KLUZ-41 5:00 PM News
PONGA ATENCIO A ESTA NOTICIA, PRINCIPALMENTE AQUELLAS PERSONAS QUE VIVEN CERCA DE LAS INTERESTATALES 40 Y 25 EN NUEVO MEXICO YA QUE DE ACUERDO A UN ESTUDIO REALIZADO POR UN PROFESOR DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE NUEVO MEXICO, LAS PERSONAS Y SUS FAMILIAS QUE VIVEN AL LADO DE LAS INTERESTATALES CORREN MAS PELIGRO DE ESTAR EXPUESTOS A ALTOS NIVELES DE CONTAMINACION EN EL AIRE Y ESYAN PONIENDO EN PELIGRO SU SALUD, EL ESTUDIO TAMBIEN REVELO QUE A TRAVES DEL PAIS, MAS DE 60 MILLONES DE PERSONAS VIVEN CERCA DE LAS CARRETERAS INTERESTATALES.