Volume 115 | Issue 44 | Tuesday, May 6, 2014
THE ROUND UP
King of the
Throne Think nals are hard? Try using every bathroom on campus.
FREE
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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We are writing to express our concern about poor working conditions of dairy workers in Southern New Mexico. We are residents of Southern New Mexico and we are concerned there has been little to no effort in improving these working environments. A study was conducted in 2012 by the Center of Law and Poverty that surveyed dairy workers in New Mexico (including those in Vado and Mesquite). Many reported working long hours of more than 9 hours a day with no overtime pay and many reported not getting a lunch break. Unfortunately, agricultural workers do not qualify for over time pay and employers are not required to pay them at least minimum wage. Not only are New Mexico dairy workers under compensated for their long work hours, they are also working in dangerous environments. 53% of dairy workers report being injured on the job, and 77% report they have never received any type of job training. Not only are many dairy workers being injured on the job, many do not have any type of health insurance to take care of their medical needs and cannot afford to pay for treatment on their own due to low work wages. Many dairy workers do not report poor working environments because they feel like employers will retaliate and no real change will be made. I encourage your readers to look into this issue themselves and contact local lawmakers so a safe, fair working environment can be available to those working in the dairies in New Mexico. They can do so by visiting http://nmpovertylaw. org/?page_id=26. - Sincerely, Kathleen Campbell, Beatriz Barraza, Liana Angrisani
Administration Executive Director Alexandra Von Wolff
Director of Finance Michelle Tejeda
Administrative Assistants Tatiana Miyazaki William Peck
Editorial Managing Editor Jesca Cervantes
News Editor
Bethany Blundell
Sports Editor Lewis Harry
Culture Editor
Shaless Robinson
Staff Writers Anthony Albidrez Kyla Hollister David De Alejandro S.O Nicli Maria Harris
Brynn Herndon Ty Stevers Robin Howzell Christina Solis Skyler Wilson Jarrett Trantham Nicole Sullivan
Design Design Specialists Ana Ayon Fernanda Teixeira
Graphic Designers Heather Miller
Web Editor Nate Turner
Photographers Kyle Chancellor Jenny Marin
Sales
A NEED TO BE HEARD
Advertising Manager Ashley DeMott
By Anonymous
Director of Marketing
I began a letter with every intention to be delivered to the director of my department anonymously. My disgust for the department continues to grow as vulgar language, among other things, goes disregarded. The “chiefs” run and cower in their offices, afraid to speak up against the bullies who are backed by a union. Yet we are regularly reminded, insistent, that we are a family; a dysfunctional family at most would be my opinion. I can go across the way to a different department and it is quiet like a morgue, too strict in a sense. Is the extreme quiet necessary? Being left with no boundaries does not work either. Can we not be adults? Can we not do our jobs to the best of our ability? Perhaps I could just quit and go elsewhere but in this job market that would be foolish. Seeking to move within the university comes to mind, but office politics exist in some form in every office. As a university we boast that we are here for the students but our own agendas end up taking priority. There are goals of striving for better customer service and such but we are so entangled in the office politics, we lose sight of the goals and our first priority, the students. If you have not witnessed any tension or childish behavior in any office you have visited, just ask any student worker. I would be willing to put money on the fact they would have a story or two to tell. The most common would be the hypocrisy that exists within our staff. I am “complaining” to the mass; my need to vent and expose, what I would assume, would come as no surprise to most. In my office, we have no boundaries and in this “family” the children run the show. Our superiors are told to Continued in pg. 3 Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Volume 115 | Issue 44 | May 6, 2014
Zak Baeza
Submission Policy The Round Up welcomes submissions for publication. Submissions can be dropped off, faxed or emailed. Submissions become property of The Round Up and will not be returned. The Round Up reserves the right to edit articles and cannot guarantee publication. Advertising Policy The Round Up welcomes paid advertisements for legal products and services. The Round Up does not accept ads deemed discriminatory by the editor. Any advertisement that might be confused with editorial content must be clearly labeled (paid advertisement.) Positions of ads cannot be guaranteed. The Round Up reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertisement. About Us The Round Up is published during the academic year by the students for the university community. Corrections of the print edition will be made of www. nmsuroundup.com. Editorial content of the newspaper is independent of advertising content. Opinions expressed in The Round Up are not necessarily those of the staff, New Mexico State University or the Associated Students of NMSU. Box 3004, Dept. CC New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 Phone 575-646-6397 Fax 575-646-5557
#FinalsSuck
NEWS
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Apple ‘lock-out’ feature aims to save lives
by Brynn Herndon Staff Writer In March 2014, New Mexico became the 42nd state to ban texting while driving. Despite the danger of distracted driving, the National Highway Safety Administration reports during any daylight hour in America, 660,000 drivers are using their phones or another electronic device behind the wheel. With distractions causing collisions and deaths all over the country, the technology itself has begun to take action. Apple, the company behind the iPhone, has revealed its “lockout” feature that will disable certain functions such as texting if the iPhone senses that it’s in a moving vehicle, according to The Guardian. According to the Daily Mail, while many electronics manufacturers have released handsfree ways to message, Texas researchers found that
Smoking near Apple computers voids the warranty.
