DAILY LOBO new mexico
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Na na na boo boo see Page 4
October 5, 2012
The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895
Psychiatrist proposes no pot for PTSD patients by Ardee Napolitano news@dailylobo.com
A UNM assistant professor is petitioning to ban the prescription of medical marijuana to New Mexicans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
William Ulwelling, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine, said on July 29 in a letter to William Catanach, interim program manager of the state’s Medical Cannabis Program, that people with PTSD are prone to substance abuse and it
is not suitable for the drug to be prescribed to them. He said that prescribing marijuana to people with PTSD increases the likelihood that users would become addicted to the drug. “There is a recognized association between PTSD and
Federal budget cuts loom for higher ed
cannabis, but the primary accepted association is that PTSD sufferers have increased vulnerability to alcohol … and a higher incidence of cannabis abuse,” Ulwelling said. “Offering cannabis to a PTSD sufferer increases this risk of substance abuse.”
Ulwelling said there is no scientific evidence that marijuana treats PTSD. He said that according to the American Psychological Association, practice guidelines include at least 24
see Marijuana PAGE 3
BLAST OFF
$1.4T could be slashed from total budget
discussions on Capitol Hill and strongly advocating for a solution before sequestration,” Babbitt said. “That is the most important by Ardee Napolitano thing we can do now on behalf of the news@dailylobo.com students.” UNM President Robert Frank said Universities nationwide may see that UNM’s Office of Government an 8.2 percent cut in student aid pro- and Community Relations Affairs grams by January 2013. meets regularly with delegates from According to a report from Washington to discuss the cuts. He the White House’s Office of said the University administration is Management and Budget released strongly urging Washington not to nelast month, at least $1.4 trillion in glect higher education. total mandatory cuts will affect “It is essential that the federal govhigher education across the board if ernment continue to invest in higher committees do not agree on which education,” he said. “Research unisectors the cuts will come from. versities such as UNM make a high Associate Vice President for En- value impact on our national econorollment Management Terry Bab- my, creating knowledge-based jobs bitt said that said the proposed 8.2 and fostering global competitiveness. percent budget cut affects domestic Heading off these cuts must be a top discretionary propriority.” grams, which inASUNM Presclude scholarship ident Caroline programs such as Muraida said stuthe federal Supdents depend on plemental Educafinancial aid to attional Opportunity tend the UniversiGrant and work ty and that funding study. He said the cuts would make programs make up access to educathe largest part of tion more diffithe national highcult. She said that Caroline Muraida er education budif the budget cuts get but that even if are approved, the ASUNM president the proposal passUniversity would es, Pell Grant funding won’t be cut in have to construct a funding package 2013, although cuts are likely in the to replace lost federal funding. following years. “This would be an extremely diffiBut Babbit said that although cult predicament,” she said. “The Unifunding cuts will impact UNM stu- versity should work with its governdents if passed, he’s not sure how big mental relations team to advocate for an impact the proposed cuts could an effective solution.” have. He said that one response to Muraida said that cuts would imcuts would be to offer scholarship pact federal work-study funding, money to students based on need. which funds on-campus jobs for stu“It is too early to say exactly how dents, and that departments and prothese cuts would impact UNM stu- grams on campus, including ASUNM, dents,” he said. “It is likely, but not cer- depend on work-study funding. But tain, that the cuts would come in the she said the University doesn’t anform of student eligibility versus a per ticipate that funding cuts will happen student average,” he said. and that the University community, GPSA President Marisa Silva said including students, staff and faculty, that because New Mexico is one of should advocate for students’ finanthe poorest states in the country, New cial security. Mexicans tend to prioritize their basic “The academic integrity of our needs before higher education. University should never be in ques“Without need-based aid, that’s tion, nor should any qualified student essentially denying higher education be denied access to receiving a higher to students who have an economic education,” she said. “Whether it takes disadvantage,” she said. the form of a phone call or simply by Babbitt said the University admin- casting a vote, students must make it istration will continue to closely mon- clear to lawmakers that these policies itor the decision in order to prepare have tangible manifestations in our for the cuts, if they happen. daily lives and our ability to pursue “We are closely watching the higher education.”
“The academic integrity of our University should never be in question,”
Inside the
Daily Lobo volume 117
issue 35
vs. THURSDAY NIGHT
VOLLEYBALL
Nick Sanchez / Daily Lobo Chaz Puett, Jacob Griego and Danny Castillo of Jacocha jam at the Launchpad where they won a Battle of the Bands. Jacocha has only been together for four short months but has also earned a “Best Local Band” title from local rock station “The Edge.” See photo essay on Page 2.
‘Conditional’ admissions mulled K-12 prep inadequate for UNM admissions by Laura Meurer
news@dailylobo.com Although the University has increased admission requirements for incoming freshmen, about 1,500 freshmen enrolled at UNM this fall need at least one remedial course. The grade point average requirement for incoming freshmen has increased one-tenth of a point every year since fall 2010, when the requirement for incoming freshmen was a 2.2 GPA. The current GPA requirement is a 2.4. Students seeking admission must also have an additional social sciences and lab science course since the 2010 requirements change. By fall 2013, admissions requirements will include a 2.5 GPA and an increase in the number of math courses from three courses to four. At an regents Academic/Student Affairs and Research Committee Meeting on Wednesday, Associate
UNM 3 BSU
Boise State
See full story at DailyLobo.com
2
Trust it, you’ll get there See Page 7
Ruby Santos / Daily Lobo Terry Babbitt, associate vice president for enrollment management, presents at the regents Academic/Student Affairs and Research Committee meeting on Wednesday. Babbitt said that although the University has continued to increase admissions requirements for incoming freshmen, a summer-school program should be included in admissions requirements for certain students who have low ACT scores or did not pass the Standards-Based Assessment. Vice President for Enrollment Management Terry Babbitt said the administration needs to find new ways to address the level of
education incoming freshman receive before they enter the University.
see Admissions PAGE 3
TODAY
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