things such as voice recognition software are just as dangerous as texting by hand. With distractions causing collisions and deaths all over the country, the technology itself has begun to take action. Tom Church, the cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, said these precautions made by government officials and technology manufacturers make the problem more evident. “As I understand the new iPhone technology will disable texting features when the user is driving,” Church said. “Recently Governor Martinez acted on legislation that makes texting while driving illegal in New Mexico. Together these are clear statements about the danger.” The feature, patented in 2008, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is said to be making its debut on the upcoming iPhone 6, a device that already has a buzz among students. New Mexico State University student Ashley Keli is excited about Apple’s new idea, despite some misgivings. “I say (it is) good, until we hear about some idiot crashing into a bank trying to disable it,” Keli said. While the exact release date of the iPhone 6 is still under wraps, the promise of the new lock-out feature is seen as a step forward in the battle to end distracted driving. “All drivers need to realize that- in just seconds - accidents and death are caused by driver inattention,” Church said. “We will continue to work on making texting and driving in New Mexico a thing of the past.”
Continued from pg.2 choose their battles because not every battle is worth fighting. From where I sit, they have not fought a single battle. I guess as long as the basic job is done with no regard for the student what does it matter? My co-workers have no sense of duty; they come and go as they please leaving their stations abandoned with no sense of concern. A supervisor talks down to the employees without any regard for feelings or consequences from their end which shows a distinct lack of professionalism. Important work related information that should be relayed to everyone, is on a tell-one person and pass it on, or need to know basis. Some are completely excluded of any information because they have already been exiled. The ridicule of someone’s appearance is a daily occurrence, even if some is said out of “fun,” it is demeaning and embarrassing especially when students are within earshot. No phone etiquette is used as they stuff their mouths with what food they have in front of them. I have often been told that I work in a loud office, as I talk to the outside comm.unity, they yell over their cubicles with no regard of who could be listening. Our work-studies are used as personal assistants. They are often sent to fetch meals or chauffer employees around cam.pus with no compensation for the fuel used or the fact that these duties do not fall under any job description that I have seen. I personally don’t think this falls under “other duties as assigned.” No thought or regard to the fact that most students live on a tight budget . As the administration worries about decreasing enrollment numbers, these
co-workers shrug off yet another student who is dissatisfied with our customer service. They are unconcerned that the student is off to seek their education from another institution, yet they fail to realize that these students are why we are all here. I don’t know who to turn to that can help. I feel I have to do something but fear to be exiled or labeled the “complainer” who should merely worry about me. Talking to the “chief ‘ is not an option, the leader of the party; they are the cool person who doesn’t want to be on anyone’s bad side. Frankly, I trust them as far as I can throw them. I have no respect for my immediate supervisor, so approaching them is out of the question I have seen the repercussions of those who have stated the obvious and questioned why this nonsense continues. Then there are those who have chosen not to participate in this nonsense. They are excluded and made fun and not considered part of the “group.” To the co-workers who pride themselves in the work they do, all with the student in mind, I aspire to be like you and ignore all that leads to nonsense. My request is simple; I want to see change, for rules and for guidance. To each supervisor: Why are you so afraid to stand up for what is right? Is the need to be popular that important? You insist we are family. No family is perfect however a happy family has open communication, trust, honesty and respect. To point out the obvious, our office “family’’ does not possess these traits.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
FEATURE
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
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Lavatory King THE
During his college career one student managed to use every single restroom on campus. Watch the throne. by Kyla Hollister staff writer
R
obert O’ Brian, 25, is about to graduate from New Mexico State University with a degree in business management but little did O’ Brain know was that he was destined for greatness. The Las Cruces native spent his college days happily trying to pass his time until commencement. O’ Brian had fun with his fraternity brothers and sorority girls, survived crazy parties and participated in philanthropy events in Lambda Chi Alpha for four years but had one mission to complete his college experience: go on a quest to take a dump in every bathroom accessible to students on the NMSU campus. Two years ago, O’ Brian began the great trek far and wide on the 6,250 acres of land that NMSU sits on to venture through his journey. He visited unknown territory no business management major, or any major, has ever endured. O’ Brian successfully pooped in every building from
Neale Hall, home of the 4H students to the Pan American Center, our main arena. On April 23, less than a month from his graduation date, O’Brian proudly completed his four-semester-longself-challenge of pooping in all of the NMSU bathrooms, ending at Branson Library. O’ Brian took to Facebook to announce his news and said: “I am proud to have completed the circuit today and have come to the end of my journey! I will be signing autographs upon request for all my fans. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of my loving family, friends, fiber and mornings after heavily beer drinking. Thank you all so much for the love and support to get me where I am today, which happens to be on the ever so high throne.” Of all his years in NMSU bathroom expertise, O’Brian said the cleanest bathroom on campus is “definitely on the fourth floor of Foster in the faculty bathroom.” He dubbed the natatorium the most uncomfortable bathroom because “everything is wet and cold.” However, he said the dirtiest bathroom on campus is Hardman Hall. The quietest bathroom, he said, is either the bath-
room on the top floor of Foster or Branson Library. O’ Brian said the loudest bathroom is “obviously the Activity Center locker room with people always popping in and out from sports, workouts or classes.” O’Brian even admits to using a women’s restroom on campus once. “It was a Saturday class during the summer and the men’s restroom was locked,” he said. “It was nicer than the men’s Hardman restroom though.” But O’ Brian said his favorite restroom on campus has to be the third floor of Corbett Center. “There’s literally a window next to the toilet so you can sit and people watch kind of by Monagle going toward the Financial Aide office while you’re on the toilet.” Before O’ Brian moves on to bigger and better thrones, he will continue bartending at Buffalo Wild Wings, work out at Fitness One and attempt to beat every Candy Crush level. O’ Brian plans to join the United States Marines and apply for his aviation license within the military branch. He eventually wants to retire out of the military and own his own bar—with a few good bathrooms in it of course.
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” – Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones
DISTRACTIONS
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find the answers at nmsuroundup
CLASSIFIEDS To place a classifed ad, call 575-646-6397 Includes: Approximately 85 words, 10 pt. BOLD headline, additional BOLD options and 9 pt. body copy. Charge per space: $1.00 student rate and $0.50 cents/ per word. Deadlines for the Tuesday edition are Friday at noon, and deadlines for the Thursday edition are Tuesday at noo.n.
Jobs
Rent
NMSU STUDENTS!! Fast Cash for book reviews. 20$ an hour. 575-521-1482
Old Mesilla Luxury Condo Alost new 2BR/2BA 1038 sq. feet, covered parking, gated community of Villa Esperanza $900/ Month1 year lease. Pets welcome with deposit. theodorefriedman@ cdrewu.edu or 575-642-3558. Two roommates needed. 1.5 miles north of campus. Washer/dryer/wifi.Quiet Neighborhood. Call or Text for more details 575-639-5425
Summer Job! Make enough to not work during the school year! Make $100-$400 +/day selling pest control in El Paso. Housing Provided. Apply online at pestdefensesolutions.com/job or Call 505-899-4808 Sedona Contracting, Inc is seeking the positions of Laborers with a minimum starting salary of $16.00 per hour in the Las Cruces area. Construction Experience is a plus but not required. Please call (575) 937-3092 for more information or email your resume toCasey@SedonaContractinginc.com Tuesday, May 6 2014
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OPINION/CULTURE
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Anthony Says It All by Anthony Albidrez Staff Writer Graduation, a significant end of an era, marks a beautiful new beginning. I moved to Las Cruces not knowing what to expect: love, people, dramatic events, drunken innuendos and new friends. To say the least, I have met many beautiful human beings, all of them with worlds of their own, inspiring me and also damning me. I appreciate every instance of human nature that has crossed my path whether it be positive or negative, long term or brief. They influenced me in some way. A particular group of people came into my life. Call it coincidence or fate. I call it luck. Two in particular evolved from complete strangers into my mentors, but most of all they became my friends. Jessica Cervantes and Bethany Blundell are going to be a kick-ass journalist. I just know it. College, a place to learn, is more than that. It is a place to develop life-long relationships with other human beings. As we say our goodbyes to the ones who are graduating before us, we look back to the moments we shared with them. These memories have become a part of us and will remain with us forever. They are stained inside our heads, leaving blank pages to fill up with the story of the future. Congratulations to all the graduates. Catch you guys in the real world in one year. As you are sitting in your chairs during commencement, close your eyes and think about all the things you have accomplished during this semester. Think about all the sweat, blood and tears you shed to get one step closer to success. The semester soared to the highest peaks of the Organ Mountains and crashed into the depths of hell. We all grew a little, succeeded, failed, laughed, cried, danced, moped, lost love and found love. But, you made it. “Wrong number,” says a familiar voice.
Family business
One family graduates three siblings in one day
by Tara Melton Contributing Writer Saturday will be a memorable and exhausting day for one Las Cruces family, who has three children graduating from New Mexico State University. The Lujan family will start their celebration by attending the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony of their eldest son. Phillip, 27, will receive his master’s degree in science and
agriculture biology with a minor in molecular biology. The celebration will then continue at 2 p.m. to honor their 25-yearold daughter Amanda and their 22-year-old son Matt. Amanda will graduate with her master’s degree in special education and Matt will receive his bachelor’s degree in creative media with a focus in animation and visual effects. All three of the Lujan’s are the first of their immediate family to receive a degree in higher education. According to a study done by the Department of Education, 50 percent of the current college population is made up of first-gen-
eration students or those whose parents did not receive higher education beyond a high school diploma. Their mother Laura Lujan is currently a secretary at Centennial High School and worked for NMSU for nine years and their father works in document control at White Sands. Lujan is extremely proud of her three children. “We just want them to be successful, happy and not to struggle,” she said. According to the Huffington Post, first-generation students are four times more likely to drop out after their first year than their more advantaged peers. Laura helped her children’s decision to attend college by giving them an ultimatum that if they wanted to continue living at home, they had to attend school or move out and find a job. Laura also said she
always reminded her children to be the best they could be and that God had helped them through it all. “I think it’s so amazing that I get to share this experience with my brothers,” Amanda said. “We have all three worked so hard and know what each other has been through to get here. I’m very blessed that we all three have reached the end. I thank God, my parents and family for pushing us to get to this chapter of our lives.” Currently both Phillip and Amanda are graduate assistants in their respective colleges. Laura said Amanda intends to move to San Antonio after graduation and Phillip has been offered a position in a lab in the Agricultural Department. “We’re so blessed and proud of them,” she said.
TV sculpture baffles students by Kyle Chancellor Contributing Writer
Since the 16-foot-tall television sculpture erected last week, it has been the talk of the campus. Chris Patterson, a fine arts student, created “This is a Test” for his special topics in sculpture class with Rachel Stevens. Patterson, who has practiced largescale sculpture for about five years, moved away from painting when he realized that this type of sculpture was his niche. Patterson says he was inspired by other large construction sculptors such as Judy Pfaff, Sarah Sze and Anish Kapoor, the creator of the Cloud Gate, also known as The Bean in Chicago. “I enjoy doing big large pieces,” Patterson said. “The largest piece I did was a 15-foot-tall by 50-foot-long mural on my business in Clayton, N.M.” The TVs were used out of convenience, Patterson said. “When Rachel said go large scale
and do what you enjoy I just happened to have all these TVs on hand,” Patterson said. “If I had 50 refrigerators, that’s what it would have been made out of.” The name for the sculpture harkens back to the days when television stations would do emergency broadcast message tests. The screen would go blank, a series of loud beeps blare out of the speakers followed by a monotone voice saying “THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM.” Patterson says most of the people who read the name of the sculpture don’t understand the title either because they are too young to have seen the tests happing on local television. To accompany the TVs, some of the speakers are wired to a stereo that is playing iconic ’80s MTV tunes on repeat. The sculpture, along with other sculptures in Wells Hall from the sculpture class will be up through Tuesday for viewing.
Chris Patterson stands near his sculpture “This is a Test.” photo by Kyle Chancellor Tuesday, May 6, 2014
CULTURE
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New Mexico family offers a cure for hangovers
There’s nothing like coming home for the Summer! Congratulations to our Round Up graduates!
While you’re there, might as well earn credit for your degree requirements! vc.unm.edu
Ana Jesca Ashley David
925.8560
New Horizons Symphony Marianna Gabbi, Music Director/Conductor Daniel Vega-Albela, Viollin Jorge Martinez Rios, Viola
May 11, 2014, 3 p.m.
Atkinson Recital Hall Free Admission
by David De Alejandro Staff Writer An unfortunate but true fact about college life is that sometimes hangovers happen. After a night of fun, the next day is a punishment for soaking in the excesses of alcohol consumption. According to the Mayo Clinic, some common hangover symptoms include dehydration, fatigue, nausea, headaches and sensitivity to light and sound. Hangovers are caused by a number of factors, as reported by The Huffington Post. The primary cause is dehydration. Because alcohol is a diuretic, it can lead to water loss. Also, enzymes in the body metabolize alcohol into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde, which is then metabolized into acetate, which is harmless. For some, the process through which acetaldehyde is processed into acetate can be slow, which leads to a build-up of the toxic acetaldehyde and in turn causes a hangover. The Huffington Post also reported another possible cause of hangovers is congeners, which give dark alcohols flavor, but are also associated with hangovers. Because hangovers are such a common yet inconvenient part of life, a new product has been developed to prevent the dread that goes with the day after a night out. The product is called Never Hungover, and it is currently available in over 40 stores in Las Cruces. According to the company’s website, Never Hungover works by helping the body to metabolize the toxic acetaldehyde into the harmless acetate, which in turn prevents a
hangover. The Maloof family, along with the creator of the product, Parrish Whitaker, began their distribution for the product in their home state, New Mexico. Never Hungover started out as an antioxidant formula that was used to help the creator’s sister heal after a kidney transplant. Parrish Whitaker found that the antioxidant could also be helpful for preventing hangovers, so he began to market it as Never Hungover. The Maloof family, who partnered with Whitaker to market the product worldwide, is most well-known for their premium vodka brand, ZING. Adrienne Maloof is known for appearing on the TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Phil Maloof, who graduated from New Mexico State University, expressed his excitement at the opportunity of building the Never Hungover presence throughout America, starting in New Mexico. “We are fully behind the building of Never Hungover and so excited to host our first statewide brand distribution right here in the state we grew up in, New Mexico,” Phil Maloof said. In addition to being a hangover cure, Maloof said he believes Never Hungover can be useful for a variety of purposes because it is a natural blend of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The formula is also contains no carbs, sugar, calories or gluten. “We have a number of athletes who have told us that they are using Never Hungover before working out for improved recovery and endurance,” Maloof said.
NMSU Department of Music
Program Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Overture to Idomeneo Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante Daniel Vega-Albela, and Jorge Martinez Rios, soloists INTERMISSION Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony Number 5 Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.